Don't Buy From Petco!!!!!

[jermpool]

Originally Posted by Adrastos

I'd guess about 90% or more of online 'fish people' aren't qualified to give out advice either Yet.. that stops nobody

Good point.

Originally Posted by Bobby

It depends on the particular store, some are good and some are bad.

Guess this is true about the employees as well.

[CrypticAnimal]

Yea, I think they should step up to the plat and have a warranty on there fish like most places..Petsmart even has a small warranty on fish(only fresh)..Also I wouldnt trust what they have to say considering half the people there have no clue what they are talking about..I think they should be fined for the way they take peoples money like that, most of the time you can see how bad the fish and tanks are taken care of but it could just be the one location near me..Last week (while I was picking up bird food)I was lucky enough to notice the test results(for the fresh water tanks) Nitrates in the tank couldnt even register on the test kit ammonia was extremly high (Cant remember exact, the tester was dark green)..The lady told me those were the normal readings for those tanks LOL,and I asked how they were going to fix the problem and she shrugged her shoulders and said she only takes and documents the results..Before u stick more fish in the tank I would let the ick die of first sorry to hear of your loss

[Adrastos]

I think it is very hard in marine aquariums to hold a warranty on fish.. there are way too many variables. Also throw into the mix how little is truely known about saltwater fish and how to duplicate their proper ecosystems that even the most advanced keepers will lose fish quickly for no reason.

Personally, I am tired of the major chains getting a 'bad wrap' because of buyer incompetence. I'd be surprised if this next comment was wrong. The majority of people that complain about the Petco fish dying and taking out others in the tank have never even thought about using a quarantine tank.

For the most parts, those large chains have helped this (and others) more than most will ever know.

Sure, they have a bad image in some areas but I can tell you with 100% certainity that the majority of "mom and pop" stores have much worse conditions than the majority of chain stores.

okay.. I am done with this rant.. but watch out.. there is always more

[JellyMan]

As I said previously I have two beautiful maroons that I purchased from petco there doing great eating always out have yet to see an issue if I do see one then there is usually an explanation for it, ick has to be brought about by stress if there were no stressful situations in the tank then the fish would not be stressed and the ick wouldnt hit. The slightest issue whether it be temp, salinity, ph, nits, ammonia, other fish, parasites, lack of food, lack of oxygen, and with some fish like the ones that have sex for pleasure, lack of sex (dolphins).

[Adrastos]

My Potters Angel is from a chain... We have had him for over 2 years now. A great fish from day one (we were recently told it's rare to keep them alive for more than a year....)

[Reinfinity]

The last time I went to Petco they asked me to leave because I brought my test kit with me so I could compare water conditions. I was told I could not test the water. When I said I would buy the fish (clown trigger) if allowed to first, they politely suggested I try to find one somewhere else.

[Adrastos]

I don't know any store that would allow you to do that! I know when I ran my pet store.. if someone asked me if they could monitor the individual environments of the enclsoures... that was a quick no.

The Petco should keep a running log of their test results - maybe next time to ask to see their log book.