sad fish in Petco

I am so shocked at the condition of the salt water fish in that store!!! I would never buy from there, but never realized how bad it is! Almost all the fish were full of ich and fin rot and on the verge of starvation. I cant believe they are allowed to stock those types of fishes if they cant take care of them! Had a trigger in there acting wierd and hiding in a corner (So not like a trigger). It was sick. Is there anything that can be done. Would have taken pics, but had forgotten my cell in the truck. Completely disgusted.

..same with mine..i have been in to talk with the manager a few times now..and i will continue to do so, next on my list if things do not improve , is the ASPCA and the local media.. its animal cruelty and disgusting.

both salt and fresh water at my local petco are sickening diseased dying fish in EVERY tank, no markers on the tanks saying they are ill no treatments being done.

Yep, I saw what I think were called Silver dollars which were so weak just stuck to the intake filter ALIVE. It is a mess. I wouldn't expect that from such a big company. It is disgusting. Ill back you up 100%.

Our petco took OUT the saltwater fish because they couldnt keep anything alive for more than 2 weeks, that place is filthy, my sister and I used to buy their fish and get em healthy again and give them away to good homes so they have a chance to live.

I also get the feeling that I am rescuing fish from there.

WOW. It must be state wide. It's amazing how you hear about the same issues in several different stores. I'm on South Hill in Puyallup and I refuse to buy anything from them, and had to point it out twice that their fish had issues. One time a couple tanks showed ick so bad, and they still had the lights on to sell them. I mentioned it to the guy and he said oh no big deal its like a cold, it will go away. So I asked him if all of the tanks filter together with the same water. (which I new they did) and he says, oh that doesn't matter.

I just walked away in disbelief.

I think it's more than state wide.

Kaosu and I were in ours the other day and apparently they got a new fish manager, who tells us she is very intent on improving conditions. I have to say they looked better than I have ever seen them. Even the bettas had clean water, except one who seemed to have been missed in the back and had died. Of course. She said that the store doesn't even have tanks in the back for quarantine or observation when they get new stock. Also, I think all of their tanks share the same water, because if one tank has a problem, they all seem to get it. Pretty sad.

I remember going into our store one time and ALL of the fish were under quarenteen

I as well have seen some problems with the Olympia petco. Not AS bad as you guys are describing. Not the amounts of ick and what not atleast. But they have problems with mislabeling for sure. I argued with a guy about a hillstream loach that was in there that had the sign posted saying they were hillstreams and when I inquired about a price (not posted) he proceeded to tell me they were a pleco not a hillstream loach and he had his own fish business for years and should know. My question, why are you working minimum wage at petco then not at a upscale fish store? And they had no books to prove what breed it was.

But I have purchased fish from the Olympia petco and have had no problems with sickness and still have most of them. And my boyfriend has a few cichlids he got from there as well. But I agree for as big of a company as it is they DEFINITELY should have MUCH better quality of water and fish!! I wonder if complaints to headquarters, not just the local stores would help any? Maybe they have no idea and the local managers just don't give a . I would support some in stating they need better fish care!! And I find same water cycling through all the tanks a HUGE problem!! That's just asking for issues! Hire someone to do after hours water cleanings if it's that big of a problem during the day. Criminey!

maybe you guys should stop shopping at petsmart or petco
I think they both horrible stores I never buy fish from them

We are not saying this because we buy fish here. We are stating a fact and that it should not be allowed. They also carry dogs and cats, and if I noticed that they were not being takin care of, I would want to complain then also. Doesn't mean I want to buy pets from them, just if they are going to sell these items they should atleast take care of them. That is what this thread is about.

If we really want to try and do something about this, things need to be documented. Date, time, condition of animal, discussion with employee, outcome of discussion, pictures. Get it all together collectively from all locations and mail it into the company headquarters. OH, lets send a request to "Undercover Boss" producers and have them make the company participate in the show. Although I don't think that would help.

I'd like to know where they are getting their fish from too. If they are all captive breed or wild caught. I'm guessing captive breed. If that's the case, the breeders are just as bad as puppy mills if they are sending the stores fish in that bad of condition. Or are they getting that way after they arrive.

I was happy when the poulsbo petco shut down their saltwater tanks. The poor animals in those tanks....Anyway, lateley their freshwater livestock hasnt been looking too bad.

It all depends on the employee responsible for that section of the store. If they're an aquarist, then most likely their stock will be in pretty good shape. Unfortunately, not too many aquarists want to work in the retail channel, and when they do, it's int he higher end stores.

Petco used to get their stock form LiveFishDirect but they lost the contract a year or two ago. I think they now use a series of suppliers rather than just the one.

Two best Petco's in Tacoma
1) 38th street but might go down because Josh is now at the
2) Lakewwood Petco because Josh is there but helps out the 38th street crew

I have puchased my RBTA (3 total) Skunk Shrimp (2), Pepperment Shrimp (4), Porceialn Crabs (2), and have other things on order and the Lakewood store ONLY!!!

But true i went to the Southhill Petco and it was pathetic!!! I told the clerk about three open bag (with Tape trying to re-seal them) of Live Sand and he agreed that it should be pulled so i left only to return 30min later to see them back out on sale at FULL PRICE !!! I will never purchase ANYTHING from that Petco unless they do a complete 180o change.

Oddly enough I went into a new Petco on top of east hill in Kent. It's the new one by Ross and Target. They had clean tanks with healthy fish. Sadly they told me I'd have to order my 75g online and their driftwood is an absolute joke. Just little knobs with some knots, nothing special.

But I do have to say the tanks were surprisingly clean. But all they had were fresh water Tetras and a very few CA Cichlids. Safe to say I will stick to my local stores.

I just saw some "seemed nice" deals on Craifs List for some 75 gal tanks.

I already bought a brand new set up. Thank you though!

Nice!!! Post pic's once setup, would like to see the end results.
Dtech Fresh start/ Salt now.

i am happy to report sens i have visited my local petsmart and compailianed to the manager and the fish department manager that the fish department in my local PetSmart..(Burlington) was unacceptable it has improved significantly.

Please if you see horrible conditions at your local PetSmart or PetCo Please Please complain!! it really does get things done...i threatened to call the ASPCA and the local media if things did not improve, to the manager.......and you know what? things improved.
So ANYONE with a complaint agents at PETSMART or PETCO ask for a manager and complain to them.. it works!

Nicely Done!!! I will because it makes a large differents in what we bring home and the care or a living thing. Thx