My Worst Saltwater Memory

[Salty Cracker]

Share yours (but remember that it can't involve "he who shall not be named").

Anyways, YEARS ago there was a petshop here in town (London), down at the market. "the market petshop" I believe. Well I had bought fish there for quite some time. I can still remember the layout of the tanks and the store, and there was a big blue parrot named mack... well one day I was in there and holy crap, the most colourful fish I had ever seen was in a tank. A tomato clownfish. So I hand over a sack of cash and the guy bags it up, and onto the bus I go.... float the bag in the tank to acclimate, and just wondering over how awesome it looked. Maybe an hour later I open the bag and start to mix the waters, and the fish is getting pretty agitated, so I figure it looks like a pretty rugged fish, so I dump him in. Lasted maybe 5 minutes I would say, until it was twitching on the bottom, and dead. Now for a young guy that likes fish, this was pretty damn traumatic.

Fast forward to a return to the store, and the *** ****** behind the counter going "well it's a saltwater fish, why would you buy a saltwater fish if you don't have saltwater?!!?" and no refund. Seemed pretty shitty that they wouldn't ask a kid "hey, you know this is a saltwater fish, right?".

Anyways, that's why I'm pretty hard on fish stores as a rule, especially the ones that I know will sell you something just to make a buck (and I think we've all experienced that), and why I am so supportive of "the good guys" when I find them. Even with all the terrible things that have happened to the tanks over the years, that was the one that still really sticks out in my mind (Mack was an awesome parrot though).

 

[Neopimp]

ha stupid kid

 

[Big_Als_London]

Share yours (but remember that it can't involve "he who shall not be named").

Anyways, YEARS ago there was a petshop here in town (London), down at the market. "the market petshop" I believe. Well I had bought fish there for quite some time. I can still remember the layout of the tanks and the store, and there was a big blue parrot named mack... well one day I was in there and holy crap, the most colourful fish I had ever seen was in a tank. A tomato clownfish. So I hand over a sack of cash and the guy bags it up, and onto the bus I go.... float the bag in the tank to acclimate, and just wondering over how awesome it looked. Maybe an hour later I open the bag and start to mix the waters, and the fish is getting pretty agitated, so I figure it looks like a pretty rugged fish, so I dump him in. Lasted maybe 5 minutes I would say, until it was twitching on the bottom, and dead. Now for a young guy that likes fish, this was pretty damn traumatic.

Fast forward to a return to the store, and the *** ****** behind the counter going "well it's a saltwater fish, why would you buy a saltwater fish if you don't have saltwater?!!?" and no refund. Seemed pretty shitty that they wouldn't ask a kid "hey, you know this is a saltwater fish, right?".

Anyways, that's why I'm pretty hard on fish stores as a rule, especially the ones that I know will sell you something just to make a buck (and I think we've all experienced that), and why I am so supportive of "the good guys" when I find them. Even with all the terrible things that have happened to the tanks over the years, that was the one that still really sticks out in my mind (Mack was an awesome parrot though).

That's a funny story.

My father knew the owner of the market pet shop and we used to go there every couple of weeks. So being a nice guy that he was he gave me 2 pet rats. They were supposed to both be male but guess what they were a pair. I think we had about 50 or 60 rat babies over the next few months until my parents had had enough and we brought everything back to the market. I'm not sure what they ever did with all those rats but I imagine they became snake food.

My fish story is actually about the place where I work now.

Back before I worked here, I used to help put fish away in the middle of the night. It was fun for me to see all the cool fish. I also got paid in fish supplies which was also awesome. So I decided I was going to turn one of my tanks into a salt water tank. I banked enough hours for some live rock and sand salt and a few fish. So the first night I setup the tank and put in some miracle Bacteria that was going to make the water good to be able to add fish once it clears. The next day I walked into the store and brought home a lionfish, snowflake eel and a dog face puffer. All for my 30 gallon tank. Within 2 week everything had ich and after a month I only had the puffer left. That's when I realized I should do my own research and not listen to a sales guy.

Its also why I try so hard to make sure anyone that buys from me knows what they are getting themselves into. I've been called a lot of names over the years because I won't sell fish to certain people because their tank isn't ready or because they put in a miracle bacteria that magically cycles your aquarium over night.

 

[Josh]

True ive had an experience like that with you Aaron, didnt take it personally i was pretty young at the time and it was at the old location on wellington. I dont even recall the exact situation however please dont change, the ones that truly care about the hobby respect that stand point of yours. Who cares if a few soccer moms get angry because you wont sell them fish the same day you are selling an aquarium.

I saw this exact situation happen to the 1 young guys at your store just a few months ago, the lady was buying a 5g kit for her kids and was annoyed he wouldnt sell her fish at the same time.

 

[Big_Als_London]

True ive had an experience like that with you Aaron, didnt take it personally i was pretty young at the time and it was at the old location on wellington. I dont even recall the exact situation however please dont change, the ones that truly care about the hobby respect that stand point of yours. Who cares if a few soccer moms get angry because you wont sell them fish the same day you are selling an aquarium.

I saw this exact situation happen to the 1 young guys at your store just a few months ago, the lady was buying a 5g kit for her kids and was annoyed he wouldnt sell her fish at the same time.

Its a really hard situation to be in as we have to try and thrive as a business. The way we do that is sell things. On a daily basis I am turning someone down because they are adding too much to their tank or I void the warranty (freshwater). Most of the salt water customers now a days just don't seem to care. They usually use the well so and so at this place said it would be fine for a yellow tang to go in a 30 gallon until I set up a new system. Every customer has plans of setting up a new bigger system but 5% of them actually do it in the near future.

