Petco
- Thread starter smike24
- Start date
luizdameerkat
New member
I dont think buying any animal from a pet shop is a good idea. Like puppies for example. Go to a place that specializes in that animal, at least you know they fully understand the creature. Like an actual fish store or a dog breeder.
terrypercula
New member
In fairness not all petcos are bad. Some are pretty decent. The one here had an eel in with a bunch of baby clowns -_- I grabbed the manager and told him the eel needed to be removed to it's own tank or in a tank with bigger fish and he offered me a job on the spot lol
Goldndoodle
New member
There are 3 Petcos in Metro Detroit that sell saltwater. 2 are absolute crap, and I totally agree with you that those locations need to stop torturing (selling) livestock.
The 3rd location is amazing! I've talked to the guy that runs that Fish section, and he is very knowledgeable. His livestock all seem to be doing well, and the tanks are very clean.
I think Petco's problem is - they don't always have knowledgeable staff. They just hire someone at min wage, hand them a list of chores that needs to be done everyday, and put them in charge of it. Without the proper knowledge, they won't succeed. Apparently, on occasion though, they do employ someone with knowledge, and who cares, and the section thrives.
Along these same lines, there are some LFSs that should also get out of the business. I've walked into a couple of LFSs in Metro Detroit, turned around and left before getting 5 feet into the store. Brown slimy tanks, and the stench that accompanies it, is the sure sign of a poorly run store. But when I do find a great LFS, with great livestock and knowledgeable staff, it's worth the drive to go there, no matter how far away it is!
The 3rd location is amazing! I've talked to the guy that runs that Fish section, and he is very knowledgeable. His livestock all seem to be doing well, and the tanks are very clean.
I think Petco's problem is - they don't always have knowledgeable staff. They just hire someone at min wage, hand them a list of chores that needs to be done everyday, and put them in charge of it. Without the proper knowledge, they won't succeed. Apparently, on occasion though, they do employ someone with knowledge, and who cares, and the section thrives.
Along these same lines, there are some LFSs that should also get out of the business. I've walked into a couple of LFSs in Metro Detroit, turned around and left before getting 5 feet into the store. Brown slimy tanks, and the stench that accompanies it, is the sure sign of a poorly run store. But when I do find a great LFS, with great livestock and knowledgeable staff, it's worth the drive to go there, no matter how far away it is!
terrypercula
New member
One giant +1 to all of this. I've got fairly good stores by me but one store is just a general pet store and the guy who runs the reef section doesn't know what the **** he's talking about and that department looks like total crap.
zamboni200000
Member
Where is the good one in the Detroit area?
thats halarious
gone fishin
New member
It is a new year.
the local pet supplies plus here recently moved to a ginormous building. they now have a saltwater section. the tanks are always sparkling clean. however, along with the usual clown fish and damsels, they are stocking things like clams, flame scallops, eels, some extremely hard-to-care-for fish and every damn tank has at least one cleaner wrasse in it.
of course, i can't help but look when i'm in there buying salt and if there are no employees around and some dad is standing there with his little kid and says "pick out a pretty fish", i try to educate w/o being pushy. once, a woman came in, having recently cycled a 10g tank. of course, she is picking fish out right and left, including a yellow tang. the employee had 6...count 'em, SIX...fish bagged up for her. i had a come-apart right there on the spot. lady ended up taking 0 fish home. i told her she needed to at least go online and research before she buys. employee just kinda shrugged and walked away.
makes me nuts.
of course, i can't help but look when i'm in there buying salt and if there are no employees around and some dad is standing there with his little kid and says "pick out a pretty fish", i try to educate w/o being pushy. once, a woman came in, having recently cycled a 10g tank. of course, she is picking fish out right and left, including a yellow tang. the employee had 6...count 'em, SIX...fish bagged up for her. i had a come-apart right there on the spot. lady ended up taking 0 fish home. i told her she needed to at least go online and research before she buys. employee just kinda shrugged and walked away.
makes me nuts.
faithenfire
it's all IMO
the petco by me is decent, but the most the employees....i feel bad for the livestock.
Reefvet
New member
For every Petco there's probably 20 LFS that don't have a clue.
Tell me you've never walked into a LFS and seen tanks that look horrible.
darren.funk
New member
Petco is better than you think. This is where I get my initial start up of fish/LR besides one other LFS Tropical Kingdom. The Petco aquatic in my town are very knowledgable and they have 20+yr old tanks of their own. I'm from Arizona so we don't have an ocean right next to us like Florida or California so we raise ours in local habitats around AZ. I buy LR & frags from Phoenix and I'm in Tucson. It depends on where you are.
