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View Full Version : Petco makes me sad.


tlo25
06/06/2011, 01:29 PM
I went to Petco to pickup some dog food this weekend and decided to check out what they had. Found a dog face puffer curled up kind of like in a fetal position laying on a fake coral piece gasping, looked like he had itch. It was pretty sad and my wife said she wished we could rescue it but I think it's a goner. The only other livestock they had was an LTA that was laying on the bottom of another tank.

bigworm175
06/06/2011, 02:02 PM
People who buy dog food from Petco make me sad. jk Petco's fish section is very sad indeed. If there were dogs or cats treated that poorly there would be a riot.

You should look into grainless dog foods. From my research, grain is not good for them but do your own research because like everything else there are more than one opinion. I know we spend a lot of time researching our tanks so shouldn't we do the same for our furry friends? This practice also keeps me out of Petco all together so I don't support them in any way.

tlo25
06/06/2011, 03:16 PM
This may be getting off topic but.. I buy dog food from petco because they sell Wellness brand. From what I have read this is a pretty good food since the first few ingredients are meat.

James77
06/06/2011, 03:24 PM
Nothing worse than what I have seen in one of my LFS, one that is run by a marine biologist.

Petcos seem to be a hit or miss as far as the fish sections. The 2 local ones to me are pretty good. Yes, the staff knows one step above nothing, but you get the skill you pay for.

James77
06/06/2011, 03:26 PM
You should look into grainless dog foods. From my research, grain is not good for them but do your own research because like everything else there are more than one opinion. .

Same with cats.....whens the last time you saw a lion munching on an english muffin?

reef17
06/06/2011, 04:18 PM
in my opinion Petco should not be even alound to sell any sort of animal from fish to cats they do not keep up with the animals and at the end of it the animals just end up dying in their unkept habitats and cages

Ritten
06/06/2011, 04:25 PM
There are just as many good petcos around here as there are good lfs. Just like anything else, there is good stores and bad stores.

walkerbrody
06/06/2011, 05:13 PM
I asked the manager of the local petco how many sps coral frags he is going to kill before he decides to stop ordering them. He looked at me and said "I guess these should be my last shouldn't they." I told him I hoped so.

ccalabro
06/06/2011, 07:25 PM
I'm not even sure why either of the major chains stay in the live fish business..they all suck at it..fresh or salt...they should just stick to dry goods and leave the livestock to specialty stores.

Lynnmw1208
06/06/2011, 07:41 PM
in my opinion Petco should not be even alound to sell any sort of animal from fish to cats they do not keep up with the animals and at the end of it the animals just end up dying in their unkept habitats and cages

the problem is they wont' give hours for the employees to properly clean these habitats. Always claiming there is no money... bah there's definitely money! a new one goes up every month or so. they are cracking down on cleaning and maintenance though. if you get so many strikes they take your animals away.

allsps40
06/06/2011, 07:55 PM
Petco sucks I worked for them for 2 years. I started at the bottom, becme the reptile expert, then a manager then I ran the big aquatics department in the only reef capable Petco in Arizona. It had a fairly decent set up for fish only and the reef system, this store is a one of a kind test store. 99% of all Petcos do not have anyone that knows anything about keeping marine organisms let alone freshwater fish. The training is very poor and 3rd grade-ish. The stores are supposed to have a full time specialist for each animal department who's job is to help customers in their department, feed animals, clean habitats, inventory livestock ect. If tanks are not clean and animals are not health it is mostly due to poor knowledge on the specialists part not time.

tiffyreefer
06/07/2011, 08:39 AM
Our local PETCO is sad too, both fresh and saltwater are terrible. IMO the Petsmart near me has a very well kept freshwater department. In Petco I block my view of the "10 tangs to a tank" displays as I make my way to the dog food. Petco and Petsmart are the only places around us that sell Merrick dog food, which also has grain free as well as low glycemic selections.
You should look into grainless dog foods.
Bigworm, not to get off topic but how do your pups take to wellness brand? We considered switching at one point.

klepto
06/07/2011, 08:54 AM
In Petco I block my view of the "10 tangs to a tank" displays as I make my way to the dog food.

