Top things someone in Pet store Retail should know?
 

Hi, i've worked for a certain Pet store chain for almost a year now, and while i still have much to learn, when istarted i literally knew nothing. I know alot of people bash us for not knowing anything so i thought i would make a thread so you guys could put stuff every pet store employee that works with fish should know. Also if you guys have any questions for me about what is like to work in one go for it ;-)

oh, forgot to mention, we only carry freshwater..

Goldfish don't belong in bowls, and every customer should have a decent liquid test kit and know how cycling works and which fish are suitable for a fish in cycle. Also its important to know each fishes full growth size so you don't end up with big fish in a small tank syndrome.

BTW welcome to TFK have fun look around ask questions and answer a few, we don't bite...... much :-)

OMG, i hate having to explain to people why Goldfish cant be in owls, they just dont get it.. and in the end of the day if they stilll want it theres nothing i can do about it :l, thanks for the reply :)

People need to understand they shouldn't buy the tank, gravel, heater, filter, and fish the SAME day.

Compatability, compatability, compatability.

And the right number in a group for shoaling fish.

If I only knew which fish were compatable when I first set up my tank instead of relying on what my LFS told me, I'd have done things a whole lot differently.

this is a great thread for all the noobs to learn the basics thanks

Cycling a tank I think is the most important one. I always just hear the pet store employees say "Set everything up and run it for about 24 hours and you'll be ready to go!"

common plecos get huge. not for most tanks.

The small cups bettas are housed in during their time in the store is most certainly not a permanent home, and that advertised betta tanks under 1.5 gallons are not sufficient to keep them healthy or happy, or any tanks under 1.5 gallons for that matter. Also, bettas should only be fed around 3-5 pellets or flakes (depending on size) a day, not 8 or more as some betta-specific fish foods instruct.

Be sure to know that the common misconception of bettas living in mud puddles is a lie. Bettas live in huge shallow rice paddies and man-made canals.