[ClarkyJ]

Hey I have 2 tanks both around 40 gallons. One of them has gold fish and the other is tropical and has a huge mixture of fish. Im abit anoyed about fish store rules the one were you have to be over 18 to buy Because Im 13. I understand were there coming from making that rule But you would have thought After I shopped there for over 5 months with about 1 visit a week They would let me. AND They wouldnt even let me buy the ph mixture :?: . Just wanted to share that with you all comments welcome

 

[Siren]

What store were you shopping? A local store or something like Petsmart or Petco?

 

[Daz]

That stinks!!!

 

[Rue]

It's actually a good rule, meant to protect the animals AND the store (but of course!)...

...most children who get a pet inevitably loose interest in it and the parent ends up looking after an animal they don't want...

...OR, sadly, the animal is totally neglected and dies...

And should the parent return the animal to the store, it just means the animal has to go through the unnecessary stress of being relocated several times in a short period of time...

Without parental approval, a child shouldn't be allowed to purchase an animal...

Now...having said all that...it sucks if you're one of the few responsible kids out there who actually know what they're doing...in that case see if the store will accept a 'note' from your parents giving you permission to shop without them having to be there...

 

[musho3210]

It's actually a good rule, meant to protect the animals AND the store (but of course!)...

...most children who get a pet inevitably loose interest in it and the parent ends up looking after an animal they don't want...

...OR, sadly, the animal is totally neglected and dies...

And should the parent return the animal to the store, it just means the animal has to go through the unnecessary stress of being relocated several times in a short period of time...

Without parental approval, a child shouldn't be allowed to purchase an animal...

Now...having said all that...it sucks if you're one of the few responsible kids out there who actually know what they're doing...in that case see if the store will accept a 'note' from your parents giving you permission to shop without them having to be there...

yes im 14 and it would suck to have it like that, age doesnt matter, a good rule would be if they had a test that everyone had to take before buying the fish to see if they know enough. A 10 year old can know more about fish than a 30 year old. It matters if they studied or not

 

[herefishy]

So, should we put an minority age limit on riding a bicycle? If all lfs's had a rule like that I probably wouldn't be in this hobby, let alone be in it for as long as I have. If an lfs had done that to me, who knows what mischief I would have gotten into. I think that it is a great thing that young people want to get into the hobby. They could be spending their money on something that isn't so cool. Who knows, that young person at the lfs may become the next Jaques Cousteau, Paul Loiselle, or Dr. Burgess. That rule SUCKS.

 

[Fish Frenzy]

It may suck, but I back it.

When I was younger, I had so many friends buy fish because they thought it was cool. Well, they kept them in basic goldfish bowls and would die fast. It was cruel to the fish.

 

[herefishy]

It is the responsibility of the lfs to ensure the quality of life of a fish, I must agree.(here's a good question, How many fish have you got in your tank(s) that you purchased a year ago?) But, the lfs would be smart if they would get to know their clientelle. If they would take the time to give how-to clinics and reward those that attend with a free 10g set up, they would reap future rewards and pick up a customer for life. Who knows, maybe that 10-12 year old boy or girl that was at the clinic might get a 29g setup for Christmas.

 

[soco1125]

I commend anyone of any age who does their homework and learns the proper way to care for a living thing before bringing it home.

Go to Petsmart or some other "supermarket" type petstore and just stand there in the fish department and listen to the ignorant stuff the adults say (employees too!). I don't know about you, but sometimes I have to bite my tounge to keep from telling them that they have no business being there. I realize that it's not their fault that they just don't know, but it kinda makes me want to slap them upside the head with a book about basic aquarium care.... and don't even get me started on those employees... :roll:

 

[musho3210]

the signs on petsmart too, all so very wrong, like how red belly pacus can fit in 30 gallon aquarium and how bala sharks can fit in 10. I think if they say these pacus need 300 gallons each they will make more money since they can then try to sell a 300 gallon aquarium?? Maybe there not smart or im just not a business man...

I really thing these stores should have a form you need to fill out before you buy fish. Its the best way to keep bad owners with there fish. Also for young people, its the adults that are ignorant, if they have a child with a goldfish bowl that dies every 48 hours, i think they should do something about it.....

 

[Andyandsue]

Ok. The fishkeeper, and kid in me, says THAT SUCKS! And it does.

BUT, being an adult with children I say "what a great rule!" You and Musho may be well-versed in fish better than most 30 year olds, but you have to understand that most 13 or 14 year olds are not. Even if the store knows you, it can result in unwanted fish in a home and ultimately returns, or grief from parents, at the store. I consider my fish my pets, and I would never expect a shelter to let a minor come in and adopt a dog or a cat without a parent who is legally responsible for the pet.