Why turn the blind eye and support the horrible standards in the first place? If you are seriously dissatisfied with the state of their tanks, then stop shopping there. There are plenty of sources for Merrick foods online.

Lynnmw1208
06/07/2011, 09:03 AM
Petco sucks I worked for them for 2 years. I started at the bottom, becme the reptile expert, then a manager then I ran the big aquatics department in the only reef capable Petco in Arizona. It had a fairly decent set up for fish only and the reef system, this store is a one of a kind test store. 99% of all Petcos do not have anyone that knows anything about keeping marine organisms let alone freshwater fish. The training is very poor and 3rd grade-ish. The stores are supposed to have a full time specialist for each animal department who's job is to help customers in their department, feed animals, clean habitats, inventory livestock ect. If tanks are not clean and animals are not health it is mostly due to poor knowledge on the specialists part not time.

well at our Petco it was time. they only gave the specialists 2 days a week and for me that was to clean all freshwater, saltwater, and do all the other things on the maintenance lists that were not done the days I was off. :( your Petco sounds a lot better than ours. I agree that they don't train enough.

tiffyreefer
06/07/2011, 02:48 PM
Sorry klepto but if i started boycotting all stores on principles I'd never leave my house to go shopping. Then I'd find a reason to boycott UPS and FedEx. Then I'm REALLY screw*d :headwally:

klepto
06/07/2011, 04:43 PM
Sorry klepto but if i started boycotting all stores on principles I'd never leave my house to go shopping. Then I'd find a reason to boycott UPS and FedEx. Then I'm REALLY screw*d :headwally:
:rolleyes: I'm not talking about principles or carbon footprints or any of that. I'm talking about the level of care for living animals.

stacyjo
06/07/2011, 06:46 PM
this is so true..Our petco has nothing ever just little feeder fish and that is about all.. never has anything good..they should just not even have fish..They have no salt water at all just fresh

bif24701
06/08/2011, 11:09 AM
This may be getting off topic but.. I buy dog food from petco because they sell Wellness brand. From what I have read this is a pretty good food since the first few ingredients are meat.

Wellness is a great dog food brand! One of the best period. It can also be very hard to find, and buying pet food on the internet adds cost of shipping.

My local Petco isn't bad, Goodyear AZ, but some in AZ are. Local managers are responsible for their livestock. It is up to us, the consumer, to either shop some were else or complain. :angryfire: If you want a riot because the fish are sickly and dieing, start one. :uzi: I'm behind you!

SkullV
06/08/2011, 11:48 AM
Well, PETCO makes me happy! Got a brand new reef ready 75g from them for $199 this past Memorial Day. I wouldn't buy livestock there though.

ja4207
06/08/2011, 12:09 PM
IYpu guys are making me feel guilty for number one buying anything from Petco and number two not researching foods alittle better for my little rugrats! Wellness, I'll have to look more into this.

jeff@zina.com
06/08/2011, 12:53 PM
I went to Petco to pickup some dog food...
I see the first issue in your problem right here.

Jeff

HV1990
06/08/2011, 01:03 PM
This may be getting off topic but.. I buy dog food from petco because they sell Wellness brand. From what I have read this is a pretty good food since the first few ingredients are meat.

For a good grain free I go Taste of the Wild. Really easy on my labs stomach.

youpey
06/08/2011, 02:52 PM
the petco and petsmart near my house dont seem to sell any saltwater livestock. i was surprised, but there was none

tiffyreefer
06/09/2011, 05:18 AM
If you want a riot because the fish are sickly and dieing, start one. I'm behind you! Woo! Lets do it :)

My pups really like the Merrick. Hopefully its not just marketing but they seem to be a small operation out of Texas that really cares about pets. The food names are "grammies pot pie" "cowboy cookout" "red white and blueberry", etc. Really funny names. My husband thought it was dinner haha!

dover157
06/09/2011, 06:26 AM
Well, PETCO makes me happy! Got a brand new reef ready 75g from them for $199 this past Memorial Day. I wouldn't buy livestock there though.

