How long will your LFS hold a fish?

[pixelpixi]

I'm going to be out of town next week and I asked my LFS to hold a fish for me because I didn't want to introduce it to my tank right before I left. They said they couldn't do that.

I've been a pretty regular customer... I bought my tank, substrate, a bunch of equipment, and several animals from them. I thought holding a fish for a customer was pretty standard practice, but maybe not?

As I'm still fairly new to the hobby I was just wondering what other people think. Is it unreasonable of me to expect them to hold a fish for 10 days, or is it unreasonable of them not to?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[cl2ysta1]

i'd think if you paid for it, and said if it died they wernt liable i dont see a problem... I've had LFS hold fish for me for up to a week if they just got it in. To make sure it was healthy and eating

 

[tangers]

I've found that the "good stores" tend to not have a problem holding fish. If they question holding a fish for you, maybe you should question buying their fish. I've even had a lfs hold an achilles for me, due to the track record of them, with no problem.

 

[pixelpixi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12674657#post12674657 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangers
I've found that the "good stores" tend to not have a problem holding fish. If they question holding a fish for you, maybe you should question buying their fish. I've even had a lfs hold an achilles for me, due to the track record of them, with no problem.

Thanks, tangers. That's kind of how I felt, but I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the one being unreasonable.

 

[cmlloveless]

The way I see it is that there are 2 types of LFS. There are those that are providing a hobby and know what they are doing when it comes to fish and related practices because they are usualy run by fellow enthusiests(to include holding, quarentineing, etc).

And then there are those that are providing a business and know what they are doing when it comes to business deals. Because it is usually run by by people who know more about making money for the store than about the actual hobby. Or I can refrase that and say that they care more about a dollar than about the health and well being of a customers tank!

To me your LFS seems more like the later. They are not providing a hobby they are providing a fish and it does not matter to them who buys it as long as it is sold! If you ask me any store that will not hold a fish for that short a period of time should be thinking about what they are doing in this industry!

However on the other hand I would not expect them to hold that fish without some sort of NON-REFUNDABLE deposit, unless it dies. You cannot expect them to hold it without the garentee that it will sell. Someone else might want it, they don't sell it because it is on hold, you come back and deside you don't want it, and now they are out the $20-$200. Unless someone else comes along and decides to by it. Not to mention they are spending money on food and filtration media. Which for one fish may not be a lot, but most LFS have more than 1 fish and in order to stay open they have to have greater profit than they are spending!

So long story short with a deposit they most defenetly should hold it even if you were staying in town, just to garuntee its health for 2 weeks. If not look elsewhere for someone who cares about the hobby!

Wow that is a long post!

 

[philter4]

Depends on the fish, I owned a store in San Diego (Tropical Fish World) and there were valid reasons not to hold fish, including if it died almost every cust asked for a credit or lower price on the next one. We made them sign the reciept that no guarentee on death and we froze the body until the cust returned. It only happened twice while I owned the store, but I lost both cust over the dead fish.

Other reasons are a fish that is available all the time, the store doesn't want the headache of holding a fish, just purchase the next one that you see. Other customers come in and ask to buy it and can't, it sometimes puts people off. Also, if they did it for you the next good cust comes in and wants them to do it for them, when does it end, how many fish can they hold for how many custs? Or a fish that needs special care, if the store has to work at taking care of it, it costs them more money and with the way things are going it is hard enough for them to make a living.

I wouldn't get too down on the store, but maybe ask them to have one available when you return, that way It's a win win, you get the fish, they don't have to turn anyone away.

 

[pixelpixi]

thanks, cmlloveless. I guess the reason I'm asking is that I'm trying to figure out which kind of store this really is. I thought it was the former, since it seems to be run by people who are knowledgeable and are enthusiasts themselves. But I was taken aback by this situation, so I'm reconsidering my assessment.

I would have been more than willing to pay a deposit. Unfortunately I didn't think to ask if they'd accept that when I spoke to them, so I don't know if "we don't hold fish" meant "we won't hold a fish without a deposit" or "we won't hold a fish at all."

