Anyone seen the clams at Pestco?

[HClH2OFish]

Just stopped in and checked out the fish when picking up dog food and was heartbroken to see that Pestco is now carrying Tridacna's. They had about a dozen of them in 2 tanks...about 1" long. Some were upside down..some on their sides. All sitting on aragonite (the big stuff)
No strong lights, just the regular lights in the tanks. Mantles all pulled in and looking dead or dying. If I had the $$ I woulda bought em all and given em to my LFS to take care of.
I *HATE* that this store is constantly doing crap like this....they're now pushing "Live Rock" which is just base rock put in the tanks and getting more exotic aquaria that they have no business carrying (they shouldn't carry fish, much less clams)
I spoke to the guy working the fish dept. and he was telling me that he's tried telling his manager about incorrect setups, etc. so they can fix them and he was told to essentially shut up and do his job. Corporate has stated how they are to run the dept. and they won't tolerate any deviation..even if it's for the benefit of the animals they're selling.
Man they suck


/rant off

 

[da colts1]

man, when i hear stuff like that it makes me sooooo happy that i work for a shop that gives a damn about the critters we sell. where we are there are no petcos and i am glad because i might catch a charge if i saw stuff like that. places like that are the reason customers get the idea that marine tanks are easy to do, they are not easy,but they are worth every minute i spend on mine. places like that are also the reason that the marine hobby gets the bad rap that we are raping the reefs, and in the case of places like petco they are. DAMN, I GOTTA GO CALM DOWN!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

I knew this wouldn't be a flattering thread when you called them Pestco.

Imho, the last thing you want to do is buy them, as much as it pains you (and I) to see them suffer. They will only get more in. After a short while they will (hopefully) figure out...

1) They are dying and no one is buying them...let's forget about getting any more.

-or-

2) Maybe we are doing something wrong in the care of the creatures.

Perhaps I'm an optimist to believe this, but Petco is driven by the almighty dollar as much as anyone else...somewhere down the line they will figure it out. Hopefully.

 

[da colts1]

while i agree that petco is in business for money, i still think that something needs to be done to take better of the sea creatures in their care. If they did not take better care of all the other animals in their stores, they would be taken to task for it, clams and marine life are no different. I have been in this business for 18 years, and i go the extra mile to take care of the animals in my shop as well as the animals in my own tank. sure i am in this business to make money, but i am also in this business to do the right thing by the marine life i sell, and that means the right filtration, the correct lighting etc.

FOR GOD'S SAKE PETCO, READ A DAMN BOOK.

 

[HClH2OFish]

From all I've gathered from talking with folks that work there, it's the almighty $$$ being saved by not having to quarantine animals, and maintaining all animals in same substrate (large crushed aragonite) and same lights (some kinda fluorescent)
The displays I've seen have sections...3 high. Each section shares all water, so if you have dead/diseased animals in one tank...the tanks in that whole section are contaminated..

I've written letters to corporate, but they don't care...they've got the volume and can continue to push these to newbies who don't know better...

 

[Anonymous]

Well, your two posts are depressing, but true. Perhaps some day they will see the light.

 

[da colts1]

i do thank you for trying, it's really sad that money means that much to some people that they would murder an animal just for the bucks. damn i am depressed.

 

[HClH2OFish]

Well, I'm actually guilty of one thing I *don't* advocate people to do..and that's rescue some of the critters from them. That's what comes from having a g/f I can't say no to..

We've rescued a Cinammon Clown, Bowtie damsel (1/2 her tail was chewed off and she only has one eye) and our latest acquisition...a Coral Banded they dropped into the tank while we were there....there was another CB in there and he started tearing the little guy up in front of my g/f...she had the fish guy pull him out and bag him up. He lost a claw in the fracas which I'm happy to say has regrown fully and he's almost trebled in size.

The damsel lives in her 15 tank w/some snails and hermits. She's really feisty and we've had her 2 years now..she's getting HUGE!! lol

The clown is happy as a ..well.. a clown in his 25 with a 1/2black angel, the cb, various clams, snails, bristleworms, etc.

All other critters incl. upside down jellies, zoos, and shrooms are from Aquatouch here in Phoenix. (TOOT on their horn for these guys...great husbandry..I get most of my stuff from em)

Anyway..lol..I gotta get back to work...

