MagnusApollo
New member
simply walk into the henrietta petco....
to say I "loathe" that store would give the term "loathe" an almost happy sound to it... These stores are on the same level admiration as the black plague in my eyes.
While I usually avoid this place at what seems like all cost, I was asked to go there and pick up some supplies for the office parrot. This is usually my last option, I would rather visit a smaller "mom and pop" store for all my needs. From the fish to the birds to just about everything. But, sadly i was directed there by the powers that be in my little office. Perhaps out of morbid curiosity I found myself drifting towards the tanks of fish. Like a moth to a flame I somehow am pulled that direction.
And what do I see... If you guess a lovely assortment of fish all housed in a beautifully aquascaped tank designed to each fish's specifications then of course you would must have drank far to much before visiting this site and reading this post....
Lovely assortment of fish yes.. and that is where the dream ends my fish loving friends. I see some lovely large fish all crammed into the same 8 tanks. Some of the most colorful dogfaced puffers I have seen in recent months as well as two (yes two) panda puffers. These puffers cowering in the corners of the tanks as their maurading 4-5 inch long Picasso Trigger tankmates zipped around the tank and would occasionally sink it's teeth into the flesh of the poor puffers.
"spread these out fish out to more tanks" you might think... welll nooo you can't! cause the other tanks are just as packed with other fish. A veritiable cornacopia of lovely fish all squeezed into the the glass boxes that might just be their coffins.
I look at the poor dog face and think that the colors are just right for what I always wanted.... I know it's breaking every rule in my personal code to even think about buying from a petco... But maybe for the reason of rescue...
WAIT.. what am I thinking.. is this how petco makes their money, by making people feel bad that they doll out the money to "rescue" these fish from their captors? Has the fish industry finally gotten down to blackmailing those who care about fish and the fellow animals on this planet????
Perhaps, because my heart pleaded for someone to help these poor fish, perhaps whatever fish gods above (or below) would send down a bolt of lightning to smote this vile company. (preferrably after I have left the building). But, no lighting cometh, the wave of destruction never surges. I stand there staring at these lovely fish realizing that if I save them from this horrible life I simply fund the company to continue their shameful endeavors.
Luckily my care and concern was cut short as I glanced at the price tag of the common dog-faced puffer... $98 dollars! Yes, almost a Franklin for a fish from petco??? could I be reading this right? I am?
So, not only are they hurting the fish they expect only the wealthy to pay for these fish. Perhaps it's someone with brains running the company finally. Make the fish so expensive that no one can possibly by them, and then the problem will inevitably handle itself. The fish are safe, the company goes under, and the person that is responsible for the higher prices transforms back into Neptune and returns to the sea where he figures out his next plan of attack against the invading humans.
This is just my two cents, and a way for me to vent.... I did not "rescue" a fish, but I say it was hard. It felt like I was turning my back on someone I could help. Like the stray in the street that I can bring in and care for. But, unlike the stray, if I bring this one in, it only means that there will be more like him forcibly put there thanks to my caring. It was hard, but perhaps in the end, that is what has made the difference.
I love the hobby, and I care about my fish, I just wish people everywhere had the concerns I have. But, alas, I think we are few and far between.
I hope that when the aliens come down and decide to make us pets that they don't have a PetCo on Pluto.
Two Cents by Magnus.
to say I "loathe" that store would give the term "loathe" an almost happy sound to it... These stores are on the same level admiration as the black plague in my eyes.
While I usually avoid this place at what seems like all cost, I was asked to go there and pick up some supplies for the office parrot. This is usually my last option, I would rather visit a smaller "mom and pop" store for all my needs. From the fish to the birds to just about everything. But, sadly i was directed there by the powers that be in my little office. Perhaps out of morbid curiosity I found myself drifting towards the tanks of fish. Like a moth to a flame I somehow am pulled that direction.
And what do I see... If you guess a lovely assortment of fish all housed in a beautifully aquascaped tank designed to each fish's specifications then of course you would must have drank far to much before visiting this site and reading this post....
Lovely assortment of fish yes.. and that is where the dream ends my fish loving friends. I see some lovely large fish all crammed into the same 8 tanks. Some of the most colorful dogfaced puffers I have seen in recent months as well as two (yes two) panda puffers. These puffers cowering in the corners of the tanks as their maurading 4-5 inch long Picasso Trigger tankmates zipped around the tank and would occasionally sink it's teeth into the flesh of the poor puffers.
"spread these out fish out to more tanks" you might think... welll nooo you can't! cause the other tanks are just as packed with other fish. A veritiable cornacopia of lovely fish all squeezed into the the glass boxes that might just be their coffins.
I look at the poor dog face and think that the colors are just right for what I always wanted.... I know it's breaking every rule in my personal code to even think about buying from a petco... But maybe for the reason of rescue...
WAIT.. what am I thinking.. is this how petco makes their money, by making people feel bad that they doll out the money to "rescue" these fish from their captors? Has the fish industry finally gotten down to blackmailing those who care about fish and the fellow animals on this planet????
Perhaps, because my heart pleaded for someone to help these poor fish, perhaps whatever fish gods above (or below) would send down a bolt of lightning to smote this vile company. (preferrably after I have left the building). But, no lighting cometh, the wave of destruction never surges. I stand there staring at these lovely fish realizing that if I save them from this horrible life I simply fund the company to continue their shameful endeavors.
Luckily my care and concern was cut short as I glanced at the price tag of the common dog-faced puffer... $98 dollars! Yes, almost a Franklin for a fish from petco??? could I be reading this right? I am?
So, not only are they hurting the fish they expect only the wealthy to pay for these fish. Perhaps it's someone with brains running the company finally. Make the fish so expensive that no one can possibly by them, and then the problem will inevitably handle itself. The fish are safe, the company goes under, and the person that is responsible for the higher prices transforms back into Neptune and returns to the sea where he figures out his next plan of attack against the invading humans.
This is just my two cents, and a way for me to vent.... I did not "rescue" a fish, but I say it was hard. It felt like I was turning my back on someone I could help. Like the stray in the street that I can bring in and care for. But, unlike the stray, if I bring this one in, it only means that there will be more like him forcibly put there thanks to my caring. It was hard, but perhaps in the end, that is what has made the difference.
I love the hobby, and I care about my fish, I just wish people everywhere had the concerns I have. But, alas, I think we are few and far between.
I hope that when the aliens come down and decide to make us pets that they don't have a PetCo on Pluto.
Two Cents by Magnus.
