i have a Gripe with Texas Tropical

[Gilbertg78228]

i took some fish to them to sell for me. 4 fish puffer, eel, trigger and toadfish. i get there with 30 minutes till closing. there employee gets my fish in a 5 gallon bucket and nets them and proseeds to drop them in the tanks. i am freaking out telling him they are stressed from me moving them that he should atleast acclimated them. he responds with its almost closing time. two if the fish (eel & trigger) he put in a tank and then yanked them out and put them in an other tank. the puffer he pulled out with the net and had in open air. i was always told that its very bad to have them out of water. when i caught him it was in a bowl and i submerged it in the bucket he never was out of water with me. this employee was very irresponsible and careless! i go there allot and for them to treat me like that. needless to say i am going to talk to the owner about this. if it was to late they could have put a filter in the tank and did it tomorrow or even better turn me away. i am very upset i had those fish a long time and figured it was best to take them to Texas Tropical. guess i was wrong now i have to look for an other fish store to do my business at. sorry guys just venting! i should have sold the fish here they would still be alive.

[jrsatx20]

so did ur fish die. u know that jason at ad wil give u a better deal than texas tropical. and ad is a sponsor.

[Gilbertg78228]

the trigger and the eel died the first night but those where the fish he relocated twice. he dropped them in and then yanked them out and dropped them in again. very stressful for them i am sure. the Puffer which came out of the water took a day to die. i am going to talk to allen on monday when he is in.

[ErikH]

I've gone in there a few times and hollered about some things, but I was hollering in a concerned way, not a mad way. They promptly addressed the concerns of the fish. A few of the guys know their stuff really well there, but some do not.

Personally, I would have been very upset too. We become attached to our fishy friends and it is sad to see them go, especially when someone else was responsible for the deaths.

This is why I go to B&B, RCA, FinAddict, and AD. I feel that the store owners are passionate about their job, fish, and corals. While they can't all get the best of the best, they won't push junk on you, and will work with you to get close to online pricing. Here in SA, you should take your fish to either AD or B&B and ask for store credit.

[bluewalk20]

yeah you should of sold them on maast instead

[Bevobud@hotmail.com]

who was the guy that "helped" you

[Texreefer]

sounds like the same old thing I have heard and wittnessed from them for 10+ years

[Gilbertg78228]

it was the big guy with dark hair. for the most part they have treated me good its just this experiace has changed my view of them. its ashame that one guy can do that to the company. when ever someone askes me about that place this story is what i am going to tell them and direct them to an other store.

[eman91]

Ladies and gentlemen allow me to give you my half of this story, becuase there is always two halves and each should be heard. First off the time that Mr.Gilbertg78228 came into the store was actually within the last five minutes of closing time. Would any of you want to stay at work for any more time than you should need to be there? Why where the fish even brought into the store was there something worng with them? Apperently there was because three out of the four died and the three that died are very hardy. Why were all three fish brought in the same bucket without oxygen? The trigger was laying at the bottom of the bucket when it entered the store so it was doomed before it was put into a tank. The puffer was also in bad shape it was sickly and its' stomach was shrunken in thusly doomed. As for the eel it had a visible hole through it ( that ain't natural). The toadfish is doing fine to the tanks at Texas Tropical have no problem nor the process of putting them in. So don't just jump on the band wagon, get the all the facts.

As for ScorpiNO all of those other stores would have turned away those fish i assure you. heres a secret Texas Tropical does give credit it just depends on wether you want 25% of sell cost that day or 50% when it sells.

That is my soapbox and remember don't believe everything you read on the internet ;)

[Texreefer]

so all those problems and you took the fish anyway? Smart!

[captexas]

I don't understand either sides issue. For the fish owner, why take them 5 or even 15 minutes before a store is closing? Did you really think someone was going to stay for an extra hour or so and "properly" acclimate YOUR fish? For the store personnel, why take the fish if you didn't want to be there? You should have told the customer to bring them back earlier the next day. If they were so sickly, they would have most likely died due to the customer in their tank, not in the stores tanks where you have other fish you are trying to sell. Both sides are guilty for doing things they shouldn't have done.

