Tankbusters and the idiots who shouldn't own them

[Anubisscott]

Today I have had it. Almost every day I have to tell some idiot that has descided they are going to throw an Oscar or any other tank buster into a 10-29g not to. Today on my day off mind you, just picking up my check. I had to talk to an idiot with too many New world Cichlids in a tank while I was there. He had 4 Midas, 3 Oscars, 6 Convicts, 2 Fire Mouths, 2 Texas, 1 GT and 3 JD's all in a 55. He was wondering why they were fighting and why the water was so dirty. He then had the nerve to tell me they were happy the way they were in that tank when I told him he needed atleast a 220g if not a 300g+ along with the type of filtration. He finally pushed it when he said I didn't know what I was talking about and wanted to buy a fish not quite good enough to ba a Cichlid. Now I was off, but stepped over because most the employees let/ask me talk to these peope since SA/CA Cichlids are what I know best. Its ussually easier for me to get the point acrossed then most. I told the gentalmen to go on some of these sites and ask for himself. That he was not getting a fish not quite good enough to ba a Cichlid in my Store or any and not to come back until he does reasearch and gets "MANY" large tanks if not one massive one. Another Lady had four 9" Oscars in a 29 and wondered why they all died. She was about to buy some more, but I talked her down to a Pair of Fire mouths. To say the least it gets on my nerves and wears down on me having to explain this again and again to these people. It even makes it worse when they tell you they are happy and you don't know what your talking about. All I can do is nod and walk away, because if I don't I find myself about to choke the life out of these morons. The only thing that makes it worth while are the people who didn't know and were mis-informed. The people who are willing to fix the mistake and make their pet happy by buying the bigger tank or the better filter. I did not put everything I said to the guy in here, we would have to edit it. Lets just say I was very to the point with colorful languge and a flare for the dramatic. I do plan on opening a store and when I do, there will be a special spot for the tankbusters. Requirements and "true" sizes will be included along with all my employees being abled to refuse a sale if they don't have at the very least a 55g. GOD I LOVE MY WORK!!!!!!!!!!

[chc]

Imagine if mammals, dogs and cats for instance, were sold to the uninformed just like fish are. You can bet that of every fish purchased 75% of them will be dead within weeks. Imagine if people were killing that many furry critters...... the liberals would go nuts!

[Anubisscott]

[QUOTE]crimson156 wrote:
y care so much
if the fish r overcrowded n u tell em what the prob is n what will happen if not fixed and how to fix it and they don't care, y do u take it so personal. Its just fish.
[QUOTE] Tell Me he didn't just say that:mad: This was on Cichlid-Forum Here it is (http://cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=93151#93151)

[Rudy]

Imagine if mammals, dogs and cats for instance, were sold to the uninformed just like fish are. You can bet that of every fish purchased 75% of them will be dead within weeks. Imagine if people were killing that many furry critters...... the liberals would go nuts!

They are. Have you checked the humane society Any idiot can own any animal.

I always feel sorry for oscars and jack especially that had a fight with a 10 gallon and lost. It is just no way to treat fish.

[Reposado]

Bastards...string 'em up!

[RedDeviL]

I have an oscar 6" in a 10 gallon tank and hes super happy JK! :) nah hes in 55 with a 3 inch JD i can see him checking out the 75 hes gonna be when he out grows the 55 hehe greedy oscar ;)

A question tho i have a red devil about 3 inches in a 40 am i treating it bad? lol he will eventually go in the 55 and so on :)

[RedDeviL]

Question??? Ive seen a midas adult and an adult oscar in a tank together whats the minimum size tank for that? ive always wanted an adult midas and an adult oscar in the same tank... Im in love with New World Cichlids the size they grow just makes me feel like i cant wait till he grows to be 12" ++

:dance: :dance:

[Anubisscott]

For the first one, no. A 40 is fne for now. Its not like you have it in a 29. And for the second Question. They can be togther, just get a 100g at the least and lots of places for the midas to hide such as deca pots. I would do more then 150g's for that combo though. As long as he stays busy and they have plent of room you'll have no problems. But when he keeps his attention on the oscar most likely he will start to beat up on him. Just keep a very close eye on thing. Good Luck you two:cool:

[chc]

You need at least 60 gallons per foot long fish.........

