What do you do when you see sick fish at a fish store? The topic came up in a store review, and I thought it would make for a good conversation. What are your opinions? What experiences have you had? Recommendations?
Personally, if I like the store and the people, I'll point it out to the staff. If I don't know the store, I'll say "uh oh, dead fish" and wait to see the staff's reaction. If I don't like the store or someone on staff, I'll find another customer and say "oh look, that is one sick guppy! and they want 20 bucks for it???".Sorry MOD's gotta do it.Now for what really disgusted me. Lots and I mean LOTS of sick/dead fish. One of their neon tetra tanks had over 20. Yes 20 dead and rotten carcases stuck against the filter intake. Most of the bodies were long gone and it was obvious that they had been like that for a good day or two. I also counted 8 tanks with major Ich outbreaks. Not a single one of these Ich/dead tanks were marked NFS btw which brings me to my final gut wrenching negative.
2 of the staff sold fish from the Ich infected tanks to a few "new" customers to the hobby. I watched in shock as a few fish that were netted were caked in white spots and the staff KNEW IT. But sold them anyways to the poor customers who had no clue. I wanted to say something but I'm not one for confrontations. It made me sick to my stomach though. =[
I would have said something.... Actually I have @ Jones & Co, even at Bridges! There isn't anything wrong with going to a clerk and saying " hey, those fish are sick. What are you going to do?" I would have NO problem going up to the customer and pointing out the ick- educate them, perhaps shame the clerk, that's just wrong!