Yeah :/ it's so sad.
People know Nothing these Days
So, I got a job at a local pet store last week and decided to come in a extra day. Sure enough, people came to by betta fish. A man asked me if I could baggage up a Dragon Scale betta for him, so I did. At the checkout I asked him "Do you have a tank for your new fish?" He said "A filtered tank? My son has a bowl..." and then he went on about how his son said bowls were okay.
Three hours later, a little girl and her mom come in to buy a CrownTail betta. They said they lived an hour away from the pet store, so I packaged it in a cup with a sealed lid for them, I added a bit of food too. I asked them if they had a tank for it, and the mom said they were buying one. I recommended several 3 gallon starter kits, but the mom said "Too expensive" or "Too fancy" Her daughter said "Look over here, mommy!" and pointed at the tanks made by the company "Betta" The tank was tiny and pink.
Seriously, people need to RESEARCH before getting fish. Badly.
Three hours later, a little girl and her mom come in to buy a CrownTail betta. They said they lived an hour away from the pet store, so I packaged it in a cup with a sealed lid for them, I added a bit of food too. I asked them if they had a tank for it, and the mom said they were buying one. I recommended several 3 gallon starter kits, but the mom said "Too expensive" or "Too fancy" Her daughter said "Look over here, mommy!" and pointed at the tanks made by the company "Betta" The tank was tiny and pink.
Seriously, people need to RESEARCH before getting fish. Badly.
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I have to wonder how many of the people pointing fingers at pet store employees for bad info are really the moms walking out with their kids betta and a tiny pink tank lol. Wouldn't that be a twist on recent posts ;-)
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So true! XD some employs know what they are doing. its just the parents don't listen to the advice.I have to wonder how many of the people pointing fingers at pet store employees for bad info are really the moms walking out with their kids betta and a tiny pink tank lol. Wouldn't that be a twist on recent posts ;-)
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I have that issue with dog grooming. Telling people to brush their long haired dogs every day to every other day to keep them from matting...but do they listen...no. Than I have to shave down a matted doggie. =/
lol in defense of an owner of a long haired doggie, no way would she sit still every day to be brushed. Shaving her is waaaaaaay less stressful.So true! XD some employs know what they are doing. its just the parents don't listen to the advice.
I have that issue with dog grooming. Telling people to brush their long haired dogs every day to every other day to keep them from matting...but do they listen...no. Than I have to shave down a matted doggie. =/
But yeah, i've seen pet store employees (my petsmart actually has really knowlegeable ppl in their fish section) and ppl TOTALLY ignore it. Ppl won't balk at a $150 cat tree for their cat, but a $50 tank for their fish is out of the question.
One of my dogs is a chihuahua-papillon mix. First log haired dog out of 14. I've made a habit of brushing her every other day or so - brushing often makes it easier. Pretty sure she will be my last long haired dog too 
I've never owned a long haired dog before .. But I have a five yr old girl with fine curly hair ! That counts the same , no? Would be a shame to have to shave her ;-)
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very true, but most of the people like their dogs left long and we are considered the bad buys that have to tell them they are matted and have to be shaved. lollol in defense of an owner of a long haired doggie, no way would she sit still every day to be brushed. Shaving her is waaaaaaay less stressful.
But yeah, i've seen pet store employees (my petsmart actually has really knowlegeable ppl in their fish section) and ppl TOTALLY ignore it. Ppl won't balk at a $150 cat tree for their cat, but a $50 tank for their fish is out of the question.
Hahaha XDOne of my dogs is a chihuahua-papillon mix. First log haired dog out of 14. I've made a habit of brushing her every other day or so - brushing often makes it easier. Pretty sure she will be my last long haired dog too
BUAHAHAHAHA!!!! yeah. XDI've never owned a long haired dog before .. But I have a five yr old girl with fine curly hair ! That counts the same , no? Would be a shame to have to shave her ;-)
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I feel ya. That's my every day struggle working in a pet store.
I think my biggest "face-palm" moment was when someone asked if we sold "algae eaters" (she meant plecos). When I said no, she asked why we sold bettas and not "algae eaters", to which I explained that bettas are easier to maintain with water changes in the pet store. When I told her there was no need to have "algae eaters" in betta tanks, she asked "Well then how on earth do you keep your tank clean?" I replied, "I clean them myself, it takes only a minute or two"... She looked at me like I had something growing out of my ears... >.>
I don't understand why people think that because they have "algae eaters" in their tanks, that they never have to do water changes.
I also get parents and grandparents coming in every day, wanting to buy a goldfish for their kid to put in a small bowl because "They are easy to replace if they die"... I always go into intense detail about betta care with these people and I often end up talking them out of buying one. They want a pet for their kid or grandkid and don't expect to have to take care of it... I once told a customer, who insisted that she wanted a fish in a small bowl, that Walmart sells these great little robotic fish that LOVE to be in a small bowls XD She didn't look too impressed.
