Why a NEWB should never shop at Petco!

[afsportsguy000]

Ended up getting something from Petco today. Coral Banded Shrimp. The people at the petstore had NO idea about saltwater fish. Couldnt answer any questions. I saw this awesome looking shrimp and started asking about him. Kept saying he has no idea. So I ended up getting this things. Its really cool looking and mainly did this because my blood shrimp(smaller) just hides.

I am nervous of them killing each other...so far so good, but who knows over time. Its a 44G Corner Pent, so it may be a little small on the plus there are atleast 3+ caves for them to separate in. Has anyone else had bad/good experiences with CBS?

 

[jeremy052274]

I have had one for a while - reef safe (though they love to steal food from corals!) and a model citizen. Although the only other shrimp I have is a pistol and they never interact. I love mine and haven't had any issues thus far.

 

[frank180reef]

just that they are kinda big and a bit aggressive (as you know)

 

[WoodRiverTroutBum]

Rule of thumb is to always know what you want and know what it takes to successfully keep it before going in to any pet store. Even a lot of LFS don't give the best or most accurate information.

 

[afsportsguy000]

Yea, I knew the risk, I took it seems to be working out so far...got some cool pictures of it also. Maybe its not as bad and I have a good experience.

 

[roy]

Please do understand for the people working at petco
I believe people working there need to know a little bit of everything about what is inside the store not just salty fish only
Like what you expected

Although i now know a lot about the hobby more than the people working at most petco because i've a ton of hours on just the salty tank at home day and night. But they were the only place that i know at the time when i first got into this hobby

 

[Dfrontiero89]

Good luck, not sure if they will bother each other or not. I always bring my phone in and look stuff up to reassure myself I want to buy something lol. I was in a petco once and they had a pilot fish. I asked about it and They said they weren't sure what it was meanwhile they looked through books, asked other employees no one had a clue what kind of fish it was or anything. So I'm saying wow this things awesome and trying to decide what to do so while there running around I look on liveaquaria and there it is pilotfish! Thing gets 3 feet, whos gonna buy that at a petco!? Lol, anyways I do like petco due to there sales. I quarentine my fish and have no problems, got a blue tang a few weeks ago for $34.99 and was so happy. Its doing great now after getting ich for a few days. Anyways there's my petco not knowing anything.

Oh wait and one time a lady was telling a guy clownfish sex is determined by the color and stripes on the fish, complete made up and I couldn't help but say something then the guy ended up asking me questions for half hour while the employee disappeared,haha

 

[dz6t]

There is nothing wrong buying from Petco as far as live stock goes. Petco gets its live stock from the same wholesalers as other LFS and online stores.
With those coupons and sales, it is like buying from LFS but paying online price.

 

[dz6t]

Good luck, not sure if they will bother each other or not. I always bring my phone in and look stuff up to reassure myself I want to buy something lol. I was in a petco once and they had a pilot fish. I asked about it and They said they weren't sure what it was meanwhile they looked through books, asked other employees no one had a clue what kind of fish it was or anything. So I'm saying wow this things awesome and trying to decide what to do so while there running around I look on liveaquaria and there it is pilotfish! Thing gets 3 feet, whos gonna buy that at a petco!? Lol, anyways I do like petco due to there sales. I quarentine my fish and have no problems, got a blue tang a few weeks ago for $34.99 and was so happy. Its doing great now after getting ich for a few days. Anyways there's my petco not knowing anything.

Oh wait and one time a lady was telling a guy clownfish sex is determined by the color and stripes on the fish, complete made up and I couldn't help but say something then the guy ended up asking me questions for half hour while the employee disappeared,haha

It is a great idea to bring your smart phone when shopping in Petco.

 

[Dfrontiero89]

Thank You!

 

[danzig]

Rule of thumb is to always know what you want and know what it takes to successfully keep it before going in to any pet store. Even a lot of LFS don't give the best or most accurate information.

this.. or when your at the store and see something you like, take out your fancy internetz phone and google "[Insert livestock here] care" to get a basic idea, 99% of the time you will get some good basic info that will at least tell you if its right for you or not. I don't recommend this though its always a better idea to research what you want before you go to the store looking to buy something


EDIT: i see dong also had the same idea, didnt read the whole post before i wrote that up =p

 

[Mini4x]

It is a great idea to bring your smart phone when shopping in Petco.

Or poach the book rack.. and look up the critter in question.

 

[frank180reef]

There is nothing wrong buying from Petco as far as live stock goes. Petco gets its live stock from the same wholesalers as other LFS and online stores.
With those coupons and sales, it is like buying from LFS but paying online price.

I guess the only possible difference would be handling and care...................

 

[mchartier]

The only time I dont recommend buying from Petco or anywhere for that matter, is with delicate species where the store does not have adequate systems or knowledge to keep the animal healthy. A lot of times I hear people saying I saved this fish from insert store, it was malnourished and barely alive, I feel by doing so you send a message to the store that they can sell this type of animal so they bring in more and more animals suffer.

 

[JimmyC]

I have a coral banded shrimp and three cleaner shrimp, a pistol, two camel shrimp, two peppermint shrimp and a few different kinds of crabs and all is well in my tank. I had these guys for a while now and I haven't had any problems. OH and I got the camels, peppermints and one cleaner at Petco.

 

[afsportsguy000]

Sweet, So far no issues, both shrimp seem to hide during the day sometimes within a few feet of each other. The Blood shrimp seems to stick to one area though and doesnt move to much just likes to hide

 

[lex_lutha111384]

I have a pair of yellow banded shrimp. One has a belly full of eggs and they were the first animal i put in my reef about 8 months ago. Never had any issues

 

[Johorocks]

I have one plus a skunk cleaner plus a blood all in a 55 and never had a problem

 

[Cactuspancake]

I have a blue coral banded shrimp! He looks the same as yours but his main body is this bright blue. Mine is not aggressive at all and doesn't steal food or interact with my other shrimp or fish. I got him minus one arm and within a month he had a whole new normal sized arm! He is so adorable

 

[vuchim]

So you never shop or never go to petco? If it was not petco/petsmart, how did you get your foot wet in this hobby may i ask?
Not everyone in here that have dady or brother/cousin that works for jays, skiptons, tropic island etc,,,,,,,