 

[fergy]

If I may make a point here....you were purchasing from that store when you observed the issue you're complaining about. Why not excercise your purchasing power somewhere else, and tell them that you won't be shopping there anymore? Seems like a pretty simple way to stand by your opinions. Why not boycott the store altogether, if you're not happy with their practices?
_________________
Mercedes Atego

 

[Tackett]

agree with that statement. I will not buy from any store I think isnt doing what is right. My petsmart over here rocks. They dont sell any marine fish, but they do carry marine supplies and are fairly decently priced. The freshwater fish that they sell look healthy and are well taken care of. The petland over here is very good also, my two buddies take care of the fish department and do a hell of a job. Same with the small LFS, the owner runs it very well.

 

[HClH2OFish]

If I may make a point here....you were purchasing from that store when you observed the issue you're complaining about. Why not excercise your purchasing power somewhere else, and tell them that you won't be shopping there anymore? Seems like a pretty simple way to stand by your opinions. Why not boycott the store altogether, if you're not happy with their practices?

True....and while I *don't* like their husbandry practices, I can't find a cheaper price in town on their dog food and hedgehog bedding.
We've got 3 dogs that require Science Diet...4 cases a week. This stuff is expensive. If I were to buy from somewhere else, I wouldn't be able to afford my fish hobby!!
I very very rarely buy *anything* fish related at this store...mainly Betta conditioner which my LFS doesn't carry ---

I try not to go to the store w/my girlfriend...I'll admit I'm whipped -- she gives me puppy dog eyes about some poor animal and we wind up rescuing it. Again, NOT SAYING I'M RIGHT IN DOING THIS!! I agree I shouldn't (and try not to)..

I'll agree with you that it is slightly hypocritical, but the point of my original post was simply one of dismay that they are still at it.

Fish are a very small portion of their $$, so are all their livestock IIRC. I dunno if boycotting would really do anything to hurt them. It would need to be *everyone* who buys from them, and I don't think there are enough consumers who are informed enough to know that the husbandry practices at these stores are deplorable...

 

[Tackett]

true, but it sure makes you feel good to say !@#& 'em!

anyways, doggie food is a whole 'nother bag of apples.

 

[Tackett]

BTW what kind of pooches do you have?

 

[fishfanatic2]

agree with that statement. I will not buy from any store I think isnt doing what is right. My petsmart over here rocks. They dont sell any marine fish, but they do carry marine supplies and are fairly decently priced. The freshwater fish that they sell look healthy and are well taken care of. The petland over here is very good also, my two buddies take care of the fish department and do a hell of a job. Same with the small LFS, the owner runs it very well.

There's a petsmart opening soon near me, hopefully it will have a decent section since the nearest FS I would by anything from is at least 1.5 hrs. away.

 

[HClH2OFish]

BTW what kind of pooches do you have?

Great Pyrenees, Collie, Jack Russell terrorist
2 cats (one was abandoned in a car wash, the other was brought into a Vet clinic my g/f worked at...a car hit him in the street in front of the clinic and she adopted him)
Mulbrella Cockatoo
African Pygmy Hedgehog
3 bettas
Cinammon Clown
1/2 Black Pygmy Angel
Bowtie Damsel
Upside down jellyfish
Hermit crabs, snails
Zoos, shrooms

I *think* that's it..lol

 

[Tackett]

Jack Russell terrorist

LMAO, yes they can be little spitballs of fire.

Mulbrella Cockatoo

I have two peach faced love birds, and my next big parrot adventure (If I EVER get the cash) is going to be a Hyacinth Macaw. But I doubt ill ever spend 9 grand on a bird, not to mention the cage, the toys, the time.

However, I do plan on getting one of two dogers.
Either an Alaskan Malamute or a British Mastiff. I love huskies but I will never have the space to adequately let him run. Both mastiffs and malamutes are sort of lazy dogers. Except when they are puppies, nothing is lazy when its a puppy. If they ever put the Jack energy in a dog the size of a Bernard, we would all die. Cuijo anyone?

 

[Tackett]

Im not sure, and may be wrong. But I dont think the petsmart chain carries dogs or saltwater critters. But they do sell the equipment and salt.

 

[Anonymous]

FWIW, these are probably captively bred clams. And also FWIW, 1" tridacnid clams need significantly less light than a full grown one. But I do agree that flourescents are not adequate.

 

[danmhippo]

Let's also face the fact that 1" clam's survival rate is really not that high. Catering not-so-easy animals to mostly newby consumer, we have to admit it's very clever money making scheme.........

 

[Tackett]

my maxima was only about 1 inch when I got him, and hes doing fine...Didnt know they had a low survival rate that small.