I think my biggest "face-palm" moment was when someone asked if we sold "algae eaters" (she meant plecos). When I said no, she asked why we sold bettas and not "algae eaters", to which I explained that bettas are easier to maintain with water changes in the pet store. When I told her there was no need to have "algae eaters" in betta tanks, she asked "Well then how on earth do you keep your tank clean?" I replied, "I clean them myself, it takes only a minute or two"... She looked at me like I had something growing out of my ears... >.>
I don't understand why people think that because they have "algae eaters" in their tanks, that they never have to do water changes.
I also get parents and grandparents coming in every day, wanting to buy a goldfish for their kid to put in a small bowl because "They are easy to replace if they die"... I always go into intense detail about betta care with these people and I often end up talking them out of buying one. They want a pet for their kid or grandkid and don't expect to have to take care of it... I once told a customer, who insisted that she wanted a fish in a small bowl, that Walmart sells these great little robotic fish that LOVE to be in a small bowls XD She didn't look too impressed.
We really thought about getting our son a goldfish because they ARE easy to replace if they die. Same with a hamster. They all look the same. Except I had goldfish as a child, and man were they BORING! Also, my son would likely pick out the ONE goldfish that was different and if it died, i'd spend forever looking for one just like it. We got a betta thinking it would be easy. It turns out to be just as much work as our dog, and our cat, and just as expensive. However, he'd be just as upset now if his fishie died as he would be if kitty or doggie died, and so we spend time and money keeping all 5 fishies (seriously these things are like crack! it's hard to get just one!) healthy and happy.I feel ya. That's my every day struggle working in a pet store.
I also get parents and grandparents coming in every day, wanting to buy a goldfish for their kid to put in a small bowl because "They are easy to replace if they die"... I always go into intense detail about betta care with these people and I often end up talking them out of buying one. They want a pet for their kid or grandkid and don't expect to have to take care of it... I once told a customer, who insisted that she wanted a fish in a small bowl, that Walmart sells these great little robotic fish that LOVE to be in a small bowls XD She didn't look too impressed.
Lets tell kids that it's GREAT to torture and neglect a living being to death, then chuck it out and just buy a new one! That is JUST what society needs!
I like to keep a good balance with my children. I do expect them to take care if their pets .. Absolutely .. And because they show interest I reward them with more in depth understanding .. They get really happy to find out part of their husbandry caused this good response . Like .. The live foods you've been feeding your scarlet badis are making them come out to the glass when they see you . Giving your dragons attention and time out of their enclosures is in turn teaching them to listen and obey you more .
Buuutt ... I don't want all this to be so unrealistic so I don't treat or as such .. Your fish , shrimp, dragon, or dog might die .. Yes.. This is true so be prepared And give them your best till it's time . And if their time comes and they don't pass when they should for their own good .. It's time to face that decision too .. Together. I find it very sad that other households any pet is allowed to go so forgotten .. It doesn't happen here. I have to fight with my kids to get time with my own pets because I've encouraged such a deep understanding .. They both know the dragons and dog and fish will be gone by college (except a dragon or two that may have exceptionally long lives) . They've had to bury a frilled dragon , decide on euthanizing a dog , culled their own fish ... I know to many this sounds terrible but I've taught them the ability to sway with change ... And the ability to care deeply for others .
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Buuutt ... I don't want all this to be so unrealistic so I don't treat or as such .. Your fish , shrimp, dragon, or dog might die .. Yes.. This is true so be prepared And give them your best till it's time . And if their time comes and they don't pass when they should for their own good .. It's time to face that decision too .. Together. I find it very sad that other households any pet is allowed to go so forgotten .. It doesn't happen here. I have to fight with my kids to get time with my own pets because I've encouraged such a deep understanding .. They both know the dragons and dog and fish will be gone by college (except a dragon or two that may have exceptionally long lives) . They've had to bury a frilled dragon , decide on euthanizing a dog , culled their own fish ... I know to many this sounds terrible but I've taught them the ability to sway with change ... And the ability to care deeply for others .
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I know, it's so sad and makes me want to cry, and then yell at them
I do think that the parents are part of it. Ive gone into my petco and watched employees give wrong information (like bettas need .5 gallons max and don't need water changes but just "topping off" the tank when it water level gets low) but the parents are just as bad when I go up to them and give them the correct information. They'll say "oh that sounds like a lot of work. I thought fish were easy to keep" or "I don't want to spend that much money, its just for my kid" or "its gonna die in a couple of months so why put in so much effort?"
I had a dog (who was said to be chiwawa but looked like a shepard/ jack rustle) who got horrendous dreadlocks on his butt is not brushed daily. that was the only place
So today a customer asked for some Ghost Shrimp for their tank, and we happened to be out at the moment. I suggested some mini lobsters like the albino mini lobsters, but they said "Lobsters are sea food, why do you even sell them?" Then I explained to them how minis are not sea food, but they still said "You need to sell Ghost Shrimp, their easier to care for."
Shrimp and lobsters are pretty much the same thing, at least part of the same family, anyhow.
Shrimp and lobsters are pretty much the same thing, at least part of the same family, anyhow.
Your customer was kinda right in a weird way if wording it. Lobsters are in fact saltwater .. And are 8+ inches long.. What you must be talking about is a type of crayfish . Crayfish look the same but are freshwater and are up to 8inches depending on species . That's a pretty significant difference .
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