I just hope that with my honesty as opposed to just trying to sell them stuff will earn the customers trust and they come back to my store and not go back to the other stores that may just agree with the customer to get the sale. Freshwater is bad for this because people don't see it as an animal. They see it as a decoration for their house so their is no loyalty and no feelings towards the animal. Fish are replaceable to them. We get it all the time. "I'm just trying to get the same looking fish so that my child doesn't notice. So they purchase another goldfish for their bowl and go on with their day. If I don't sell them one then they go down the road to petsmart or one of our other competitors and spend their money there.

Sorry to vent lol

 

[Neopimp]

That's a funny story.

My father knew the owner of the market pet shop and we used to go there every couple of weeks. So being a nice guy that he was he gave me 2 pet rats. They were supposed to both be male but guess what they were a pair. I think we had about 50 or 60 rat babies over the next few months until my parents had had enough and we brought everything back to the market. I'm not sure what they ever did with all those rats but I imagine they became snake food.

My fish story is actually about the place where I work now.

Back before I worked here, I used to help put fish away in the middle of the night. It was fun for me to see all the cool fish. I also got paid in fish supplies which was also awesome. So I decided I was going to turn one of my tanks into a salt water tank. I banked enough hours for some live rock and sand salt and a few fish. So the first night I setup the tank and put in some miracle Bacteria that was going to make the water good to be able to add fish once it clears. The next day I walked into the store and brought home a lionfish, snowflake eel and a dog face puffer. All for my 30 gallon tank. Within 2 week everything had ich and after a month I only had the puffer left. That's when I realized I should do my own research and not listen to a sales guy.

Its also why I try so hard to make sure anyone that buys from me knows what they are getting themselves into. I've been called a lot of names over the years because I won't sell fish to certain people because their tank isn't ready or because they put in a miracle bacteria that magically cycles your aquarium over night.

Stupid sales guy. Don't tell me what to do!!!! You're not my dad!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[EZMac]

I remember the parrot

 

[TORX]

One of my worse treatments at a LFS was a local one. They refused to sell me a fish before bringing in water to test. This was when I had my 120 long set up with coral and fish. I insisted that my water was fine and tested with RedSea water test kits and explained the entire set up. She still refused. I pointed out their one tank that was literally a wall of bubble algae and a floating dead fish in the same tank and she still refused to sell me a fish without testing my water. Keep in mind that I live in Blenheim and they are in Chatham, the store takes about a half an hour to drive there for me. I was not about to drive home just for a water sample. I went across the street and bought up most of their salt water stuff just in spite. lol.

Other then that I have been pretty lucky. I do not have any horror stories or tank crashes that have scarred me. Slight mini scare when my hob overflow failed on my bar tank when i was not home. Wife handled it better then I thought she would. Maybe because she wanted me to pull up the carpet and do new flooring anyways.

 

[Salty Cracker]

I remember the parrot

If you said "get your head scratched" he would put his head over against the bars and he would let you scratch him. Cool bird.

 

[Matt1997]

I have had a few spiteful moments at fish stores. I was close with a few of them. I had a sales arrangement at one point with one where it was commission based. Sent a lot of business each other’s way. I had texts from people saying they wanted a tank every few days because of this store. Still good friends with the owners unfortunately they are no longer in the business. I went into this one store and I asked the sales manager if he was interested in buying a tank off me. He just kinda chuckled and laughed me off saying how he can get anything he wants for cheaper working at a pet store. so I went to the back and asked the stocking manager if he was interested. He at least gave me the decency to ask about the tank had me leave my number and if he “heard” anything he would let me know. What the sales manager didn’t end up finding out is I was offering a 300 gallon starfire front double overflow marineland tank with the Monterey stand and canopy for $800. Later that day the guy who gave me a chance sends me a personal text asking about the tank and how he would love to take it. I still offer most of my large tanks to shops in case they ever do want one and have made a few food, tank, light donations to them as well. A few other fine moments come at the same store with obviously clear new employees. I wanted to buy a pair of clowns but wanted an occelaris and a black occelaris but the deal listed was only for two of the same kinds so the employee was denying the mix and match deal. I guess the manager caught the end of the conversation where I was told “no sorry” and jumped in with “give him the deal he asked for” and that was that. Also had a smart Alec employee. I was in the shop buying German blue rams and neon tetras for my starfire 30 rimless while eyeballing a nice panda gold aro and marble ray. Employee says something along the lines of “sorry those aren’t going to fit in your 30 gallon I keep mine in a 220”. For some reason I resisted saying “2 of your 220s would fit in my 480 and 3 of your 220s would fit in my 750 but if you want a 300 I’m selling one pretty cheaply”.

Worst moment at a pet shop was when I was younger. Maybe 13 was winter time and I was buying a trio of pbass for my 220 gallon that I had in a heated outdoor shop at our place (maintained around 70s during the day and 50-60 at night). I acclimated the pbass for over an hour but I never looked at the thermometer and I guess it was either a chilly night or the heater failed as I dropped those three pbass in and it was just immediate temperature shock. Measured the temperature in the tank and it was around 58...oops.
Last story. I bought a pair of appistograma cichlids from a big als and after 3 days I no longer saw one of them. I was walking around the tank peeking in all the rocks and plants not seeing anything until I feel under my toes a slightly wet slimy thing. Had one of those ah s*** moments looked down and saw the apisto squished like a pancake under my foot. Brought it back to big als for 7 day warranty not expecting anything. The guy working “inspected it” fishes mouth was open fins slightly torn and compressed like a crepe then decided it appears to have died from some type of infection concluded by the fins and compressed stomach. He also stated that the open mouth may indicate it was gasping for air. Thought in my head was I can assure you there was no lack of oxygen aha. I would then get full store credit.