Should Fish Stores Stock to Local Water Conditions?

[vfc]

I often wondered why the LFS's and especially the big chains don't customize their stock to match the water conditions in the area. My area is a great example. The water in the Philly area is hard and alkaline; perfect for African Cichlids, and a disaster for most CA/SA fish. Yet the fish stores seem to offer more fish that prefer soft acid water.

The average person who walks into a Petsmart, for example, wouldn't be interested in setting up a RO/DI system along with all the chemicals and test kits needed to convert hard alkaline water to soft acid. The odds are they would buy a fish that is a complete mismatch. I'm sure the store employees would recommend a water conditioner and PH adjustment chemicals; but in Philly our water is so hard the PH chemicals are useless.

This scenario sets up the customer for a high probability of a failed fish keeping experience.

I would think it would be in the fish store owner's best interest for the experience to be positive for these "low involvement" fish keepers. If the fish thrive with little maintenance effort, look very colorful, grew to full size, and spawned a time or two; the follow on sales of larger tanks and all the other supplies would be tremendous.

 

[jonahonah]

Very interesting suggestion i think that would be great especially in vancouver with the acidic soft water. maybe they could make it clear that the fish are suitable to the local area but are willing to order in fish for those hobbyists willing to put the work in to create different conditions. may offend some customers but healthy fish can only better our hobby and yoiu never know we may see fish being bred that noone has bothered with before creating better captive stocks

 

[Oddball]

The last lfs I worked in was on municipal water on the high alkaline side. However, we also stocked dozens of varieties of soft water species. The store had a large RO system to keep the discus, angels, rams, pikes, tetras, etc. comfortable. The storage tank held 750 gallons and the water was made available to customers at a very modest price.

 

[santoury]

Great question! Quite simply - MONEY! They just want to sell fish, so they stock what will sell.

 

[vfc]

Oddball,
Offering pre-conditioned water for a good price is not a bad
idea. I just don't know how many of those "low involvement" people would make the weekly trips for gallons and gallons of water. Heck, I don't even like the hassle of buying a couple gallons of spring water at the food store.

 

[santoury]

VFC - I would never do this, either - It's a snap adding conditioner - job done. Plus just think of draining gallon by gallon into even a 20 gallon tank. lol

 

[hillbilly]

Maybe have a sign over a certain section, "The fish in this section are well suited to local water conditions" would be helpful to newbies without anyone having to say anything.

 

[X24]

this is quite the suggestion! i think its actually pretty good for most beginners....but really the workers should know this stuff and help pick out fish for beginning fishkeepers. i think smarter employees is really what lfs need.

 

[jonahonah]

I sense a revolution MFK TO TAKE OVER ALL LFS!!!!

 

[ewurm]

We sell RO and conditioned premixed saltwater as well.