It seems like people dont even want to know sometimes. If you've ever worked at a pet store you know this more than anyone. People buy animals without knowing anything about them this is how fish get abused. Currently there is a oscar where i work that is about 10" and was donated but they kept him in a 15 gallon tank. Hes just depressing, hes perfectly happy but he just looks horrible. Why do you think people buy fish without knowing they can safely home them? I believe they underestimate the growth rate of fish.
Why do people buy fish without knowing enough about them?
- Thread starter AllFishAdrian
- Start date
Sometimes people get bad advice. If you've ever shopped at a pet store you know this more than anyone. People may be told that the fish will grow only as large as the tank will allow. That person may have been told, by a pet store employee, that a 15 was just fine for an Oscar.
I get a little peeved by this apparent "elitist" attitude that some pet store/LFS employees seem to have. Perhaps maturity comes with age. Instead of a post about "how stooopid people are at my store", how about a quick story about helping a customer "see the light" and not buy that Red Tailed Cat for their Sponge Bob counter top aquarium.
I get a little peeved by this apparent "elitist" attitude that some pet store/LFS employees seem to have. Perhaps maturity comes with age. Instead of a post about "how stooopid people are at my store", how about a quick story about helping a customer "see the light" and not buy that Red Tailed Cat for their Sponge Bob counter top aquarium.
...because it costs a couple of bucks (often less at Wal-Tard) to buy a fish that gets huge... and people don't think...
Matt
Matt
I started taking care of fish september of this year. I started out with Guppies, and decided to add a placo and to albino corys. I had no idea how to take care of fish until I started doing research online. My fish are absolutly spoiled, and I think most people under estimated the care needed for fish. Right now I am struggling on keeping my Pictus Catfish happy. I don't think people intentionally mean to under care fish, but sometimes the information they receive is wrong. For example I was told that my catfish should be fine on his own, and now I am struggling to keep him alive.. there is something wrong with him and I don't know how to fix it. It was probably a bad buy on my part, but the guy who recommended it made it seem like the right choice. Things just happen like that sometimes.
dogofwar;4680130; said:
Gotta agree, especially with oscars only being around $10 it drives people to say "o well I will eventually get a bigger tank" or " well they wont grow that big,it just wont happen". Eventually, they do grow that big and then you get these unhealthy,often close to death fish that you almost have to take home to at least give them a chance. *steps off soapbox* thats my two cents
You wuill only solve this when you deal with a couple of problems.
First is to stop LFS's from selling whatever a misinformed client wants. And that is difficult, because LFS are a business.
I have heard LFS's owners saying that the more fish die, the more they sell.
The second issue that should be dealt with, is to try to stop the demand for certain fish. RTC«s, Pangasius, Arapaimas's come to mind.
First is to stop LFS's from selling whatever a misinformed client wants. And that is difficult, because LFS are a business.
I have heard LFS's owners saying that the more fish die, the more they sell.
The second issue that should be dealt with, is to try to stop the demand for certain fish. RTC«s, Pangasius, Arapaimas's come to mind.
Fish I believe are more of an impulse buyers item. How many of so called experienced fish keepers go and impulse buy a fish not really fully understanding what it is or the care for it. We are all guilty of it, yet we only ostracize those who don't fully get bit from the fish bug that has them keeping multiple tanks ranging from 10-220g. People are unfortunately often misinformed, and the common person ether keeps them like furniture or doesn't think they need to do more research then how to keep a fish alive. It is up to us to help guide people to have fish that appropriately housed and cared for, yet we have to bare the burden that, that which we hold so dear to our hearts will always be abused and improperly housed.
That is my two cents.
That is my two cents.