Pet Store / Dept. Ethics or lack there of...?

Question

It is alarming how many people believe you can keep a comet gold fish in a 1 gallon bowl without filtration. It's alarming how many people think bettas LIKE to be kept in a pint or quart of water in a vase.
Stores sell Plecos, Oscars even Pacu's knowing they are cute babies, but no way is ANYONE prepared for a moster like these fish!
Yet the still sell them. To me, it is a case of animal cruelty. I think I will be writing my state assembly woman, state senator, congressman, and senators about laws protecting the welfare of tropical fish the end up being released into the local ecosystem where they create havoc and live lives full of suffering.
How can we stop this cruelty?

Answer 1

I certainly see your pint and totally agree on some levels, but the last thing I would want to see is a congressional sub committee deciding what few species can be sold in pet stores so that nothing gets abused. Shops should do a better job of educating employees and the customer, but on the flip side, how many actually listen? Once a person decides they want that comet in a gallon bowl that they will dump out and clean once a month because that's the way they did it as a kid it's practically impossible to change their mind. They simply assume you don't have a clue. I have seen it in shops, in whole sale outlets, with fish farmers and on this board so many times it's ridiculous.

On the same thought process, should the car salesman be required to see to it you know how to drive and be responsible to inform you of all the maintenance items required for the car as well as how to fix any particular item when it breaks (think treat disease on the last one)? Or maybe all of that is the responsibility of the gas station guy where you buy gas? Not to argue with your basic point, but I'm sure you see what I mean, the operator (tank owner) should be responsible for educating themselves on the product before investing.

To sum it up you can only prevent this stuff by educating tank owners and that can only happen if they want to be educated.

Just my two cents worth.

MM

Answer 2

it sounds like you are really into fish! I know i am not a fish expert, i have trouble with fish and have made mistakes with them, but i certainly do not mistreat them and i always research before i buy any thing live, so i don't end up killing it, that is the smartest thing to do.
I know i am very against this too, its good to find out that i'm not the only one who cares about animal's rights, i take this issue very seriously. they aren't happy when they are forced to live in confined spaces, and i hate when they have a separated container, one for a male betta and one for a female better on the other side, they can still see eachother, its just teasing them. I know plecos, oscars, and pacu's are wonderful fish, and cute when they're little, but they require a lot of care when they get bigger.

My family thinks i'm crazy because i have a 29 gallon for my two oranda fancy goldfish, i just want them to live a full, happy life, i love my fish!

*I write to my congressman Jeff Fortenberry sometimes and he will send letters back in the mail, i think he is a very understanding guy. you can also work at a pet store and hand out care guides for these fish, thats what they should do. You could start your own website on this and let other people become aware and maybe put an end to this. Animal cruelty is very difficult thing to stop, thats what i want to try to do for my future career, not just fish but other animals and its not going to be an easy job. These are some options if you really do care about this. The best way is just to address this issue slowly, don't push it, people will turn against you if you push the issue. ok so maybe you won't put a complete end to this, but you could reduce the number of fish that have to suffer and that would be better than doing nothing. Maybe start a petition and try to get a lot of people to sign it, that would really help. At least try to persuade people to help put a stop to this. You definitely have my support, if you want or need my help on anything you can email me at [e-mail]
~good luck to you!! thanks for caring.

Answer 3

I'd say to start by finding out who is on any committee that's involved with the UDSA Animal Welfare. These are the folks responsible for doing inspections of breeding and holding facilities. Look what happened when the Animal Welfare Act (covers dogs and cats) went into effect! Unfortunately the act doesn't currently extend to fish, reptiles, birds, and some other small pets (guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits and "other warm-blooded animals" are covered). This, I think, would be the place to start - just expand the current act to cover more species. Bet there will a lot of pressure from the pet industry to not allow it to pass, though! Still, other counties are setting a precedence.

What it would/should cover is another matter. Pet store inspections to see that all animals are kept in suitable conditions? Consumers needing to prove they know how to take care of an animal before they are allowed to purchase it? Manufacturers who put betta vases and 2 gallon tanks with 6 goldfish in them on the packaging of their products? And who enforces this (and pays for the salaries of the enforcers)?


