Have you ever....

[alexarae]

Has anyone ever been turned down by a fish store when trying to buy a fish?
I was at my lfs today and the owner downright told a customer "no" to some sort of catfish.
The owner said that they were rare and informed the customer that it was a $75 fish, he went on about the large tank that will be needed.
The customer looked kinda like a punk lookin' kid...he kept ignoring what the owner was saying...the owner asked what size tank he planned to put the catfish in and the customer said he had a 18 gallon he would fill up.
Thus...the owner just said "no, i wont sell it to you."

Anyone ever seen anything like this?
I was happy. Go lfs guy!

[rrocket2002]

I have. Neptune's Garden when they were still around.

[Fire_chair]

Never.

[spyke1969]

good for the owner

[CichlidFan]

Yes, but not lately.

Long time ago, back when I first got into keeping fish, I bought from a old asian man who would yell at his customers (like me) when they asked silly questions. He would not let me mix certain fish, nor would he sell them to me if he thought I would do it anyway.

Great guy, reminded me of the shaolin munks from Kung Fu, but with lots of attitude.

CF

[fishlady]

aquarium world has a sign on their neon tetra tank that if you want to buy them you have to bring in a sample of the water from the tank they will go in or you can't buy them.......

[alexarae]

good for these fish-establishments.

[Kiovo]

I know Dan (HAW) is really picky about who he'll sell his discus to. He mention the other day somebody wanted to buy a bunch but wanted to keep them with something that wasn't compatible and he told them no.

[jeebus]

Alexa, what store was this? It sounds like a place most of us would prefer to shop at.

[szidlon]

My kind of LFS, you should write a review in the retailers section and share with us.

[cichlid1409]

aquarium world has a sign on their neon tetra tank that if you want to buy them you have to bring in a sample of the water from the tank they will go in or you can't buy them.......

really .. neon tetras...those are like a dollar a dozen (just a figure of speech) thats kinda silly.

[ghoastgirl1]

Interesting. I've never seen this personally. More stores need to have these standards although I can see the other POV. If a person doesn't fit the "fish keeper" persona look it could go into the discrimination category.

Most people are surprised to learn I'm a fish keeper at 20...of course I'm sure many more would be more surprised with Fishboyt! Usually if a person displays adequate knowledge about a subject I wouldn't be too concerned...it's when they answer I don't know to more vital questions...

All in all, definitely left up to the store owners discretion. Most aren't too quick to judge unless the person buying is being an absolute idiot in front of them.


I was in Petsmart one day and overheard a dad buying 5 or 6 of the same fish. He was mentioning how his daughter wouldn't know hers had died and that these extras would come in handy....I thought about cutting in but didn't. That kind of stuff kinda irks me.

[alexarae]

Phd Pets...he's a lovely older man who has owned the shop forever. It's the only LFS on the island.

[alexarae]

Ghoastgirl...the was texting on his sidekick and buying mice for his snake. Then he was asking who would win...the snake or the catfish...I wanted to punch him.

I was about to buy the catfish just to save him.

[ghoastgirl1]

I'm not saying the owner wasn't in the right. I think he completely was. Just playing devils advocate. :) Certainly glad he didn't sell the catfish to him for sure! I usually don't text on my sidekick when I buy fish though. :)