Overall I suspect this place is somewhere in between... they know fish keeping and are enthusiasts, but have somewhat poor customer service. I'll probably not outright boycott them, but tend to take my business elsewhere more than not.

 

[pixelpixi]

That's an interesting perspective, philter4. A little bit more about the situation...

The fish is a yellowheaded jawfish. When I was first setting my tank up I told the gentleman that I specifically wanted that fish and he helped me choose a substrate appropriate for it. I asked him to get me one when he could and I checked back frequently over the course of about three months, always asking about them.

Finally last week, he got some in and I purchased one on Friday. I thought the fish was doing okay and eating, but it died today. I called and asked him for advice (not for a refund). Water parameters are all excellent and the other inhabitants are healthy, so he thinks that the jawfish wasn't eating the pellets and flakes I was feeding it and that I should have been giving it frozen mysis. That's possible. It seemed like it ate some, but it certainly didn't eat a lot. I had read that jawfish will accept pellets and flakes, but after it died I read elsewhere that they may not.

Regardless, I feel just horrible about it starving after only 4 days, but I still want to try again (this time with frozen food). He still had a couple in stock, so I asked him to hold one.

I guess I expected him to understand why I wanted him to hold it since I'd been trying to get this particular fish for months. I especially expected him to understand why I didn't want to rush into adding a new fish to my tank just before vacation when the first had just died. Perhaps he understood both those things but didn't want to sell me another after I killed the first. I dunno.

Anyway, that's the full story. Thanks, everyone.

 

[juuniz]

you must do realise that some of wild caught fish might have an internal parasite, thats the problem when you do not quarantine your fish, and most LFS don't do that..
Usually they just start selling when it arrives at their shop.

the other things is unless you paid a deposit, its a bit gamble to them to hold a fish for you, because its a living thing, it might died anytime due to any reason..

Just my 2 cents

 

[falconut]

I understand what you mean. There were a few LFS that would hold a fish a couple days for me. All I had to do was call on the phone. No money needed. Only one of these LFS are left, te others have closed due to hard times.

The LFS, which is a very nice store and has very nice and healthy livestock (also the closest to my home) won't hold a fish unless:

You pay in full.
They aren't responsible if it dies.
With a $5 a day fee for holding it.

I have never done this, but this is what they told me over the phone. So, maybe if they saw me in person they might, but I rarely see anything on hold.

 

[chrissreef]

In my area... you can usually pay for a fish, they can hold it for 1-2 days and are not responsible if it dies.

 

[mflamb]

I deal with FAOIS (Fish And Other Ichthy Stuff). They had a beautiful Vlamingi Tang that I wanted, but my QT wasn't quite ready, so John held it for a couple weeks for me. John and Jennifer have been great to deal with. They get me the fish that I want and offer suggestions based on what I have and want.

 

[Aidan]

My LFS will hold fish for up to 3 weeks and you dont even have to put any money down

 

[ssavader]

My LFS held a shy Blue-Chin Trigger for me for 3 weeks until it started eating again. I came in 2x/week to check on it and they tried feeding it each time. I did not take him home until he was eating like a Trigger should. I put down no deposit and paid in full when I took him home. They put a sign on the tank that he was being held, so other customers would see before they became too interested in him. This is called "customer service" for becoming a regular.

If a LFS specializing in fish can't keep a species alive for 3 weeks, then what chance do we have? The cost of water changes, food, filtration, etc., has to be built in to the cost of the fish and/or dry goods. This part of doing business. It should not be an add-on after the fact if a fish has to stay a few extra weeks.

If you are asked to place a deposit, this should be to assure that you purchase it once the fish satisfies the reason for the "hold", and should not be forfeited if the fish perishes during the hold- it is the LFSs job to make sure it does not!

