tank cycling?

Question

First off this is not a question about how to cycle tanks, rather its a question about how come a large portion of fish owners dont know about this most crucial part of keeping fish.

At first i thought Aquarium owners were just plain lazy to look it up and try to get the best for their fish, but then i went to petco, petsmart, and about a dozen more chain pet stores and i asked to speak to the fish "specialist". I asked the following questions and he gave the following answers.
Question 1-what is tank cycling
Answer 1-when you buy goldfish and put them in you tank so your tank doesnt get dirty
Question 2-how will goldfish make your tank not dirty
Answer 2-they will eat the poop
Question 3-so let me get this straight, they will eat their own poop.
Answer 3-um... no... not exactly. Hold on let me go get my supervisor/
.........................................
Some fat guy came up to me with a tatoo saying mickie on his arm and a MS13 gang sign on the back of his neck.

I asked him the following
Fat Guy-Hi im here to help you.
Me-Hi Sr. I have a question, this store is a large one and many people shop here, yet how come your fish specialist doesnt know what tank cycling is which is the most basic thing every fish owner should know.
Fat guy-he knows what it is he just doesnt know how exactly it works
Me-welll im sure i can do a much better job then he can and im not even trained
Fat guy-good you can come work for us
Me-but even if i come work for you, what about all the other petco's with fish "retards" who will work for them.
Fat Guy-most of our stores fish specialists are highly trained and can assist anyone
Me-right well id like to buy 10 bottles of ntirifieng bacteria
Fat Guy-right over there
Me-where
Fat Guy-in that isle
Me-can you show me what the bottle looks like
Fat Guy-sorry im buisy
and with that he walked away

Answer 1

The only qualification you have to have to work at the large chain pet stores is a pulse. Which is why I always send people to the little out of the way shop that is privately owned - An owner/operator is much more likely to have and offer the proper info that a newbee needs to get started.

As for people being to lazy, yes some are but the vast majority of newbee's just don't know they are supposed to ask questions at the shop.

I Had to learn the hard way =( lmfao!!!!!
E.

Answer 2

Simple, guys like the one you just described are giving them advice. If it were good advice, they wouldn't be on yahoo answers (LOL)

The stores are in the market for money. Did you ever go to a home improvement store like Home Depot (not picking on them just an example) and talk to the people there about plants? or plumbing fixtures? Or a new LP gas stove? Or how about asking the grocery store stock boy where the canned milk is. (Some isle they have apparently never been in even though they stock the entire store) You are sent to isle 1005 and still cannot find the canned milk!

The stores are in the business no matter what it is to make money. Most of the employees aren't making much more than minimum wage and don't need to know nor care to know more than that. (That isn't all cases)

Perfect example here on yahoo answers, someone bought fish that were miss labeled and miss priced. Twice! then the store wanted the money difference (I tried to find the question) I myself have talked to managers about various fish as well as dog, cat, rat etc. items and they swore they didn't know anything about the fish, rats, dog foods or cat stuff and I had to come back when their experts were there. (Like that would make a difference) He also couldn't tell me why the store quite carrying the rat block they normally do and the corn cob bedding. He also couldn't tell me if they were planning on getting their turkey and duck chicks in by the end of the week (and a whole list of other things). Even the Store manager didn't know and in my opinion didn't care.

It all boils down to money. Someone who knows or specializes in a particular area isn't going to be working for 5.25 an hour when they can either have their own store or work for a better place or company.

A fish store telling a customer, I won't sell you a fish until you get your tank set up and test the water is more like turning down a sale. They figure they can sell the fish, and equipment make the sale, when the fish dies, and there is a chance it won't, they'll come back and we can sell them more stuff. Then explain you tank was too new, your nitrates were too high, they had ich etc. They also realize the customer will go to another store who will sell them everything.

I run my own business. I do things the oldfashioned way. I tell the customer the truth and if they don't want to hear the truth, I I don't make promises I or the company cannot keep. (even if they don't like what I have to say) 99% of the times, I get a call back to do the work and kuddos for being honest. I also have employees. Some like to climb the ranks for pay reasons and I've caught them "promising customers things that cannot be done or BSing about why they didn't have time to finish". Needless to say, they get fired.

I deal with various suppliers on a daily basis and I have a real problem with incompetance and false promises especially with managers and I see it every single day. I just don't use them or use them as much (my list is getting short!)

Just don't shop there anymore.

Answer 3

I have to agree with Ryan, and it was me who bought the two missmarked fish then was phoned and asked for the difference.

I run into the same crap at certain stores. I have too many animals and unfortunately the Farmers supply and feed stores don't carry all I need.

I have stopped dealing chain stores. I will go in to find sales on equipment which I cannot get anywhere else, but as far as dealing with the people there, I was lucky enough to find a LFS / pet store which is all they do. They know their stuff and will not sell you a fish unless you have your tank up and running. They will not sell you a snake, rat, rabbit or hamster if you are not prepared to care for it. They also send you home with a care sheet for each one and an emergency number to them as well as 3 local emergency animal clinics. (They don't sell dogs)

I say stay away from chain stores if you don't like the bad advice they give. Unfortunately, too many newbee's with not just fish but birds, snakes etc. jump into a pet without thinking about what is to come. The workers usually don't care once the animal leaves the store it is now your problem.

It is a real shame.

Answer 4

When I got my first fish I didn't have a clue how to take care of them and the people at the store gave me no advice at all.I thought you just had to dump the fish in the tank and that was it .I brought them home and put them in right away I didn't even treat the water let alone have a filter or heater.Luckily I decided to do some research right away and when I realized what I needed I ran out and got it.I don't know how the fish survived with no help from me but he did and I still have him.