On the search for Knowledgeable LFS

[dempseylover]

So where Im from there are alot of petstores. When you have a question, all of them tell you something different. Almost all of them order form fish farms that are outside and Ive come across several fish that have been mislabled (for example my sajica was labeled spilurus)

My question is how to figure out which stores know what theyre talking about and which ones are full of crap?!

 

[knifegill]

It's you. You are the informed one. Trust only those specific persons with whom you've had intelligent and reasonable conversations.

 

[Fat Homer]

every one makes mistakes... sometimes even pros can make mistakes if its something they don't often see... but in all honesty, try living in HK where most of the shops give fish random chinese common names or names they come up with their themselves and having to find info on them... now thats a true P.I.T.A...

 

[L021]

Trust none other than yourself. But if you want one to talk to, ask basic questions, etc, the "what can go in my 10g/20g usually does the trick

 

[bob965]

If you like fishkeeping, then you like going to fish stores. Eventually after you go to enough of them, you'll just know which people are donkeys and which actually know what they're talking about. Your best bet is to never make a purchase decision right on the spot based on something the guy at the LFS told you. Always follow it up with your own research. You are currently reading one of the most informative resources around. Personally, I only ask questions if I'm just browsing. The LFS guy might say something that will spark my interest about a fish, and I'll read up on it when I get home. If I'm going there to buy something specific, there's nothing for me to ask, because I've already done my homework.

 

[kdrun76]

There are more than 30,000 species of fish. NO ONE is an expert on all of them.

You maybe a genius on cichlids, which would logically mean you can successfully cycle a tank and do water chemistry, but when someone has a question about breeding rainbows you suddenly look like a nimrod.

I have 25 years in this hoby, an MS in Marine Bio and a PhD in ichthyology and I learn a new tid bit or two every day. The sheer quantity of information required to correctly identify every fish that comes through a pet store would be pretty impressive to expect anyone to know. Now keep in mind that no one in that pet store is paid big bucks, do you really think there is much incentive to try and learn them all?

Within this hoby we all have a niche where we are really good with the information for that topic. What happens when you get asked a question outside of your niche? You suddenly look like a clueless idiot, right? Go ahead ask me a question about S.A. Cichlids...... I'll pick my nose and wonder what the heck you are yammering about. I know NOTHING about them. Does that mean I know nothing about fish?

Remember that as you talk to folks at pet stores. Some of them really are dumber than nails, but some of them simply don't share your passion for ________ (choose the group of fish to your liking.)

 

[Adria]

I agree with Kdrun. I shop many place and work in one. What gives me confidence that someone is good at the job is the occasional "I don't know but I will try to find out for you". I network with people that have interests in parts of the hobby I don't know about. I could tell you all about how to breed fresh water inverts or anything you want to know about puffers. If you ask me a question about compatiblility in a marine tank I will reach for my phone and find out for you ..
I think the dangerous sales people are the ones that are willing to guess.

 

[_Jessica_]

There are more than 30,000 species of fish. NO ONE is an expert on all of them.

You maybe a genius on cichlids, which would logically mean you can successfully cycle a tank and do water chemistry, but when someone has a question about breeding rainbows you suddenly look like a nimrod.

I have 25 years in this hoby, an MS in Marine Bio and a PhD in ichthyology and I learn a new tid bit or two every day. The sheer quantity of information required to correctly identify every fish that comes through a pet store would be pretty impressive to expect anyone to know. Now keep in mind that no one in that pet store is paid big bucks, do you really think there is much incentive to try and learn them all?

Within this hoby we all have a niche where we are really good with the information for that topic. What happens when you get asked a question outside of your niche? You suddenly look like a clueless idiot, right? Go ahead ask me a question about S.A. Cichlids...... I'll pick my nose and wonder what the heck you are yammering about. I know NOTHING about them. Does that mean I know nothing about fish?

Remember that as you talk to folks at pet stores. Some of them really are dumber than nails, but some of them simply don't share your passion for ________ (choose the group of fish to your liking.)

Bingo...one of the best responses I've heard. I had a guy come in a couple weeks ago, and ask me if a sally light foot crab was reef safe. I did a "ehhhh... I think they might pick at corals...but I'm not too sure.." and he went off about people at LFS not knowing anything. I have many species of fish at my store...I'm sorry I wasn't sure about one specific thing of one specific fish. I do try and research everything that comes in.

I think customer and employee should meet each other half way...do your research and you will be fine. But...all in all...I do think employees should know basic aquarium science (cycling etc), feeding of different fish, potential size of common species. I know one of the stores I frequent, I was chatting with the girl about salt. I said I only have 55 gallon tanks, I would like to do salt with a dogface puffer and triggers but my tanks are too small...she said ohh no, that is big enough. And then the last time I was there, I spotted some geophagus without a tag, asked what they were, and she said they were green terrors. Let's just say I know better than to ask her advice.