+1 I got my 20 gal setup with everything but the stand and rock / sand for 70. Same tank at the LFS same brand even is over 150.

Moonstream
06/09/2011, 08:24 AM
on the wellness, it seems to be really easy on dog's stomachs. our boston could eat bits of it without being weaned onto it, and she cant eat anything other than her normal raw meat diet without being sick. our rescue mutt is the same, she was very sick as a puppy and the tiniest bit of food she isnt used to will make her sick, but she took to wellness right away and has only had to go off it (onto chicken and rice) once.

on petco- they really do seem to have a wide variability in how well fish are taken care of. I used to go to the petco in union square a lot, hadnt been their in a good couple of years and ran down yesterday to look for some equipment. they had absolutely nothing I needed, which was disappointing since it was all very basic stuff. their employees knew next to nothing (this same guy has worked their a number of years, I remember him from when I first started off, he netted me my first two fish) but are very nice, and I think that some do try to know things. their fish are all in a sad state, at the very least they are painfully thin, if not discolored or ich-ridden. the inverts werent much better, they had an entire tank filled with bleached BTA's, and another filled with equally bleached condy's that werent even anchored, just free floating.

their coral tank was surprisingly decent, though. two tanks on separate sumps, a long three-level frag rack in each, barebottom with cheato and lit by what I assume to be T5 (albeit mounted far too high above the water's surface, IMO, and a very poor color combination). though msot SPS frags were browned out or slightly bleached, their LPS and softies looked good, as did most of their mushrooms. a bit of aptasia, but you just had to look carefully to see it wasnt on th epieces you wanted. I walked away with three torches (bright green w/ green tips, brown/purple with aqua tips, purple / mottled white spots on tenticles and goldish/green tips) for 40 each, a $20 devil's hand leather frag, and a $13 two-headed bright green duncan.

all in all, never in my darkest hour will I buy fish from them, but they do seem to have stepped it up coral-wise, and they seem eager to take money off the coral since they have such a slow turn-over rate.

Mr.Tan
06/09/2011, 09:42 AM
I have 2 petcos local to me, its amazing how different they are. One is really good and keeps tanks clean and on top of things, no dead wish floating around or sick looking. And then the other (closer to me, of course) is terrible. Tanks are WAY to small and overstocked, sick fish and even dead ones just left in the tanks for god knows how long. Buddy of mine even tried to report them/file a complaint and they weren't having it, said you can't file complaints!??!?

Thank goodness that fish place is only a 15 minute drive from me.

Crkbaby
06/09/2011, 07:36 PM
petco tanks make me want to puke there are several in my area and they are pathetic and if I do stop and look at one. some moron asks me if I need help and I want to punch him in the face for offering to kill my tank like theres.

89Foxbody
06/09/2011, 08:39 PM
I added a long reply detailing what really happens at your local Petco...but I thought better of it as I'm pretty sure they have an entire unit of internet detectives protecting their reputation.

moondoggy4
06/09/2011, 08:58 PM
We have three good Petco around here the one in San Diego is really good as Petco's goes they are staffed with enthusiasts from another reef club. My local store has a Powder Blue tang that they won't sell because it is in the coral tank and it is the fish managers favorite, but I am on the list.

tkeracer619
06/09/2011, 09:06 PM
OK i'll plug the shirt yet again. I drew this up because a club actually got banned from petco a few years ago :lol:. Horrible business model, you should not buy anything from them fish related or not.

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/9678/shirtgotbanneddg9.jpg

bif24701
06/09/2011, 10:02 PM
For a good grain free I go Taste of the Wild. Really easy on my labs stomach.

I use taste of the wild but prefer Wellness, its just that were I buy dog food TotW is cheaper.

