subject: Distinguishing a reputable fish store from a not so good one [print this page] Distinguishing a reputable fish store from a not so good one
A mishap to the fish business is the growth of the business. Due to increase in the demand of dcor fish, most of the stores dealing in fish have forgotten everything about quality and are just money concerned, a big loss in fact! While you are serious about buying fish for your tank, be careful and make sure that most of the fish stores will not really care about your true needs.
As not even twins are totally same in this world, same is the case with the stores. no store is the perfect one. But it is much important to know the qualities of a good store and distinguish it from a bad one because it is going to cost you money and your hobby. A good level of knowledge regarding the quality of store can be gained by making frequent visits to different fish stores.
Some of the most important points are listed and discussed below. These will for sure help you out in attaining a basic information level regarding the quality of fish stores. Attributing them in your life, you will be able to save both your money and fish.
The first and foremost act of common sense when you are in a fish store is to check the look of fish there. If they don't look good, never bring them home. They may be already near the end. The qualities should be:
1. Check out the quality of the fish tank. It should be clean. The fish should look healthy and unstressed. If you find that the fins of the fish are nipped or the color of the fish is faded or the fish is not active then understand that the fish is under stress. Never buy such a fish. Also check that whether the dead fish is removed urgently from the tank or not. Good stores have a quick management and replace the dead fish in no time. If the dead fish is fungus covered, the store is not a good one for sure.
2. Look carefully to fish to find any symptoms of disease if visible. If you find tiny white spots on fish it means it is ill and the store which is not considering this delicate issue is not a good one of course.
3. Check the compatibility of fish in the tank. If the store has itself incompatible fish in the tank, it will never make sense that they are going to give you some good pieces of advice which will help you in keeping an aquarium.
4. Good stores always make a provision for guarantee of full credit return if fish dies within a specified time period if you had already provided a sample of the tank water.
5. Find whether the store staff is well qualified and bear total information or not. If the staff asks you questions about the size of your tank, the quality of your water, the temperature you use to maintain for your aquarium, they are a part of a reputed store. They are really not if they are just tending to increase their sales without taking your needs and likings into considerations. They will remain silent and will not give you true information. Like they will not tell you about the importance of nitrogen cycle, size of the tank, and the most compatible fish for your water type and the number of fish you should actually have.
6. A good store shows concerns when you ask about medications to your tank. They ask questions about the water quality and confirm whether the tank has gone through nitrogen cycle or not. They will prefer medications if and only if they find some disease in the water. A bad store is in antagonism and leaves the harder way to be borne by you.
7. Apply the rule of thumb which explains that all the store that are specialized in dealing fish tanks are always better than the ones that have a side business of selling aquariums. You can easily differentiate both of the types.
8. It is a total non-sense to desire for the best fish in the lowest cost. Good fish always cost great. If a cheaper store is giving such an incentive after bargain, you should be frowning and understand there is something wrong but hidden.
These were few common points regarding a good and a bad fish store in market. Keeping these points in view you can benefit yourself because you will be saving money, gaining true information and having healthy fish in a good store which always has customer centered approach.
