Weird LFS

[Kuli_Loach]

What is some of the weirdest things your LFS has told you? Mine told me not to do water changes and it would level out on it's own, said just leave it and let it go threw on it's own. I still do water changes.:ezpi_wink1:

[Fishguy2727]

'Those pacus will only grow to the size of the tank.' Which I guess is technically true, since they will grow TO THE SIZE OF YOUR TANK, then die. That is how I ended up with 2 9" pacus in a 29 before they died. That was back when I didn't know what I was doing.

[salman]

'Those pacus will only grow to the size of the tank.' Which I guess is technically true, since they will grow TO THE SIZE OF YOUR TANK, then die. That is how I ended up with 2 9" pacus in a 29 before they died. That was back when I didn't know what I was doing.

hahahahaha!

[RobbieG]

Right now my LFS guy is adamant that I have to use an undergravel filter for the salt tank I am setting up. I'm at the point now where I am just going to buy the stupid thing and tell him I used it!

[salman]

A funny thing happend to me today when i went to buy some Gill Fluke medicine.

I saw the medicine and read the instructions in the back, it said it couldn't be used with plants, then i asked if they had another kind they said no, and why. I said because i cant put this when i have plants in the tank. Then hes like who says you cant? I said the bottle. He said sometimes they put that there so the bottle wouldn't look empty. Then i asked, what if i put it in a separate tank? He said you can do that, but remove everything from the tank, like rocks, plants, everything, and especially plants because they will die. Then i told him that he said that bottles lie.. He said no, if you put it in a separate tank, you need to take out everything but in the main tank you can leave everything. WTF!?

[Fishguy2727]

Many are just like many hobbyists and forums, if you don't do it THIS WAY you are a complete idiot and will utterly fail at your hossible attempt at the hobby.

I was talking to the owner at one LFS and brought up NLS. She said it is just another fad, foods are like that, just fads. She obviously hasn't tried it. She is also a self made expert on HITH. It seems everyone knows what causes and cures HITH, yet it also seems they all have a different opinion.

[dev]

I once heard an LFS lady telling a different customer how a goldfish that was treated well could live up to several months.

[cocoa_pleco]

the by far stupidest thing was being told that my 37 year old goldfish could live in my tropical tank. they said that he would be fine in 75F, and he died a week later from swimbladder.

[Drumachine09]

Hmmmm, i might need several posts, as i have seen/heard so many stupid things.

1.) A guy asked the lady at walmart what would be the best food for his goldfish. She told him to use the 10 day feeder blocks, so he doesnt have to mess with them.
Isnt that the point of having fish? I dont know about you guys, but i love feeding my fish.

2.) Angels and Malawis can live together.
This one is a no-brainer

3.) An oscar Is fine in even a 10 gallon, because they "grow to capacity"
I think what she ment was, eventually they will be stunted by the enevitably bad water quality, with lack of swimming space and excercise.



The last two were a few of MANY that i have over heard from this lady at my favorite LFS. I quietly corrected the people she "helped" behind her back, because god forbid the lady that "has been working with fish longer than i have been alive" be wrong.

[RobbieG]

How about "set the tank up and let it run overnight and then come back tomorrow for all your fish"

[modster]

A customer was describing his tank size with his hands and asking the person there what kinda fish he should buy. I think he was describing a 2.5g tank and the staff said "you can get fantails. you probably can fit 4 but 2 would be better."

[Fishguy2727]

Goldfish are fine in 75F. Mixing them with tropical fish is a whole other issue.

[MeganL3985]

I would have to say that i've heard several times that you can buy any type of fish and that they would only grow to the size right for their container. My husband believed that one as well actually. The way I see it. Sure i'll buy my daughter a size 4 shoe, that'll last her a long time, cause her feet will only get as big as the shoes allow. lol.....

[Zerileous]

I had an LFS recomend an Oscar to controll the guppy population in a 10 gallon tank. Never been back.

[harvey]

what about you can get your fish and tank at the same time. They will be fine until you get your tank set up..............that is how I got into this. They told my son that at Wal Mart and he came home with fish and a 55 gal. Set it up one night, put the fish in it and unbelievably they ARE still alive.

[YaYgoldFish]

Baby oscar with 2 very territory turtles, in a half filled 5g....they didnt eat it, they actually kicked it to death..

[salman]

How about "set the tank up and let it run overnight and then come back tomorrow for all your fish"

Haha.. thats what they told me, and 70% of the people still believe that.

[salman]

Hmmmm, i might need several posts, as i have seen/heard so many stupid things.

1.) A guy asked the lady at walmart what would be the best food for his goldfish. She told him to use the 10 day feeder blocks, so he doesnt have to mess with them.
Isnt that the point of having fish? I dont know about you guys, but i love feeding my fish.

2.) Angels and Malawis can live together.
This one is a no-brainer

3.) An oscar Is fine in even a 10 gallon, because they "grow to capacity"
I think what she ment was, eventually they will be stunted by the enevitably bad water quality, with lack of swimming space and excercise.



The last two were a few of MANY that i have over heard from this lady at my favorite LFS. I quietly corrected the people she "helped" behind her back, because god forbid the lady that "has been working with fish longer than i have been alive" be wrong.

1) Yep, thats a big reason why i keep fish. I like feeding them and watch them grow.

2) I had angels with malawi's and i didnt see any problems

[Drumachine09]

Angles and Malawis need different water parameters. Not to mention the fact that malawis do WAY better with the special lake salts and such.


Im suprised your malawis didnt rip your angel to shreds.

[salman]

But they were small lol.. the angels were a bit bigger, then i moved the angels into another tank

[zackish]

Nothing really...one of them tried to sell me that cycle crap but I didn't buy it. I do all my research online and here at the forums so I try to have as little interaction and questions with the people at my LFS as possible.
However there is one kid at this one place that is my age (18) and he is really cool and whenever I go there we wind up talking for an hour or so just about fish in general and tanks blah blah.

