Petsmart lists Dwarf Puffers as "Community fish"

[willisrad]

Hahahah.
I went to petsmart today, and to my surprise, they had dwarf puffers.

They were listed as tropical community fish!

I told the guy that worked there, but he knew himself that they were very agressive, but the actually pre-printed tag from Petsmart corporate listed them as a community fish.

I love it.

[xoolooxunny]

That's just out of control. Seriously, you'd think that since your getting paid to do a job, you'd do it right (referring to corporate). However, that store worker should have made his own little tag for the tank, because he definitely won't be there all the time to tell people.

[willisrad]

Yeah,
I've dealt with quite a few people at petsmart.
It's definitely a hit or miss kind of place.

There are some people there who are GREAT, friendly, helpful, knowledgable.........and some people who really just aren't.

But, they were going for a really good price.......something like 2.50 a piece or something. But they were pretty pretty small.

I'm thinking about giving them a shot, and when they get larger and a little more agressive it'll be an excuse to get another tank!

[xoolooxunny]

I'm thinking about giving them a shot, and when they get larger and a little more agressive it'll be an excuse to get another tank!

that, my friend, is a beautiful game plan.

[jeffs99dime]

it does not suprise me that Petsmart lists them as such, they're a big business corporation

[gm72]

I see the same thing in a variety of stores. Sometimes they try to be TOO helpful though. I walked out of a place a few weeks ago because the girl was totally grilling me about stocking my already cycled 40 gallon long. I knew exactly what was going to go in there and she was trying to explain ammonia spikes to me. I was saying, "yes, I understand, it has already been through a fishless cycle". She didn't get it, I got ticked and just left.

[Chrona]

I see the same thing in a variety of stores. Sometimes they try to be TOO helpful though. I walked out of a place a few weeks ago because the girl was totally grilling me about stocking my already cycled 40 gallon long. I knew exactly what was going to go in there and she was trying to explain ammonia spikes to me. I was saying, "yes, I understand, it has already been through a fishless cycle". She didn't get it, I got ticked and just left.

You should have just asked for her number. Ends those kinds of conversations much quicker.

[Rue]

Okay...let's see now...we want the LFS employees to be:

1. Totally knowledgable about all their fish...
2. Know when to ask questions of customers...
3. Know when NOT to ask questions of customers...
4. Fix incorrect info. put out by corporate management...and not get fired...
5. Be willing to work for min. wage....

...and all that from what are predominantly high-school seniors?

Ain't gonna happen...:hmm3grin2orange:

[Chrona]

Okay...let's see now...we want the LFS employees to be:

1. Totally knowledgable about all their fish...
2. Know when to ask questions of customers...
3. Know when NOT to ask questions of customers...
4. Fix incorrect info. put out by corporate management...and not get fired...
5. Be willing to work for min. wage....

...and all that from what are predominantly high-school seniors?

Ain't gonna happen...:hmm3grin2orange:

Lot's of kids know quite a bit about fishkeeping though. The LFS's just need to be more picky about who they hire. It's in their best interest anyways :)

If I had the chance, I would probably give up my internship for a summer and work at a LFS, because I love the hobby. They just need more nutjobs like us ;)

[Drumachine09]

They just need more nutjobs like us ;)


LMAO! Ha, thats the truth though. Not everyone works at a LFS becuase they want to work with fish.

[gm72]

True, very true.

[xoolooxunny]

they should give a fish keeping quiz, and not tell them that they are going to get one. that way, they'll try and do the best they can to get hired in the store, and the people with low stores can work stock and check out, meanwhile filtering the fish gurus into the correct dept...

[Drumachine09]

they should give a fish keeping quiz, and not tell them that they are going to get one. that way, they'll try and do the best they can to get hired in the store, and the people with low stores can work stock and check out, meanwhile filtering the fish gurus into the correct dept...


Force them to learn eh? lol

[kimmers318]

As stated, ain't gonna happen when these kids make minimum wage. And if they did get someone in there with knowledge who tried to tell someone not to buy a fish they would probably get in trouble for messing up a sale! Petsmart is getting better, I know they were the recipients of some letters that were sent by alot of aquarists, but they still need work. I have seen listings for plecos saying they get to be 8-10 inches......well, our common got to be 15"! It's less stress to continue to educate the people buying the fish on forums like these.
Someone taking home a dwarf puffer will certainly learn quickly!