(IMO)

 

[pixelpixi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12681621#post12681621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ssavader
My LFS held a shy Blue-Chin Trigger for me for 3 weeks until it started eating again. I came in 2x/week to check on it and they tried feeding it each time. I did not take him home until he was eating like a Trigger should. I put down no deposit and paid in full when I took him home. They put a sign on the tank that he was being held, so other customers would see before they became too interested in him. This is called "customer service" for becoming a regular.

If a LFS specializing in fish can't keep a species alive for 3 weeks, then what chance do we have? The cost of water changes, food, filtration, etc., has to be built in to the cost of the fish and/or dry goods. This part of doing business. It should not be an add-on after the fact if a fish has to stay a few extra weeks.

If you are asked to place a deposit, this should be to assure that you purchase it once the fish satisfies the reason for the "hold", and should not be forfeited if the fish perishes during the hold- it is the LFSs job to make sure it does not!

(IMO)

Thanks, ssavader, and everyone else too. I'll definitely be looking for a LFS that has better customer service.

 

[just dave]

As you obviously are upset about the situation why not discuss it with them? What do you have to lose? What's the worst thing that can happen? Who knows, maybe there was just some kind of misunderstanding and they would have held it with some monetary security.

 

[Aaroneous]

What store is it? Unless there is some rule about posting the name on here? The LFS I go to always has fish on hold, they just right it on the glass. Ive never had it done so I don’t know what the protocol is as far as deposits and such. The LFS is pretty good and may be close-ish for you; Petaluma. I do agree with ssavader.

 

[pixelpixi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12685859#post12685859 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aaroneous
What store is it? Unless there is some rule about posting the name on here? The LFS I go to always has fish on hold, they just right it on the glass. Ive never had it done so I don’t know what the protocol is as far as deposits and such. The LFS is pretty good and may be close-ish for you; Petaluma. I do agree with ssavader.

It's Albany Aquarium. I was reluctant to mention their name because I don't want to trash them. In their defense, they do seem knowledgeable and their livestock seems in good health.

What's the name of the LFS in Petaluma? Do they have a good selection? Other than another jawfish, I'll probably start looking for a clam, zoanthids, and maybe a xenia or something soon.

Another LFS I've been to that seems really nice is Ocean Treasures in SF. They have a really amazing selection of corals.

 

[Aaroneous]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12686054#post12686054 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pixelpixi
It's Albany Aquarium. I was reluctant to mention their name because I don't want to trash them. In their defense, they do seem knowledgeable and their livestock seems in good health.

What's the name of the LFS in Petaluma? Do they have a good selection? Other than another jawfish, I'll probably start looking for a clam, zoanthids, and maybe a xenia or something soon.

Another LFS I've been to that seems really nice is Ocean Treasures in SF. They have a really amazing selection of corals.

That's cool, I find it's usually best not to mention the name until someone asks; that's why I did Just seems they would do something to help you out since it seems like youve been a good customer and have shown some loyalty to them. The LFS in Petaluma is Northbay Aquatics. They are fairly large and have a good variety of fish and other inverts and corals. Like I said, they are pretty good, not the greatest, but the best around town IMO If you have the time worth checking out. They have a web site, but its never updated and doesnt give much info http://northbayaquatics.com/index.html Ive been curious about stores in the city, so it's good getting some names. Thanks.

 

[LisaD]

it's not uncommon for jawfish to suffer from high mortality when they first come in. surely your LFS knows this. I'd wait until one was in the store and eating at least a week until I bought it. I doubt you starved it in 4 days.

my LFS has always worked with me. they have held fish several weeks for me, on my word that I would buy it. I have been going there at least four or five years.

I even had them "fish-sit" when I was out of town, which they never did for a customer before. I had been medicating a puffer that was very sick with velvet for 2+ weeks. I was netting it out for daily dips in formalin/malachite green and treating the tank with chloroquine phosphate. The fish was looking good, but I was afraid if it relapsed while I was away, it would die. I brought my puffer and an angler from a different tank (nervous about leaving it) for them to "watch" while I was gone. both fish did fine, and they needed to order in a puffer and an angler because customers liked my fish so much.