Petsmart- why do I keep going there!?

doctorb

Maybe I've been unlucky but the two non-chain pet stores around me suck so bad petsmart looks great in comparison. One guy has a wall of fish but he won't even try to answer questions, which I suppose is better than giving the wrong answer, he gives out a business card of some kid who thinks he knows stuff but doesn't. This kid told me to chlorinate the water just a tiny bit to get rid of nitrates. The other place is only fish and I've never seen the owner, maybe he knows his stuff, but the employees are rude and the place is filthy. There's dead fish all over the floor under every tank and the prices are double petsmart. I finally met a guy who does credit card processing and his side job is fish, so next time I need something I'll try him.

But I've always found petsmart to be clean and friendly and with decent prices. And you can find experts online for the tough questions.

dramaqueen

I don't understand how a store with dead fish all over the place stays open. You'd think they would get reported.

Tyyrlym

There's not a whole lot of concern over dead fish.

Cute fuzzy animals being mistreated, that's a crime.
Fish dying is seafood.

Just the perception many people have.

dramaqueen

Why is it that people don't view fish like they would any other pet?

Tyyrlym

You can't cuddle them. They aren't conventionally "cute." Few people will eat rabbit, cat, or dog but almost everyone eats fish.

watts300

You have to admit, though, that fish intelligence isn't also as high as other four-legged pets. Animals that act on instinct alone are looked down upon. I'm not sure that's a horrible thing, it's just human nature.


Insects act on instinct, also. They look for food and mates, just like fish, rather exclusively. If we had the same sentiment towards bugs as fish, our homes would be over run with vermin.
Cats and dogs not only seek life's essentials, they also desire love and companionship. They all want to be petted, have friends, and they don't like to be disciplined or punished.



Some might say that their fish are highly intelligent. Maybe their behavior is habit and ritualistic? (not the people) Who knows. I'm not "siding" with places that don't care about the critters they sell, because I have pets, too. I have a cat and I sure enjoy my fish. I guess I'm just playing the devil's advocate.

dramaqueen

I agree that fish aren't exactly high on the totem pole when it comes to intelligence but I don't think they are stupid either. I do think that some people think of them as a kind of "ornament" that they can just throw away when they get tired of it.

m1aman

reminds of when i was a kid and hunters would say they refuse to hunt on sunday. didn't want to kill anything on the lords day. so what would they do? go fishing instead............

Tyyrlym

Except that there are plenty of fish who demonstrate many of the very characteristics you ascribe to four legged animals.

Most of my fish have learned to associate my presence with food. My guppies, who once wouldn't come near me, will now eat out of my hand. My RTBS, who spent her first month with me hiding any time I came on the side of the room with the QT tank, now happily accepts my presence near the tank without much complaint. My betta spent all his time hiding when I got close to the tank now I actually have to physically move him away from the other fish's food to keep him from munching it all. If they were 100% instinctual they would still all run like they did when first introduced.

Ask someone with an oscar if their fish is any less of a pet than a dog or cat, or any less interactive.

I would argue that the affection or friendship dogs seek in people is instinctual. They're pack animals, and without any other dogs around they will gravitate towards the other creature who is there for them. My cories seek out the companionship of their own kind. They spend most of their time close by, even resting right next to one another.

I'm not trying to denegrate cats, dogs, or other creatures we keep as pets but people tend to over credit things they like and under credit those they don't.

watts300

Well, Tyy, you and I will have to agree to disagree about the nature of domesticated dogs.

But I can attest to my fish also associating me with food. Meh... This topic isn't worthy of being argued over though. ;)
We all like all our pets. Nuff said. :)