not bad, petsmart.

[Glasstapper]

I had to go to petsmart today to get some more silicone for my mbuna cave project and, as always, I take a look at the fish that I'll never buy from there. Usually, I see a lot of nipped fins, dirty tanks, diseased fish, dead fish...it's usually pretty gross. I can't believe people buy fish from those tanks.

Anyway, I noticed that all of the tanks were clean, I didn't spot one dead fish, and I couldn't see any obviously sick fish (except for one red oscar that looked green and deformed). I don't know if they have someone new in the department that is doing their job or what, but it looked great. I asked an employee when their most recent shipment came in, and she said it was Wednesday, so it wasn't because they were all new. I was especially eyeballing their tiger oscars. Their color was very bright and they were very active as opposed to their usual faded color and sluggish behavior. Their info was still wrong, though. They had jack dempseys labeled as growing up to 6 inches. yeah right!

Now let's just hope they can keep this up. *fingers crossed*

[cocoa_pleco]

One time my LFS had a 150 gal with oscars, 1 for 40$ or 6 for 150$, and one was sitting on its side gasping for breath. SAD

But when I went to petsmart thursday the only thing was a auratus was flshing a bit.

[Drumachine09]

I stopped buy my walmart on my way back from my lfs (after getting my ghost shrimps) to get some tubifex worm cubes that my corys so desperatly love, whn i notices, that there was not ONE even close to decent looking tank. It made me sick to my stomach to see all of those fish in such a terrible condition. But what REALLY set me off was the TATTOED ballon mollies. These were white mollies with a pink heart tattoed into their skin! Ridiculous. I cant belive it. Top notch walmart, top friggen notch.

[Glasstapper]

any time I see tattooed or dyed fish, I want to cry. I'm glad I haven't seen any of those in person for a while. The privately owned store I go to and the Petsmart doesn't seem to carry those, which I am happy about. I'd probably make a scene if I saw one of those blueberry oscars or those gouramis with a tattoo of a flower and lipstick on them. I want to beat up the person holding the needle full of ink.

[Drumachine09]

any time I see tattooed or dyed fish, I want to cry. I'm glad I haven't seen any of those in person for a while. The privately owned store I go to and the Petsmart doesn't seem to carry those, which I am happy about. I'd probably make a scene if I saw one of those blueberry oscars or those gouramis with a tattoo of a flower and lipstick on them. I want to beat up the person holding the needle full of ink.


I saw we start a big angry mob!

[bettaboy691]

now that is sick, why the hell would anybody want a tattoed fish?its a real shame petstores dont keep their fish tanks up to scratch.those poor fish

[Drumachine09]

now that is sick, why the hell would anybody want a tattoed fish?its a real shame petstores dont keep their fish tanks up to scratch.those poor fish


i know the hearts are on the balloon mollies for valentines day, and they tattoo them because, well, lets face it, there are a LOT of dumbasses (pardon my french) who get suckered into buying this crap.

[Wallyfish]

Most people don't know about tattoed fish. The people who work there didn't know either. The Wal-Marts in my area regularly carry mixed-fruit tetras. I wonder if he would keep special ordering them, if thier pet manager actually knew.

[Glasstapper]

well, like Wallyfish said, people just don't know (and don't think) that it is detrimental to the fish. Remember that a lot of people that keep fish see them as only a piece of furniture and not as a pet.

People who sell and/or purchase tattooed fish are possibly unaware, therefore that merely makes them ignorant. If they were properly educated on the effects of tattoos on fish, they may change their mind about purchasing and/or selling them.

However, the ones that are full aware of what tattooed fish are and continue to buy/sell them are the stupid ones.

[cocoa_pleco]

WTF they tattoo fish too??

[jeffs99dime]

yes, unfortunately they do. one of the most common fish affected by this practice is the glassfish, which then become a painted glassfish. there are so many different species, too many to list. very sick!

[cocoa_pleco]

Glass fish are a major target.
Are glowlight tetras died???

[kimmers318]

Unfortunately the majority of dyed fish that I have seen were done in a manner that would not be obvious to the buyer.....as what happened to myself. I had no idea that white skirt tetras don't come in a nice shade of pink:confused: the coloring was not so obvious as to look like "what the heck"! But I can't see even the stupidest purchaser walking in to a petstore and believing that the fish naturally come with a heart on it's body just for Valentines day!
The painted glassfish I saw were also obvious as the coloring was sooooo bold, and just along the top of it that it should make anyone wonder. Some people don't care, others don't know, all we can do is educate when we are visiting and we see people looking. I have regularly told people since I found out about dyeing "did you know that is not the natural color of that fish....it is dipped in dye to achieve that color, usually after doing something to its skin to make the dye stain better." I have noticed too that since some people have started to speak out about it, letters have been sent etc I see less dyed fish.

[Drumachine09]

Its SOOOOO inhumane to dye fish.

[Severus]

I have to agree with you there. My Petsmart is usually pretty good with their tanks and upkeep. I'll admit i have bought a few fish there and they have all done well. I guess it is just certain managers and their dedication to their job

[jeffs99dime]

Glass fish are a major target.
Are glowlight tetras died???

no, BUT any fish could be dyed, however.

[Incredulous_Ed]

yes, unfortunately they do. one of the most common fish affected by this practice is the glassfish, which then become a painted glassfish. there are so many different species, too many to list. very sick!
When I see those died glasfish, they are really ugly! I can't understand why someone would buy one for it's looks.

[jeffs99dime]

When I see those died glasfish, they are really ugly! I can't understand why someone would buy one for it's looks.

apparently a lot of people think they look cool. these are more than likely the same people who do not know about the dying process due to their being uneducated about it. the dyers (people), if you want to call them that, who conduct the fish dying process, use the consumer's lack of knowledge to their advantage. pretty sick!