Horaay! I think I saved a 6 year old from killing his fish!

[FishRfine]

So, heres the story. I was shopping at my lfs when I see this kid and his dad looking at yellow labs. Dialogue:

Kid: I want that one (points to random fish)
Kid: and two other ones (points to two more)
I asked him what size tank, and his dad made a size with his hand, I thought about 10 gallons.
Me: those fish are too agressive (a white lie), they wont be happy in a 10g. Get a bigger tank
Kid: are they mean (points to other tank of africans)
Me: even more
Me:just get one yellow guy. Get a bigger tank, then you can go nuts.
Well, later I found out two sad facts. The tank was a 5g, and he was buying it that day. Then, god bless her, a lfs employee stepped in and told the kid about cycling. He didnt get the fish today, and hopefully he'll end up with a bigger tank.

 

[Mystix212]

I doubt the kid took on any information about the nitrogen cycle, but the dad should take notice.

 

[Eupterus]

Wish you were around when I was a kid.

 

[Druu]

So, heres the story. I was shopping at my lfs when I see this kid and his dad looking at yellow labs. Dialogue:

Kid: I want that one (points to random fish)
Kid: and two other ones (points to two more)
I asked him what size tank, and his dad made a size with his hand, I thought about 10 gallons.
Me: those fish are too agressive (a white lie), they wont be happy in a 10g. Get a bigger tank
Kid: are they mean (points to other tank of africans)
Me: even more
Me:just get one yellow guy. Get a bigger tank, then you can go nuts.
Well, later I found out two sad facts. The tank was a 5g, and he was buying it that day. Then, god bless her, a lfs employee stepped in and told the kid about cycling. He didnt get the fish today, and hopefully he'll end up with a bigger tank.

Good work on your part. Hopefully the LFS employee gave the father a thorough tongue lashing.

 

[Opiate]

good job dude!! hehe

 

[krzr3000]

Describing the nitrogen cycle is a one in ear out the other sort of thing i notice when talking to customers. "Its that non-existent thing that the fish nerd is telling me about for some reason."
At this point, i describe it in a dumbed down version that pretty much says the tank has to "establish" itself.

Good going though, usually saying "they are really mean and fight" makes people turn the other way.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Nice one dude, that tank is insanely small 5 gals are only really good as planted nanos, or for bettas or a small colony of Shellys.

 

[Angel51087]

"Describing the nitrogen cycle is a one in ear out the other sort of thing i notice when talking to customers. "Its that non-existent thing that the fish nerd is telling me about for some reason."
At this point, i describe it in a dumbed down version that pretty much says the tank has to "establish" itself." --- Exactly!!

At the end of my rope I end up saying " Well add fish now and you'll be buying more in a weeks time when these die!" Not quite so bluntly but along those lines... Bless our poor fishy friends.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Me:just get one yellow guy. Get a bigger tank, then you can go nuts.

That probably wasn't the best advice/thing to say, now the kid probably thinks if he gets a tank twice as big as his 5gallon tank he'll be able to put as many fish in it as he wants.

 

[FishRfine]

aww (insert obscenity) your right. well, I also tole him that the piranha and 2' rtc at the store could not fit, much less live, in his 5g tank. I think thats a start.