So that said, I know it's hard and it does suck, but try to see it from that perspective. Can one of your parents (or even a friend's parent or Aunt/Uncle, etc) go with you when you plan on buying your next fish? They probably won't question you one bit with any adult with you.

 

[The Dude]

if the store wont take a parental consent note then they are nuts, once a lfs gets to know you, especially the mom and pop run places, the rules should not apply. ive gotten free fish, tons of advice, and i dont need to buy water tests because they tell me i can bring a water sample in any time to be tested! this third one i believe to be a method of bringing me in again and again and when its a knowledgable older husband and wife who are always pleasent and helpful, why wouldnt i keep coming back?

 

[musho3210]

Ok. The fishkeeper, and kid in me, says THAT SUCKS! And it does.

BUT, being an adult with children I say "what a great rule!" You and Musho may be well-versed in fish better than most 30 year olds, but you have to understand that most 13 or 14 year olds are not. Even if the store knows you, it can result in unwanted fish in a home and ultimately returns, or grief from parents, at the store. I consider my fish my pets, and I would never expect a shelter to let a minor come in and adopt a dog or a cat without a parent who is legally responsible for the pet.

So that said, I know it's hard and it does suck, but try to see it from that perspective. Can one of your parents (or even a friend's parent or Aunt/Uncle, etc) go with you when you plan on buying your next fish? They probably won't question you one bit with any adult with you.

well most kids arent i can say but all the better reason to test the knowledge of the shoppers, i know more about fish than the staff at all the big name places (petco, petsmart).

At my good lfs (pricey equipment though....) theyve asked questions since they care about there fish, they kept asking questions to test me and i answered them correctly, they were so surprised they suggested in 2 years i should apply for a job there. That is a way of testing the customers, by asking them questions. I went to petsmart once trying to buy some ghost shrimp, the person looked at me and said, why do people buy ghost shrimp, i told her why and she seemed very surprised, this was more of me testing them. I dont like petsmart at all anyway.....

 

[Andyandsue]

While all of that is true... I know you know more than the average kid and they know that you know more than the average kid- They don't know that your parents said it was ok to get another fish, and ultimately it's their house and what goes in it in their responsibility so they get to say yes or no.

I'm sure that is where that store that won't sell to kids is coming from.

A parental form can be easily forged, so I'm sure the note idea isn't going to fly. I was a kid once, albeit a long time ago.

 

[fs49864]

As with any store or place if they have a policy you do not like don't buy from the store.

If it's the only good store in your area your going to have to decide how much this issue bothers you.

As for buying a product for pH I don't see why you couldn't buy that.

 

[Andyandsue]

As with any store or place if they have a policy you do not like don't buy from the store.

If it's the only good store in your area your going to have to decide how much this issue bothers you.

As for buying a product for pH I don't see why you couldn't buy that.

I'm sure they think it's just not safe to sell chemicals in general to kids.

 

[Donut]

As with any store or place if they have a policy you do not like don't buy from the store.

If it's the only good store in your area your going to have to decide how much this issue bothers you.

As for buying a product for pH I don't see why you couldn't buy that.

I'm sure that someone, somewhere, at sometime found a way to get high off of it. Same reason you have to show an ID for buying fuel injector cleaner.

Like he said, if you don't like the rule boycott. "Life's tough, Get a helmet."

 

[musho3210]

As with any store or place if they have a policy you do not like don't buy from the store.

If it's the only good store in your area your going to have to decide how much this issue bothers you.

As for buying a product for pH I don't see why you couldn't buy that.

I'm sure that someone, somewhere, at sometime found a way to get high off of it. Same reason you have to show an ID for buying fuel injector cleaner.

Like he said, if you don't like the rule boycott. "Life's tough, Get a helmet."

well if your young, and you dont like the rule, you cant do anything about it,

 

[Andyandsue]

Whether you're young or not, sometimes you can't do a thing about whatever it is that you don't like. A boycott is being proactive. So whatever the issue, that is doing something.

 

[GalaxyGirl]

I have never had this problem, given that my mom is always present at the store with me, but still I gave them my own money and such. I was at my lfs the other day, my mom and the manager were talking, my mom told her she wouldnt let me get fish until I did all the research, and I was complimented that im always right on the ball with the fish when I come in.

But I can see this rule, as people say kids just buy goldfish and dump it in a bowl. They dont care of it either, and the parents probaly dont want to. It sucks, but build yourself up with a store and bring in a parent and you wont have any problems