ADDITION: One to add to environgrl's list: http://www.fishnflush.com/

Answer 4

that happened to me today. I was convincing another customer who was buying an aquarium kit i had purchased recently and and didnt like and i told her the ones that i had experienced and liked alot in terms of silence of filter to types of fish she should start keeping, when the store associate looked at me like i was stupid. well so i asked her (the associate) what fish was best to keep such as easiest fish to keep and she said, goldfish or a betta, hell they can live in a little bowl. I was morified. why would you keep a betta in a small bowl? is that why they look so unhealthy? they should at least have a gallon to swim around in let alone a vase with a plant! these large chains of pet stores need to start hiring knowledgable associates. I went to a store once where the "fish specialist" needed three other opinions before giving me a fair guess. and i dont agree with pet stores who sell the new tattooed fish. fish are just not treated as fairly as any other "furry" animal. it is dispictable.


PS. all this happened to me at Petco, Petsmart, and another Pet Supermarket, there not all bad but its more like a hit and miss. by the way. walmart stopped selling fish in southwest FL. given, i did get lucky at a petsupermarket and got a guy who personally keeps fish.

Answer 5

Um...everyone knows how big plecos, etc. get.

What needs to be worried about is the amount of actual care they get at the store. Some are better than others about this. If you notice that there are many dead fish in the tanks or things like that, then you need to report the store to the department of health.

Putting the bettas in those small cups is really sad...I've bought bettas just because I've felt bad for them! But, at the same time, if they are kept in big bowls, price will go WAY up and no one will buy them. It's a trade off.

P.S. I'm really big into animal rights. I refuse to go into certain pet stores and give a ton of business to others. The bad ones get reputations and get shut down eventually.

Answer 6

You are on the right track, Joe. I believe petitions are the answer.

Years ago, when I was a kid, what we called five and dime stores, now dollar stores, sold sliders, a breed of turtles. Many were painted with roses on their shell. I was a kid, I did not know this was animal cruelty. By the way, baby chicks feather were dyed and they were sold or given away by stores.

Several years ago, I decided I wanted a turtle, a slider. I did not get one. I talked to a friend about this and when he told me about what a turtle needs to be healthy, I knew I could not afford this. So I did not get a turtle.

Fish? Same reason.

I do have three cats. I know how to care for them. I would love to have fish, but to be fair to the critters, I have to learn things before I get some.

It is sick in that they, the legislators, will stop so called human progress because of "endangered" species, yet the same loonies allow animals to be sold! And, I do call them loonies. As a retired PhD counselor, I use this term for the goodies gooodies who make no sense to me.

Please do write a petition, get it signed, then send it to the powers that be.

Answer 7

I agree. THe only way to stop is to do what you are doing and educate the owners. I had 2 Oscars givin to me that were about 3.5 to 4 inches in length. I have a 75gal tank and through their insatiable appetite for goldfish on was about 12inches and the other about 16inches in LESS than a year!!. They were just regular small tiger oscars and they outgrew my tank. I think with a 75gal I was more well equipped than most out there!! By the way I did donate them back to a local shop with a 200gal tank

Answer 8

I will sign up! I hate it. I just got an oscar, and have a few goldfish, but that leaves me with two HUGE tanks and I can't rescue anymore. I was just thinking that the other day: How many of these guys ACTUALLY get the 70 gallon plus tanks they truly need, and how many die as babies. I hate people, they are so cruel to animals.

Answer 9

i totally agree i see those poor fish in stacks gasping for their lives and it makes me sick.. also by the way i was in a pet store today and it had a lot of rats gerbils snakes in appallingly crowded cages and aquariums no water etc. the place smelled so bad from not cleaning the cages out it almost made me sick. i told the woman behind the counter about some animals needing water and she acted like she didnt care. they also had a puppy running around that kept jumping on people and she said to just smack him he wasnt trained yet. because i petted him he wouldnt leave me alone and i ended up stepping on the poor pup cause he was sticking to me like glue...prob wanted to get out of there

Answer 10

im not sure how to stop it... it drives me crazy to at my local dept store there are 2 oscars in a 35 gal tank with a large pelco i talked to them and told them it was gonna die or get a bigger tank and they where like so.... its a fish.....i think walmart is truley the worst though but heck they get away with anything