You really should look at what you feed your dog, it will Dave you big in lower vet bills and healthier pets.

I won't boycott Petco so long as I can find deals, found scarlet hermit .99 cents! The foxface I bought there has been doing well. If your Petco is subpare? Voice it! Report it, comment about it, as you are. Good Job!

bigdaddystar
06/09/2011, 10:18 PM
Well we have all killed thousand of dollars worth of life forms in this hobby....we have all been newbs....buisnessess exist to make $$$$ and thats all they care about

on a side note..I actually like buying my fish from petco...they are usually hardy because no one buys them so they just sit there and after the torture they have been through nothing can kill them...every fish in my nano is from petco...not a single death unless you count nemo there who got sucked into the return pump (thats ironic there) guess he was trying to stop the pump...lol.

And my main tank always from fellow reefers or straight from the wholesale house.....I like fish that have a chance at survival.

klepto
06/09/2011, 10:23 PM
Well we have all killed thousand of dollars worth of life forms in this hobby....
:lmao: That's a hefty assumption.

bigdaddystar
06/09/2011, 10:29 PM
i know i know....but honestly I have never had a fish die on me from petco
but then again I stay away from the ones that are half-dead and ich-ridden.

I only go there to buy my IO salt because they got the best deal on the big bucket at 50 bucks.

Lynnmw1208
06/10/2011, 10:35 AM
for a good grain free i go taste of the wild. Really easy on my labs stomach.

+1

tkeracer619
06/10/2011, 08:53 PM
I only go there to buy my IO salt because they got the best deal on the big bucket at 50 bucks.

drs foster and smith have a 200g box of IO for 42.99. They frequently go on sale and have shipping sales. You can do better.

Pallobi
06/10/2011, 09:06 PM
on the wellness, it seems to be really easy on dog's stomachs. our boston could eat bits of it without being weaned onto it, and she cant eat anything other than her normal raw meat diet without being sick. our rescue mutt is the same, she was very sick as a puppy and the tiniest bit of food she isnt used to will make her sick, but she took to wellness right away and has only had to go off it (onto chicken and rice) once.

on petco- they really do seem to have a wide variability in how well fish are taken care of. I used to go to the petco in union square a lot, hadnt been their in a good couple of years and ran down yesterday to look for some equipment. they had absolutely nothing I needed, which was disappointing since it was all very basic stuff. their employees knew next to nothing (this same guy has worked their a number of years, I remember him from when I first started off, he netted me my first two fish) but are very nice, and I think that some do try to know things. their fish are all in a sad state, at the very least they are painfully thin, if not discolored or ich-ridden. the inverts werent much better, they had an entire tank filled with bleached BTA's, and another filled with equally bleached condy's that werent even anchored, just free floating.

their coral tank was surprisingly decent, though. two tanks on separate sumps, a long three-level frag rack in each, barebottom with cheato and lit by what I assume to be T5 (albeit mounted far too high above the water's surface, IMO, and a very poor color combination). though msot SPS frags were browned out or slightly bleached, their LPS and softies looked good, as did most of their mushrooms. a bit of aptasia, but you just had to look carefully to see it wasnt on th epieces you wanted. I walked away with three torches (bright green w/ green tips, brown/purple with aqua tips, purple / mottled white spots on tenticles and goldish/green tips) for 40 each, a $20 devil's hand leather frag, and a $13 two-headed bright green duncan.

all in all, never in my darkest hour will I buy fish from them, but they do seem to have stepped it up coral-wise, and they seem eager to take money off the coral since they have such a slow turn-over rate.

I agree with u... petco sucks... sad, but true...;)

mapn4reef
06/22/2011, 01:40 PM
Local Petco breaks my heart every time...

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b93/mapmanpic/0618111039.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b93/mapmanpic/0618111039a.jpg

funkejj
06/22/2011, 02:42 PM
I no longer go to petco for anything, we started buying our dog food from amazon online and saving $10 bucks a bag shipped to my front door, same with salt,I save $20 a bucket.