Your biggest mistake
- Thread starter FSM
- Start date
The Petsmarts around here seem to be fairly nice. They have some fish in stock that I wouldn't expect from them...Angelicus and Yoyo botias, nice lookin baby sailfin plecos (the real ones, gibbeceps), and a few here and there that are outside the norm. Tanks are all clean and healthy, and most importantly, no dead fish floating around. Also, their prices for what interesting fish they do have are on average a buck or more cheaper than more specialized fish stores.
I would not choose them by any means over my LFS on a regular basis though simply because I much more value their expertise and ability to get what I want in a reasonable time, but all in all, I think Petsmart takes their tropical fish department more seriously than any Walmart or Kmart would for sure.
Another thing that I am not able to do at a Petsmart is catch and bag my own fish. I always like to do this so I can get the exact fish I want and not cause them too much duress whilst doing so, but I cringe sometimes when I see some of the people trying to catch a fish for me. Having LFS work experience in my background certainly helps my cause when it comes to asking to net my own fish, and when I have asked to do that at Petsmart, they have told me a flat out 'NO!' even after talking with them about my history. So all in all, you get some benefit at a Petsmart in that they have decent fish at good prices, but you definately lose something in the fact that they have not much extra experience when it comes to things and aren't necessessarily the most skilled at catching the fish that you want.
One of my biggest pet peaves is when an employee doesn't even try to get you the fish you want when you are directing them to the fish. All fish are not created equal!
I would not choose them by any means over my LFS on a regular basis though simply because I much more value their expertise and ability to get what I want in a reasonable time, but all in all, I think Petsmart takes their tropical fish department more seriously than any Walmart or Kmart would for sure.
Another thing that I am not able to do at a Petsmart is catch and bag my own fish. I always like to do this so I can get the exact fish I want and not cause them too much duress whilst doing so, but I cringe sometimes when I see some of the people trying to catch a fish for me. Having LFS work experience in my background certainly helps my cause when it comes to asking to net my own fish, and when I have asked to do that at Petsmart, they have told me a flat out 'NO!' even after talking with them about my history. So all in all, you get some benefit at a Petsmart in that they have decent fish at good prices, but you definately lose something in the fact that they have not much extra experience when it comes to things and aren't necessessarily the most skilled at catching the fish that you want.
One of my biggest pet peaves is when an employee doesn't even try to get you the fish you want when you are directing them to the fish. All fish are not created equal!
I am still pissed about this 8ish years later but....
I went to a fish forum and got horrible advice that cost me all my fish at the time
had a bunch of fish in a 50 gallon. I wanted to go another direction with the tank, so I moved all of them to a 30 gallon. I was told on a forum (i was a newb at the time and like 14) that if I used the water from the 50 gallon, the 30 wouldn't have to cycle. I DID know about cycling tanks, i actually bought a bunch of books before my first tank. but I believed this person and paid for it
Obviously, this was TERRIBLE advice... of course the 30 gallon cycled, with WAY too many fish.. and they were killed one by one
I lost two angels, a big severum, african knifefish, elephant nose, firemouth, clown loach, yoyo loach.... I almost quit completely with this hobby
I went to a fish forum and got horrible advice that cost me all my fish at the time
had a bunch of fish in a 50 gallon. I wanted to go another direction with the tank, so I moved all of them to a 30 gallon. I was told on a forum (i was a newb at the time and like 14) that if I used the water from the 50 gallon, the 30 wouldn't have to cycle. I DID know about cycling tanks, i actually bought a bunch of books before my first tank. but I believed this person and paid for it
Obviously, this was TERRIBLE advice... of course the 30 gallon cycled, with WAY too many fish.. and they were killed one by one
I lost two angels, a big severum, african knifefish, elephant nose, firemouth, clown loach, yoyo loach.... I almost quit completely with this hobby
i got into the hobby when a friend gave me his 10gal with a 4"pleco.
First mistake: i added a comet goldfish and another catfish to the 10 water change,water change!
Second mistake throwing them all in a uncycled 75gal tank comet went down as soon as he hit the water catfish lasted 10 mins,still got my pleco "tank" though
I was such a rookie!
First mistake: i added a comet goldfish and another catfish to the 10 water change,water change!
Second mistake throwing them all in a uncycled 75gal tank comet went down as soon as he hit the water catfish lasted 10 mins,still got my pleco "tank" though
I was such a rookie!
XFishPro;1692880; said:
I told the guy at my nearest petsmart "doesn't matter, just give me a JD". He said "its easier if you tell me precisely which one". Astonished, I picked out my fish; and he bagged it in about 10 seconds. quality employee at an underrated store.
prejudice is bad. always.
pcfriedrich;1693737; said:
The petsmarts I have seen in Miami are pretty good tiny fish selection but healthy fish . The PETCOs are another story when it comes to fish . Both places have healthy mammals and reptiles but again tiny selection.
My first Marine tank 55 gallons was in my bedroom . I was a kid lived at home thus had no choice . I cycled tank with 60lbs UNCURED Atlantic live rock my room was very small as it was and the fish smell was unreal .
My "skimmer" was a Skilter 250 that didnt help much either lol
My "skimmer" was a Skilter 250 that didnt help much either lol
