Anyone ever bought fish at wal mart and they die within a couple of days?

Question

I have bought fish from wal mart twice both times all the fish died then i bought some at petsmart i have had them since January of this year anyone else experience this, or do i just not know how to take care of goldfish and koi???

Answer 1

From personal experience, I find it best to buy fish from a good pet store, not a retail store that does not specialize in fish. Its possible that the employees who were put in charge of the fish department didn't know what they were doing, and in doing so the fish die from lack of nutrition, dirty tanks, the list goes on. When buying any type of pet, it's best to do some research on the place where your thinking about buying the pet.

Answer 2

Funny, I got two from Wal-Mart and they lasted for over a year. I got a Red Beta and a Black Moor goldfish. It all depends on how you take care of them but sometimes there's just nothing that you can do I suppose. You have to put the bag with the fish in it inside of the tank for a few minutes before you let the fish go. Clean it properly and have the fish tank installed properly for at least 24 hours before you buy the fish. I went to one Wal-Mart and I seen some fish that were sick. I'll never know why they still had those fish out there with the other fish that weren't sick. They need to check their fish tanks more often.

Answer 3

I don't know about Wal-marts in general, just the one closest to my house. Very few in my area have live pets, except that one. When I have gone in, it has made me very depressed for the fish. They have nothing to amuse them, there is no gravel, decor or anything in there, except too many fish and a few dead ones, the fish seem depressed and bored. I would love to rescue all of them, but I cannot afford it. I bought my mollies from a petco, they have treated me wonderfully every time I have gone in, the lady I have dealt with is kind enough to take the time to make sure that I am getting proper amounts for each gender, and if I like one fish out of the ten in there, she will chase it down for me.
I have worked at a walmart, and not only was there no one there in the pet department very often to feed them or anything, but the few that went were very inexperienced and rude. Little nerve racking to me.

Answer 4

Yes I did, and my fish died in a period of like 24 hours
Unfortunately the people that work there are not trained for that kind of things.
Every time I went to walmart since i had bought them, I see at least 3-4 dead fish in every tank, they overstock their tanks and they don't take the dead fish out right away.
I also think that they don't feed them enough.
I rather go to petsmart, because the people there are well trained and 90% of them are very knowledgeable about what they sell there.
Good Luck

Answer 5

I used to buy fish there and they died asap within the first 48 hours sometimes 72 I dont know what's wrong and I they are bad fish.Go to a pet shop like pet smart where they have a thing if the fish dies you bring it back and get a new one.Goldfish are easy to take care of.Just dont have them in a bowl put them in an aquarium with a filter and lighting with other fish

Answer 6

I agree. I bought a total of 22 Angelfish and Goldfish. They all died about 18 hours later. Walmart has put something in the water to make the fishes live in their type of water. And always make sure that you go to Petsmart to get any pet accessories.

Answer 7

Once i bought fish for my brothers and they died within a few days. The longest fish i had from mart was a beta fish for around 2 to 3 years.

Answer 8

Usually I will try to agree with everyone opinion because I don't know everything. This time I have to disagree with majority because it didn't seem fair to Walmart. I don't work there or have anyone in my family or friend that work there. I am a shopper, I do shop at Walmart. From where I live, our Walmart pet department is very clean. I don't like to go to the real pet store itself because the smell. I don't care which one I went, it always smell to me. I am pretty sure that there might be a lot of pet stores that smell like Heaven, but so far I didn't run in to one yet that didn't smell bad. I love animals, and my pets are my babies. I think it might happen like everyone said in some Walmart or some pet stores. The fishes will die if you take them away from the stores. Some fishes might live for ever. I think we need to be fair.

Answer 9

I have had mixed results buying fish from walmart. In one walmart I go the the tanks are immaculate with no little corpses on the bottom. And the staff seem caring to the pets and customers. However the other walmart across town is pitiful.I think the fish are neglected. There often fish on the bottom of the tank. My son who is 6 gets very sad when he sees this and wants to rescue them. I have purchased opaline gourmais and clawed frogs from a walmart but these animals are very hardy in my experience.

Answer 10

I bought 2 black moors from Wal-mart and they both died and few months later. I think it's better to get your fish from your regular local pet store since they are probably taken cared of more.