i am so tired of hearing that from people. Do they really think that will justify me selling them a reg. pleco for a 2.5g or a Jaguar cichlid for a 10g? One customer wanted 3 reg plecos for a 20g and i wouldnt seel him 1. He simply said well i always have them die on like 3 months anyway, then i asked when the last time he did a water change and he was like well i add water when it gets low, been doing that for 2 years. I was like well if you would take like 5g out every 10 days or so and you will notice less fish loss and healthier fish. Then i said i would recommend he get some otto cats or a rubberlip, but he said just to sell him what he wanted, well i didnt and he said well i will just go to wal-mart then! That brings we to another question, do people think they get a victory when they threaten to go to wal-mart? i just try to educate and spread the hobby but its just like some people dont care.
"It wont live that long..."
- Thread starter OscarHook
- Start date
Keep it up but be prepared to tell them how big the fish get and how long they live. In one way the old saying that "fish only get as big as the tank" is true, kept improperly, they die before outgrowing it. I always had bad "luck" with plecos until I started adding bogwood. Ignorance can often be cured.
It sucks because there are people out there that don't consider fish a living animal and that they're nothing but decor. 
Must be a tough call as a petshop dealer sometimes because you lose sales.
I'd explain that potentially large baby fish ( such as plecos) produce more waste so make the tank more high care. If they don't care about if the fish die or not and some people really don't, then maybe they'll care if the tank needs more water changes as a result of the fish they choose.
I'd explain that potentially large baby fish ( such as plecos) produce more waste so make the tank more high care. If they don't care about if the fish die or not and some people really don't, then maybe they'll care if the tank needs more water changes as a result of the fish they choose.
The shop that I work for is a great one. It is one of the two privately owned in Oly, WA, and if someone wants something, but doesn't have the right tank, or lights, or filtration, or heater/chiller... etc, we won't sell it to them. We will tell them why, and we try to keep them there until we have finished explaining the whole thing. Going to wal-mart or any big chain to buy the fish doesn't change the fact that the fish is going to die. By educating them, or at least attempting it, is all we can do. If they are determined to get the fish they will get it, and they will be back in a few months to get a new one. After enough times people generally figure it out that they should listen to the people that work with the fish everyday.
You are of great recognition to the ‘hobbyist and supplier link’ OscarHook and WyldFya!
You tell it how it is without offending or being rude.
In the end it works out better for your stores.
Because people go to other shops, buy that baby monster, and watch it die in no time at all. Then they think to themselves 'damn he was right'. Instead of buying it at your store and thinking 'freaking idiot sold me a fish that did not last long, wont get my business again'
What goes around comes around people.
Hopefully in time more suppliers to the hobby will take this approach.
Good on you!
You tell it how it is without offending or being rude.
In the end it works out better for your stores.
Because people go to other shops, buy that baby monster, and watch it die in no time at all. Then they think to themselves 'damn he was right'. Instead of buying it at your store and thinking 'freaking idiot sold me a fish that did not last long, wont get my business again'
What goes around comes around people.
Hopefully in time more suppliers to the hobby will take this approach.
Good on you!
I think some people think it's normal to have fish die after a short time and constantly get new fish.
It is just plain hard to get people to understand that they are wrong
and can not take proper care of their pet no matter how u go about it.For example my younger brother wants to get a dog a big dog he works 45 hrs a week and his wife works 40 hrs and they got a 3yr old.
They live in a trailor park a [nice one] they have no fence on their property 
who's going to let the dog out and teach it basic commands and do clean up everyday
i told them not to get a dog so did my dad the advice fell on deaf ears
.I bet this crhistmas puppy will end up in heart break
for my 3 yrold neice when my bro realizes he can't keep a big dog and has to get rid of it
iam pissed this is gonna happen.
and can not take proper care of their pet no matter how u go about it.For example my younger brother wants to get a dog a big dog he works 45 hrs a week and his wife works 40 hrs and they got a 3yr old. They live in a trailor park a [nice one] they have no fence on their property who's going to let the dog out and teach it basic commands and do clean up everyday i told them not to get a dog so did my dad the advice fell on deaf ears .I bet this crhistmas puppy will end up in heart break for my 3 yrold neice when my bro realizes he can't keep a big dog and has to get rid of it iam pissed this is gonna happen.