Why you should always do your OWN research...

michika · #1 08-20-2007, 12:30 AM

I just thought I would share a cautionary tale about a recent experience I had.

I recently visited an LFS to kill some times while waiting for another store to open. While browsing through the marine tanks I saw a cute little yellow fish. No identification or price on the tank for the little yellow fish. So I thought I would ask, what kind of fish, and what the price was.

I was informed the fish was a yellow damsel, and going for a low price. The representative went on to tell me that its a perfect fish for a small tank, how they are cheap, and great for cycling tanks.

Well the fish was actually an atlantic blue tang still with juvenille colors. So the moral of the story here is to do your research and know your fish. As well, wow, that would be one cheap tang!

saltynuts · #2 08-20-2007, 12:34 AM

so did you but this little guy!!!!1 lol

supersmile · #3 08-20-2007, 03:27 AM

Yeah did you buy it and if not what store was it at??? I would love to buy him!

Redrover · #4 08-20-2007, 03:46 AM

Hey Catherine you left us at the bakery...what happened to the little yellow fish...I'm in suspenders

surgeonfish · #5 08-20-2007, 03:48 AM

I would recommend that you approach the salesperson and inform them of their mistake. They should be more informed about the fish they are selling. This would hopefully prevent a similar mistake from happening again.

Sebae again · #6 08-20-2007, 06:54 AM

Honesty is the best policy . Should be anyways. Recently I went into a LFS and asked the price of some monties- Ultraman ,Superman ,etc 3-4inch pieces. There was no prices so I asked the employee how much are they ? They told me they were frags so frags are $ 30 . I said are you sure they are $ 30. They said I'll go ask . They came back and said yeah they are $ 30. Knowing this is too good to be true I informed the owner. I don't want to see anyone get in trouble and I actually felt better about it then walking out of the store with $600 worth of monties for $120. I, like probably most of you , deal with the same circle of LFS's so if we feel something is too much or unavailable we have the option to go to the other one . Like the old saying goes, What goes around comes around. So when you want a cheaper price,or deal,or my pump just went I'm on my way can you stay 15 minutes after the store is closed ,or can you ship that today? I think you get my drift. Unlike most other ,but not all stores , your dealings with your LFS is like a relationship. Hey ,at least I'll have a good nights sleep .

michika · #7 08-20-2007, 03:12 PM

I admit I did try to correct the employee, but it was not well received. The individual even pulled out Scott Michael's 500 fish book (I think that is what it is called) and tried to show me it was a damsel....

I chaulked the experience up to an overzealous and cocky employee, and left it at that. I was polite, offered to show the employee in the book which fish it was and explain why I thought/knew it was that fish. They wouldn't have it.

Needless to say one of the 5 fish they had in the tank isn't there any longer...and I think while I was still there I saw the same employee recommend the little yellow fish to people just starting out in the hobby.

albert_dao · #8 08-22-2007, 07:22 AM

Pro...