I worry about our Pet Shops...

[aleiodubua]

ok. This petshop is just starting out with saltwater fish, and I've been trying to help the guy out, yet he's not listening to anything I have to say. Me and my girlfriend went in there today, and I go to looking at his new fish (New Deliveries on Wednesday).

I'm suprized to find a mandarine in with 5 Green Spotted Puffers. I had talked to him before to see if he's keeping the Puffers in brakish like they're suppose to when young, and he said yes.

So today, I asked him if he's changed it to saltwater yet, and he said no, that it's still brakish. I ask him if he knows it's a marine fish, and he tells me "Yeah, I know, I know. I'm keeping him in there to see if he can live through it."

He then tells me that there's a customer that said he'd buy one if it could live in a brakish tank, so they took it upon themselves to try it out. He then later tells me that it's sad to see a fish die.

I'm guessing he's not making much business, and he's doing that to sell the fish, but come on. Don't do that to the little guy. It's just wrong.

Just thought I'd vent to you guys, cause it's been bothering me all day.

 

[MyMonkey]

ASPCA to the rescue? That would frustrate me as well. I must say that I think locally in OKC we have very good shops. I hear great things about the shops in Norman as well, although I have never been to any of them. We are lucky. You may consider approaching him with some material he can read at his liesure. Not sure that he would be receptive to it though. Worth a shot.

 

[captbunzo]

I have a little experience working with some local shops with less then ideal knowledge & practices. Here is a bit of what I have learned:

1. Make friends with them first. Get on their good side.
2. When you deliver suggestions, only do it at a rate of about 1 per every 2-3 visits.
3. When they do something right, vote for them with your money.

Most importantly, make sure you are careful how you come across. Because right below the surface, you are thinking that they are TOTAL nutcases for some of the crazy things they are doing. However, if you hope to be a help there, you can't let them know that. Rather, you have to make them believe that you respect them, and then get them to respect you.

Visit regularly. I try to visit each of my two local LFS once per week. Chat, look at stuff. Within reason, by something - especially when you see them doing things right. Don't let any discussions turn into arguments about the way they are doing things.

UNFORTUNATELY, even though there is AMPLE literature that would help them to realize how crazy they are being with some things, they'll still do those things. And the process of getting them to see the light with some issues is VERY slow.

For instance, it is one of my goals this year to get one of our LFS to start using heaters in their marine tanks. All of these tanks, which hold fish & inverts (of all sorts), are around 68-72 degrees F. That can't be good on her in store survival rates.

But remember, it is a slow process. And with any success, you have to approach this a bit as a politician.

Good luck!

(And yes, for those taking notes, I have resolved (sort of) my issues with one of the two local stores.)

 

[MyMonkey]

Ahhh... Nice job on the resolvement of issues.