[A340]

Haha.. thats what they told me, and 70% of the people still believe that.
... and 70% of the time, it works too. Go figure ... :ezpi_wink1:

[Kuli_Loach]

Here are a few more and I think a few have been said:

1)Set up your tank for 24 hrs and you are ready!

2)Redtail Cats are fine in a 55

3)Tiger Shovelnose are fine in a 55

4)Silver Arowanas are fine in a 55

5)Green Severum will kill and eat everything in my tank

6)Sold me Apple Snails as Ramshorn

7)Live Plants are useless, all you fish will keep them mowed down to low

8)Put and inch of crushed coral at the bottom of your saltwater tank.

[MeganL3985]

Here are a few more and I think a few have been said:

1)Set up your tank for 24 hrs and you are ready!


Yeah the paper in my 5 gal box said that!! And thats what I did!! :c11: Well it was closer to 48, but even then thats horrible! I'm sooooo glad I found this site!!!

[coachfraley]

Walmart: You can keep a green puffer in a betta bowl, it will probably be ok.

[Willyleigh]

I don't see what is wrong with saying that 24 hours is enough before you add fish, when aging water before water changes 24 hours is enough, so why should we say leave it one week in a new tank?

[Drumachine09]

I don't see what is wrong with saying that 24 hours is enough before you add fish, when aging water before water changes 24 hours is enough, so why should we say leave it one week in a new tank?



You need to cycle it first.

[Willyleigh]

You need to cycle it first.

Yes but it will not cycle without a source of ammonia, from fish or bottle.

[Drumachine09]

Yes but it will not cycle without a source of ammonia, from fish or bottle.


Yes, i know. They are refering to when the instructions say "let the aquarium run for 24 hours before adding fish" with no mention of cycling.

[Bill M.]

:c5: :c5: In my years as an aquarist, I have heard some BS....The employees look at me and see a 17 year old guy, looking at fish, and think they can teach me about fish...ha.... I was buying 'a common pleco... and the lady knew he was going in my 10g * I know now that was bad* and she suggested getting 3 more so my tank will stay "spiffy^ longer.. I looked at her, and said do you think I am a moron? She said no, and I said well you sure are, grabbed my pleco, and left.... dumbasses think they know more just cause I am a kid...bah....

[Bill M.]

:c5: :c5: In my years as an aquarist, I have heard some BS....The employees look at me and see a 17 year old guy, looking at fish, and think they can teach me about fish...ha.... I was buying 'a common pleco... and the lady knew he was going in my 10g * I know now that was bad* and she suggested getting 3 more so my tank will stay "spiffy^ longer.. I looked at her, and said do you think I am a moron? She said no, and I said well you sure are, grabbed my pleco, and left.... dumbasses think they know more just cause I am a kid...bah....

[Drumachine09]

:c5: :c5: In my years as an aquarist, I have heard some BS....The employees look at me and see a 17 year old guy, looking at fish, and think they can teach me about fish...ha.... I was buying 'a common pleco... and the lady knew he was going in my 10g * I know now that was bad* and she suggested getting 3 more so my tank will stay "spiffy^ longer.. I looked at her, and said do you think I am a moron? She said no, and I said well you sure are, grabbed my pleco, and left.... dumbasses think they know more just cause I am a kid...bah....



Uh, oh. Double post!

[zackish]

:c5: :c5: In my years as an aquarist, I have heard some BS....The employees look at me and see a 17 year old guy, looking at fish, and think they can teach me about fish...ha.... I was buying 'a common pleco... and the lady knew he was going in my 10g * I know now that was bad* and she suggested getting 3 more so my tank will stay "spiffy^ longer.. I looked at her, and said do you think I am a moron? She said no, and I said well you sure are, grabbed my pleco, and left.... dumbasses think they know more just cause I am a kid...bah....

Ya but some employees may not even be trying to just sell you something. Many of them are stupid and really think you can overload your tank with a certain species of fish.

[Willyleigh]

Ya but some employees may not even be trying to just sell you something. Many of them are stupid and really think you can overload your tank with a certain species of fish.

I agree, I work at an LFS and to be honest I don't care if they buy the fish, I am not on commision, but always try to give good advice, on saturday alone i managed to stop someone who otherwise would have put 4 yellow labs in with a fighter and neons, someone who was gonna put two fighters in the same tank and someone who bought a coldwater sturgeon for a 4 gal tank.

However I don't know everything and have sold someone two fish which were unsuitable for each other, when I first started working there, and he came back very angry demanding a refund after they died on unrelated reasons, poor water quality. He tried to say it was my fault as they shouldn't be living together, eventually he left vowing not to return. What can I do? Lots of employees are worse off than me, most work at minimum wage and it is 'just a job' so they do their best from the small amount of info that they have learnt.

[Fishguy2727]

I think a 24 hour period is minimum for letting the tank run. It won't cycle in a week, or without a source of ammonia (which most consider with fish). So those don't really go against it. Most people still cycle with fish, they just can't stand an empty tank for two weeks, and after all, 'they are just fish', which is just an excuse for stupidity.

[zackish]

I think a 24 hour period is minimum for letting the tank run. It won't cycle in a week, or without a source of ammonia (which most consider with fish). So those don't really go against it. Most people still cycle with fish, they just can't stand an empty tank for two weeks, and after all, 'they are just fish', which is just an excuse for stupidity.

I got one of those aquarium kits with a filter and all. Obviously I upgraded but in there was a bunch of tetra read throughs and they all said to get it up for 24-48 hours and then add 2 fish then wait a week and add more blah blah. Bascially they explained a poor method of doing a fish cycle.