I saw my first Trimacs at Petsmart today

[balton777]

Information card reads 14". Unfortunately they also say 30+ gallon tank.

Hey Dragonfish, how's it going?

(For those of you who don't know, Dragonfish is one of our MFK member/knowledgeable Petsmart employees.)

My Petsmart's info card hadn't arrived yet but your guys have yours and it reads that they attain 14" but can be housed in a 30 gallon? It just doesn't make sense. At least they put the right size so people with a common sense can figure it out. Some of the fish are labeled much smaller than they really get. I have to add that I still like Petsmart because they're so close to my house and have good deals on equipment, supplies, frozen foods and live earthworms + Hills Science Diet cat and dog food. They also help adopt out stray cats non-profit. (to sell more catfood and litter?lol)

 

[balton777]

Flowerhorns 100%.... oh and I bet I have one that out does everyones.... at petsmart once last year.. I was reading the info card on a fish that was only a 1.5", I didn't even know what it was it was so small. The card reads

Peacock Bass
Semi Agressive
Carnivore
10"

I saw the 10" and laughed in the employees face. I told the petsmart manager that I know someone who feeds 10" fish to peacock bass

Petsmart had Peacock Bass? Their customers can put a pair in a 30 gallon with a few pacu for dithers. NOT!!

 

[Miles]

Information card reads 14". Unfortunately they also say 30+ gallon tank.

What tank size does the Pacu card say?

It's the suggested tank size for the 'current size' of the fish.. the + means you should eventually upgrade.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

They were only 2" but looked like real Trimacs and they were labeled 3 spot cichlids. Petsmart didn't have an information card made for them yet so I acted like a newbie and asked the girl about them. She said they're an aggressive ciclhid that has the potential to grow over 8" and should be kept a 55 gallon tank with other cichlids. I told her I only have a 30. She said if I kept it by itself it might be ok. I then fessed up and told her I'm an experienced aquarist and shared some of my Trimac knowledge with her. She seemed a little interested and I told her she should go home tonight and reseach them on the web and they're an awesome fish. The main thing I wanted her to know is they get 12-15" and MEAN and that she should reccommend a 75 gallon tank minimum for just ONE. Hopefully she'll lay off the "one by himself in my 30 gallon might be ok" bullsh*t.

At least she may learn somthing. I'm glad that we don't have all that petsmart and petco crap over here.

 

[unknownuza13]

I've seen these "three spot cichlids" as well in the past week at my petsmart. To me they look to be low grade flowerhorns.

 

[dragonfish]

What tank size does the Pacu card say?

It's the suggested tank size for the 'current size' of the fish.. the + means you should eventually upgrade.

This, sadly says 30+ gallons also. Our sales have slowed down on those in the past few months ever since we got a new pet care manager, .
Probably why the guy is in the process of being shoved out the door. . Oh well, was looking when I started there, can easily look again.

 

[Chago09]

Petsmart had Peacock Bass? Their customers can put a pair in a 30 gallon with a few pacu for dithers. NOT!!

LOL ya and the pacus will be labeled red belly pirhana

 

[ewok]

honestly, most petsmarts i've seen are just employers of high school kids looking to make a few bucks. knowledge is going to be less compared to experienced aquarists. i think going there with high expectations on the majority of them knowing more than two hoots about the fish they are selling is going to lead to major disappointment. if you are looking for serious information or help then go to a specialist fish store.

 

[pmtuneman13]

Lower your expectations of most petsmart fish people and maybe one day you will be pleasantly surprised... it happens from time to time. They are not all ignorant about their fish. Some in fact, know their stuff.... but the info cards are bs.

 

[cenecker]

OKAY I CONFESS. I work for Petsmart too.

Yeah I was outrageously jacked up to see trimacs come in. Ours are like barely 1.5" so I really couldn't tell you what they actually are...I'll keep y'all posted as they grow.