[Rex Karr]

Welcome Anubiscott. Its sad how many large growing fish are sold to uninformed buyers. Its also sad that there are so many people that simply won't listen to good advice.


RD, most Midas are so aggressive in smaller tanks that keeping one with an Oscar would be impossible. I wouldn't attempt that combo in anything short of 300g.

[Anubisscott]

Here is a post from Predatoryfish.net and my reply. I think you guys will like..... QUOTE (Lima_Dat_Alone @ May 10 2003, 04:14 AM)
Thanks very much for this post! I work at petsmart, and I feel the exact same way most of you guys do; you stole the words right out of my mouth.
Everyone wants Bala Sharks for their 10 gallon, What they dont know is they can get up to 13 inches and they're a schooling fish. You tell em one thing they hear another.
One thing that bugs me really bad is when a customer has a problem with thier tank, and you tell them the easiest solution. they pick up the products and when your not looking they go talk to another employee who tells them they need to add some Stress Coat!!! AHHH
Whenever I have to sell a tank buster to a person, I grill it into their thick heads how big and just how fast these things will grow. Then if I know they have an small uncycled tank, I ask a manager to write on their receipt "NO GUARANTEE".

And another thing that REALLY bugs me; When a person comes up to me while i'm talking to a customer giving them good advice, then interupts me mid-sentence explaining what they they think I should have said. Some people walk in Petsmart with the preconception that ALL employees are complete idiots. Well I know that theres at least one who's not.

/END RANT/

I have had that happen so many times, but what gives me pleasure is when they come back a week later and ask me for help again. I had a couple that did that when their Oscars had hole in the head. I have them Bacteria and Parasite care for the Parisites and infection, along with some Stress Coat. I also talked to them about switching filters systems(Undergravel to Back Pack/Canaster) and water changes which were not being done. Smiles and nods along with the notion that they were listening was given. Then not a min later while with another costemer, they talked with an old co-worker who was a complete idiot and sold them water clearifier and Melifix. Don't get me wrong, Melifix is good, but not for the symptoms they had discrided and was too different from the other too to use safely with them. WHen they came back and tried to talk to me, I just pointed them her way and said "I am busy, Linda is over there and will be glad to help you". I then took off my shirt and went on my lunch break. I had tried to help them twice, and though I am sure most would say I was being harsh I would say wrong. I have no time to waste my breath on those who don't want to hear how things truely are and want cheap and easy answers. There is no such thing in the fish business as "Cheap and Easy". Just "Cheap and Hard", or "Easy and Expensive". It's people like them who should stick to guppies and such and leave the Tankbustsers to the serious hobbiest. On a good note, I did have a couple that had a MIdas, 2 Oscars, and a Texas all in a 55g and were worried because the Midas was beating up on every one else. When I advied them that the Midas would be better off in the 55 alone and the Oscars and Texas in atleast a 100 they actually listened. So until their tax return gets to them, a divider will be keeping the Midas to himself. Its people like this that make it worth while, that relize they were missinformed and are willing to fix their mistakes instead of making them worse. Some say "Their only fish" or their only stupid dogs/cats/ect, those people are the ones that think like that and as far as I am conserned......"are only monkies."

[Rex Karr]

Thanks for posting that!

[mk_ultra]

That is pretty much the way it is in Pet Stores. I work for one also. But one thing that I do is encourage people to bring us their overgrown monster. I am aware of people who are always willing and ready to take on these fish. The worst I have seen is a women who had a 6" Oscar in a 5 gallon tank. These people just do not wish to misbeleive the tank/grow ot myth.
The worse people by far though are the pirahna buyers.