Store Frustrations

[christyf5]

Our local store currently has 2 moorish idols in their tanks. There are ZERO people here that have the ability to keep these fish successfully long term. Theres also a panther grouper in the tank that I'm sure will be in and out of the store repeatedly over the next few months/years as it grows (if it lives that long). Not sure why the owner likes ordering these fish in.

[Coralgurl]

I typically do not buy livestock from the big box stores. We were in the area so stopped in. There's another one who receives gorgeous fish, but they always look so sick and unhealthy. I'm not sure who would spend $100+ on a fish that needs a lot of work to get healthy, if it even survives the trip home. I know people QT their fish, but it seems like such a risk. I bought 2 fish from there once, wiped out my tank. Never, ever again.

We do have great stores here, some that go above and beyond so we are lucky that way.

[Skimmer Juice]

The only place I will buy fish from is Gold's , or another reefer. I still go to the other shops but usually do not buy so I get treated crappy , this also helps keep me from buying. To me a LFS should be aware that some people that have been doing this a long time might not have room for new addition's. Im at the point where Im just looking for really specific piece's, so there will be times I go to look and not going to buy if they do not have what Im looking for. The employees/owners should still be friendly with you.....

[Magickiwi]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Our local store currently has 2 moorish idols in their tanks. There are ZERO people here that have the ability to keep these fish successfully long term. Theres also a panther grouper in the tank that I'm sure will be in and out of the store repeatedly over the next few months/years as it grows (if it lives that long). Not sure why the owner likes ordering these fish in.

There's no one in Nanaimo that could keep a Moorish Idol? Seems strange, I would think that there would be quite a few people that are serious marine aquarists.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

There's no one in Nanaimo that could keep a Moorish Idol? Seems strange, I would think that there would be quite a few people that are serious marine aquarists.

There's not alot of people around period that can keep a MI alive.

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

There's not alot of people around period that can keep a MI alive.

Thank you. And yes, with only one store that carries saltwater in town there's not a lot of "serious" aquarists around period. In all my time on Canreef I have seen/heard less than a handful of people that have kept them past 5 years.

[Magickiwi]

I knew they were difficult but I thought that had to do with feeding specifically. Either way if there's a high mortality rate then it's better to leave them in the ocean. People can go with the Heniochus butterfly fish, pretty similar in appearance and pretty easy to take care of.

The most difficult marine fish I'd consider is the Copper Band Butterfly, which I've had for a few weeks and seems to be doing pretty well. He's fattening up nicely.

The point about feeding Moorish Idols brings up another frustration with LFS. Inconsistency of frozen/live foods available. You get used to feeding one thing and then they run out for weeks at a time.

[Coralgurl]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

Inconsistency of frozen/live foods available. You get used to feeding one thing and then they run out for weeks at a time.

Agreed +1000. I just picked up 3 packs of Pacifica Plankton for that reason.

Running a business is not easy and I am not a business owner and have zero experience, but I do have huge respect for small business owners overall. Not easy to cater to a hobby that is filled with many different opinions on how things should be done, old school reefers, new school reefers, equipment improvement and product development. But, they should know what they have for livestock, they are the ones ordering it and should be responsible for confirming what they ordered is what they received.

[Coasting]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Thank you. And yes, with only one store that carries saltwater in town there's not a lot of "serious" aquarists around period. In all my time on Canreef I have seen/heard less than a handful of people that have kept them past 5 years.

What's the store in Nanaimo that carries salt water supplies?
Been here almost a year and haven't figured out where anything is.

I find getting customer service at most of these places is like pulling teeth. Maybe because you guys all know everyone its all fine. But it seems if you're not a common face at the regular stores like J&L or King ed, you're nothing to them, and chasing down an employee to get a fish caught or grab a piece of coral can take forever. Ive been purposely passed by 6 times by the employees at J&L one day so they could go chat up somebody they knew that came into the fish room. It's been better more recently... Actually getting greeted when I walk into the fish room to ask if I need anything... but I don't know if theres anything I want right away... I have to look! But after that, again I'm back to trying to hunt somebody down as they help everyone else but never come back and see if I'm ready to grab some fish. It's gotta be just me... everyone else seems to get service LOL

[ponokareefer]

As someone who has to make a minimum 200km round trip to even get to an LFS, it's extremely frustrating when you rarely ever see anything different. I've been searching for a specific item for 9 months. Every time an LFS brings one in, I try to make it to the city on the first weekend available only to see it already sold. I keep getting told by various LFS's will order one in for me, but then expect me to be there the day it arrives to get it. I see there side of this issue as well, but if the item keeps selling that fast, maybe they should bring a few more in.