New Pet Store Employee-- Please Help.

P

P17

New member
Hi!

I just got hired at a pet store in the fish department. I've been an aquarium hobbyist for several years, but I've only ever done freshwater. I'm pretty confident in what I can offer customers as far as that goes, but I'm really nervous about having to help anyone with anything involving salt.

I know basically nothing about saltwater tanks.

The chain I work for isn't exactly known for pumping out highly trained employees, so I'm not expecting much from my in store training. Obviously, I want to do well as an employee. However, as first and foremost a hobbyist myself, I really want to do a good job helping other hobbyists or potential hobbyists. I don't want to be part of another big chain horror story. I had plenty of those on the receiving end.

So, I made an account here. I've lurked on fish forums for years, but I've never actually joined any. Figured this was the best way for me to avoid being an idiot at work.

Bottom line: I need help being a competent aquatics employee. I know nothing about salt, and though I've been trying to read as much as I can on my own, it's still kind of intimidating getting into this without any personal guidance. If anyone reading this can give me advice on getting started, I'll be HUGELY grateful. I'm sure my customers will be too.
 
yup, that's a pretty tall order. i've been in this hobby (off and on) for 30 years and i learn new things all the time (mostly by reading reef central ;)). there are a LOT of things to learn/know about even the initial start up of a saltwater tank. i suspect anybody coming to your store with the intentions of starting up a marine tank will most likely know more than you do at this point. at least, that would be my hope!

i agree with the above poster...read as much as you can of the stickies not only in this forum but in the reef discussion, fishes, other inverts, corals, etc.

good luck with your new job!
 
Be honest with the customers...tell them when you don't know the answer, instead of making up an answer. If another employee has 'real' knowledge of salt water keeping, then ask for their help when you need it.
 
You are in a tough spot. Once you read too much here you might get angry with your employers for not stocking quality equipment and selling substandard equipment for a premium.

Just reading the stickies here will give you enough ammo on at the very least not letting anyone come into the store and leave with a tank, salt and fish.
 
albano said:
Be honest with the customers...tell them when you don't know the answer, instead of making up an answer. If another employee has 'real' knowledge of salt water keeping, then ask for their help when you need it.
Click to expand...

+1000, giving someone a wrong answer is wayyyy worse than telling someone you don't know.

If you have the time/space/money my biggest suggestion is start one up :) Nothing teaches ya like doing it yourself.
 
Absolutely. Be careful about hands and nets going between tanks that aren't connected by a sump. There's parasites (marine ich) that can transfer.

But mostly admit when you don't know.
 
Stick to the basics for now. As fasr as fish go carry your smart phone with you, pay for a data plan, and google every fish on your online competetor

www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15...‎CachedSimilar

It'll give you the info your customer will most likely want to know about the fish. Pay attention to the peacefsl semi agrresive and aggressive notations as well as the level of care easy moderate and expert only. It'll tell you how large the fish will get and the suggested tank size. Other quick reference info on this fish will be here as well.

Besides knowing the basics about lighting, flow, and filtration be sure you can quote the foundation requirements of fish only and reef tanks. Remember that all equipment should be rated at about twice the size of the tank.

Past that you should refer them to the experts here on Reef central. HA! No just be sure to tell them they need to brush up and not rush up. Good Luck
 
coralsnaked said:
Stick to the basics for now. As fasr as fish go carry your smart phone with you, pay for a data plan, and google every fish on your online competetor

www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15...‎CachedSimilar

It'll give you the info your customer will most likely want to know about the fish. Pay attention to the peacefsl semi agrresive and aggressive notations as well as the level of care easy moderate and expert only. It'll tell you how large the fish will get and the suggested tank size. Other quick reference info on this fish will be here as well.
Click to expand...

That would be my advice as well. There is no way you are going to learn saltwater quickly, but you can get a long way by learning fish sizes, tank requierments and compatibility, even if only by species.

I was at the fish store the other day browsing, and I over heard the guy tell a customer that a 1" grouper she was looking at needed a humongous tank and she should leave him be. I thought, "œHey. That guy knows what he's talking about. Refreshing."
 
My advice would be to get the basics down by reading all the stickies, then start up your own little reef. Then you'll have knowledge AND experience that others will appreciate.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the advice, everyone.

I'd love to have my own saltwater tank, but I don't think it's really feasible for me to add another tank while I'm in grad school. I stopped into a local saltwater specialty store a few months ago out of curiosity and saw an amazing nano reef by their cash register. I might have the room for something like that, but there's no way I'd be comfortable trying a nano reef any time soon.

I'll be sure to look up everything on liveaquaria. One of the things that has me pretty confident about the people running this particular store is that while I was being interviewed, the hiring manager actually recommended something similar. She said they don't allow us to be on our phones while working, but it's cool to keep it handy for reference. I guess just earlier, someone asked her if something was reef friendly and she stopped to look it up.

And I have absolutely no problems admitting that I don't know stuff. That's why I'm here, right?
 
I've had freshwater aquariums since it was a child. I started my very first "modern" salt aquarium in December '13 (I tinkered with them in the early nineties, but I got too busy being twenty something, plus the technology with maintenance has come a LONG way!)
I was just looking to do a FOWLR setup. After reading a lot online and talking to the better LFS, I was confident that I could keep corals. My first was a frogspawn, then got a gold torch, two gonis, a bubble, a maxima and two derasa clams, birds nest, cats paw, turbinaria, lots of zoas, dispar anthias, porcelain crabs, blood red shrimp, helfrichi firefish, black occillarus, blah blah. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I haven't lost a "man" yet.
IMO you need to get your arms wet in saltwater, it's the only way you're really going to learn and teach.
 
New Pet Store Employee-- Please Help.

Where are you located? There's probably a local reef club in your area...join that.

I would suggest (as others have) setting up a small reef...you don't need fancy equipment for the simple stuff.

I would also suggest getting to know some local reefers (not the kind you may have been seeing in college...I'm talking about saltwater reefers). You will find a couple of them that come in the store that "know stuff" (and probably a lot more that THINK they know stuff).
 
Congrats on the new job. Not to worry as you will learn about saltwater from your customers and the staff you work with. Be honest and seek advise if needed.

It is your interest and enthusiasm that will make the difference. Stick with it and continue to ask questions and before you know it you will be providing answers yourself. Have fun and enjoy.

Rick
 
zeebies said:
My advice would be to get the basics down by reading all the stickies, then start up your own little reef. Then you'll have knowledge AND experience that others will appreciate.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I agree! I think reading and asking questions here, along with starting your own reef, will be the best medicine for you! You learn sooooo much more doing it yourself versus just reading it to know it.

You'll learn from some mistakes which is awesome information to pass along to your customers!

Good luck, and HAVE FUN!
 
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