[Lady Hobbs]

Okay...let's see now...we want the LFS employees to be:

1. Totally knowledgable about all their fish...
2. Know when to ask questions of customers...
3. Know when NOT to ask questions of customers...
4. Fix incorrect info. put out by corporate management...and not get fired...
5. Be willing to work for min. wage....

...and all that from what are predominantly high-school seniors?

Ain't gonna happen...:hmm3grin2orange:

You just scored a touch-down for my team!!!!!!!

Corporate employees do things corporates way or don't have a job.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Most of the people at my petsmart at pretty good. There is this one guy who knows alot! But then there is this other lady who doesn't know so much, but I guess is better than the average pet store employee.

[Drumachine09]

But then there is this other lady who doesn't know so much


Sounded like Borat for a sec =P


Whenever i hear someone giving untrue advice, or someone needs help and the workers cant help them, i step up to the plate and help the customer to the best of my abilites. I encourage you all to do the same. Eventually, some corperations MIGHT catch on and hire more qualified people.

[coachfraley]

I was at walmart the other day (I try not to go there), and I noticed they had a fish department. I walked over to see what fish they had in stock and I was suprised to see some fish that I do not normally see at my LFS (oto cats and green puffers). While I was standing there looking, a kid asked the walmart employee if the puffer needed any special type of care as opposed to the other fish. The employee started out ok by saying that a heater and a filter would be a good thing, but then she said, "but they keep beta fish in little cups, so you could probably just get a fish bowl and put him in there, he will probably be fine"

I am very new to the hobby, but this was enough to send my jaw dropping. When the employee walked away, I told the young man that if we was really interested in the puffer, that he would probably need to spend at least $150 on equipment if he wanted to keep the fish alive for any period of time. I explained that all the little items you need to buy add up really quick, so you need to make sure you want to spend that much before you just buy the fish. He appreciated the advice and said he was going to think about it.

The Petsmart employees seem like rocket scientists compared to walmart pet staff!!!!

[Incredulous_Ed]

I would have confronted the employee! Did the kid end up buying the puffer?

[coachfraley]

no, he ended up walking away...I think I talked him out of it

[kenyth]

Doesn't surprise me. Wal-Mart stores are lucky if they have one knowledgable fish person on staff. Most people see fish as disposable pets anyway. This isn't going to change anytime soon.

You can complain all you want, but if it wasn't for the Wal-Mart fish department and other mega-store fish departments, many people would not be able to purchase fish at all.

[Chrona]

You can complain all you want, but if it wasn't for the Wal-Mart fish department and other mega-store fish departments, many people would not be able to purchase fish at all.

Might be better off that way, heh. The fish from there usually all end up dying anyways. And it would encourage more mom and pop stores.

[gm72]

I don't usually have very good luck with their fish despite trying my best.

[nava2468]

Hello all. It appears that there is some confusion as to what species of puffer Wal-Mart carries and as to what type of water (fresh or brackish) the “green spotted puffer” needs. There are three types that are very similar. Tetraodon Schoutedeni, Tetraodon fluviatilis, and Tetraodon nigroviridis. The problem is that Wal-Mart does not identify their fish by the definitive Latin name. But they can be discerned by the shape and some tell tale spines on the belly of the fish. The T. Schoutedeni (aka: spotted Congo Puffer, has a “club-like” shape to its body. In addition, it is the only one with two backward pointing spines on its belly. Its not a green as the other two and has kind of brownish background to its spots. The T. fluviatilis (green Puffer) has a more torpedo shape to its body, longer sloping head and back region. Kind of elongated. The T. nigroviridis (spotted green puffer) this is the most common one to be assumed as the fish in Wal-Mart and Pet Smart , is pretty much spherical, like a globe or balloon. And it tends to have smaller dots. In that the t. Schoutedeni is purely a freshwater fish from the Congo River, that forms the Malebo pool (formerly Stanley Pool) near its terminus. Give it no more salt than any other freshwater fish, or it will die. I have killed my share (one) due to this confusion. Good luck to you all…….

[riverfish81]

I know they are an agressive fish and aren't a communtiy fish genre, but can you put freshwater puffers with any other kind of fish? Curious because that's what I was thinking of putting in my 30 gallon.

[cocoa_pleco]

you MAY have luck with some fish that are large, peaceful, and with very short tails. Generally puffers are species only