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Stupid petco plants

10K views 24 replies 19 participants last post by  okiemavis 
#1 ·
Petco sells Trichomanes Javanicum and Ophiopogon Japonica as aquarium plants. I bought the Javanicum today because I thought it was a java fern, and I couldnt remember the scientific name. Just a warning to all beginners out there steer clear of the petco plants.
 
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#2 ·
Nice package though.:)
 
#7 ·
I actually like the petco near me, the tanks are clean and no dead fish that ive ever seen. hardly any snails too. I don't usually buy fish from there but they are the cheapest for food and testing kits. But I'm going to return this plant and have a discussion with the manager.
 
#8 ·
That's not the only way they sell misleading plants. I bought some mondo grass (I did not do my homework) that was in the tank with the rest of their aquarium plants so I assumed it was would be fine in an aquarium. Was told here at the forum that it will rot eventually.
 
#12 ·
Big chain stores aren't that bad, we just have to make sure we know more about what we want than the ones who sell them to us. Relying on them to give us information about our hobby would be like asking a grease monkey how to take care of an African Violet. If I had one close enough to me to make it worth while I would shop Petco and Petsmart, assuming of course the fish and their tanks didn't look like chemistry experiments to recreate the Swamp Thing.
 
#13 ·
Fishcricker said:
That's not the only way they sell misleading plants. I bought some mondo grass (I did not do my homework) that was in the tank with the rest of their aquarium plants so I assumed it was would be fine in an aquarium. Was told here at the forum that it will rot eventually.
I think we've all done that at one time or another. It happens.
 
#14 ·
i got 5 plants from petsmart... 2 cork screw grass (what they call it), 2 mando ferns, and a Cobamba (pardon spelling) well in short only aquatic plant i got was the combomba but i got a javafern pre-tied to drift wood for 3 dollars at my petco they didnt have it marked so they gave me the price for small drift wood. i must say it looks nice in my 5 gallon. also petco will order me fish that my lfs wont order. (i have a good one with a guy who has years of experience in reptiles and fish).

I do have 1 complaint about them however... they ordered me and the store manager b-nosed pleco's and the manager took them both. :frustrated: :redmad:
 
#15 ·
i think they are taking advantage of those people who has less knowledge on aquatic plants. but i think that those people at the store doesn't know if it is aquatic or not.

i think our best defense now is to familiarize ourselves with aquatic plants and those being sold that are not aquatic plants.

hopefully someone could tell upper management of those stores that they have problems..it ruins their reputation.

even here in the philippines, they sell plants that they claim aquatic, but would rot in the tank less than a month.

for everyone else.. happy plant keeping... =)
 
#16 ·
I got you beat for stupid PetCo tricks.

Get this: I'm walking by my local PetCo (I like the petsmart nearby better; they actually seem to have better than half a brain cell apiece) and I see a bunch of live bamboo plants which normally is no problem, you suspend them by the side and then they use the tankwater like they would a normal bowl, right? Well, let me tell you, they had every single one of these poor plants submersed completely in the water. They had all died and were rotting in there, nice and brown-like, covered in slime. It was enough to make me want to cry.

What a freaking waste. It's almost as bad as the people keeping bettas in a 1/4 cup of water and expecting them to thrive. Heh...just because someone could survive in a four foot square jail cell doesn't mean that *they* would thrive...
 
#20 ·
Well put. The best defense against people that take advantage of the lack of knowledge, is to learn more!! I never buy anything before I research it throughly via internet, books, and articles from magizines like TFH. You should learn all that you can about a product/fish/plant before you make any purchase for the best results.
 
#21 ·
Would you go to a grocery store and expect the sales clerk to tell you what spice would go best with your chili? If you want specific information like that you would go to a little spice shop or something similar. My point is that petco sales people have to know fish, dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, ect. Even the section manager (if you lucky enough to come in when thier there) probably has more on his plate then just maintaining up-to-date knowledge about aquariums. In my personal opinion this is why you should support independent fish stores. If you want to keep specialized stores with specilized knowledge in business, go there.

I work for a small independent store, so I'm biased :wink: But it is important to realize that everytime you spend money you are supporting that business for the future. If you get everything at walmart then that is going to be your only choice in the future. Just food for thought :)
 
#22 ·
I OWNED an independent fish shop for over 30 years so I understand your point. But all I am saying is that YOU have do do outside research on your own prior to an purchase for best results. YOU have to be informed and know what you are doing if it is going to work well.
 
#23 ·
I agree .When looking for plants it is wise to do your homework. Many of these stores don't grow aquarium plants nor do they know all the time what they are offering. They order from a supplier and that supplier may or may not know any more than your barber or beautician . I find it interesting to google different sites seeking info on plants OR fish for that matter. Many stores will steer you wrong on fish as well. Some out of ignorance, others on purpose. They are in the buisness to SELL and the majority of folks when losing plants or fish, simply go back and buy more which is what they want. It is in my view always cheaper to do a little research before buying on impulse. On a related subject those who have expierimented with various plants in the aquarium can often times offer more wisdom than any website or book. This goes for those who have raised fish for a number of years as well. I have met more than a few college educated idiots. :wink: PS In my view fish stores make the majority of their money not on the fish or plants, but rather on all the equipment needed to care for them.
 
#25 ·
Well said everyone. Even the most experienced fish keepers can be misinformed or make mistakes. Stores are often busy, distracting places. Research allows you to draw from *multiple* sources, which leaves a lot less room for error.

It can be especially tricky with plants, as often their emersed growth looks entirely different than their submerged growth, and most plants are grown emersed at nurseries. Sometimes you really have no idea what plant you're buying and can only do your best to guess.

My LFS keeps many reference books (more like tomes) on aquatic plants and fish, so every time I want a second or third opinion they'll pull out a book, or just go online and google it for me.
 
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