[Jonthefishguy]

No one knows exactly what happend or in what condition the fish were when they were brought to that store. It has become more of a HE SAID/HE SAID.

IMO, regardless of what time it is. The customer is a customer and even if they came in 30 seconds till close, you allowed them in and they pay your check. This customer might not have purchased anything this time nor may he not have ever purchased a significant item that would have caused an impact in your wallet, but they are still a customer and deserve to same right as one that enters long before closing hours. The rules dont change simply because its closing time. Simply treating this customer or any other customer or their fish/invert with little care simply because its closing time and you want to go home shows someone who may just ride the clock.

It would have been better to inquire on the condition of the fish instead of dismissing them as a loss. It would have also been better that if you were going to treat them as a loss, not do it in front of the customer that brought them in. Customers bring their unwanted fish, inverts back to the store not only because they dont have anyone else to give or sale it to, but they hope that they will be cared for and given, sold, or donated to instead of simply allowing them to die. If customers knew that their returned livestock were going to be mistreated, they would not take it there.

I wont break down everything that was written, however I will say. Expecting a customer to have an oxygen system to transfer fish from a short distance from point A to point B is stretching it. Aerators maybe.. Like I said I was not there but oxygen is not needed simply to take fish from your house to a petstore in a bucket.

By the way, triggerfish lay at the bottom of a bucket or bag when being being transfered, acclimated, or shipped. Simply assuming it was DOOMED because of the way it rests was a bad assumption.

As for the customer, next time take the fish in hours BEFORE any store is about to close so that your fish get proper acclimation.

Finally, this whole situation could have been handled better. Take all of this as learning experience.

[corkyGramma]

Yeah, if you can sell em' here...you'll get more money plus, you actually know who's going to end up with them.

[subsailor]

No one knows exactly what happend or in what condition the fish were when they were brought to that store. It has become more of a HE SAID/HE SAID.

IMO, regardless of what time it is. The customer is a customer and even if they came in 30 seconds till close, you allowed them in and they pay your check. This customer might not have purchased anything this time nor may he not have ever purchased a significant item that would have caused an impact in your wallet, but they are still a customer and deserve to same right as one that enters long before closing hours. The rules dont change simply because its closing time. Simply treating this customer or any other customer or their fish/invert with little care simply because its closing time and you want to go home shows someone who may just ride the clock.

It would have been better to inquire on the condition of the fish instead of dismissing them as a loss. It would have also been better that if you were going to treat them as a loss, not do it in front of the customer that brought them in. Customers bring their unwanted fish, inverts back to the store not only because they dont have anyone else to give or sale it to, but they hope that they will be cared for and given, sold, or donated to instead of simply allowing them to die. If customers knew that their returned livestock were going to be mistreated, they would not take it there.

I wont break down everything that was written, however I will say. Expecting a customer to have an oxygen system to transfer fish from a short distance from point A to point B is stretching it. Aerators maybe.. Like I said I was not there but oxygen is not needed simply to take fish from your house to a petstore in a bucket.

By the way, triggerfish lay at the bottom of a bucket or bag when being being transfered, acclimated, or shipped. Simply assuming it was DOOMED because of the way it rests was a bad assumption.

As for the customer, next time take the fish in hours BEFORE any store is about to close so that your fish get proper acclimation.

Finally, this whole situation could have been handled better. Take all of this as learning experience.

Could not have said it better.

[Gilbert]

so all those problems and you took the fish anyway? Smart!

DITTO

[Bill S]

HMMM. A trip to the store in a bucket - that's LOTS more water than is put into a bag.

As for dumping them into a tank, no acclimation (you could have taken 10 minutes to at least dump them into bags and temperature acclimate them), WHATEVER. As for your excuse that you didn't want to stay late - I don't care if you have to stay late - either delcine the fish, or stay and DO IT RIGHT. What you've told us is that it's more important that you leave work on time than do things right? That makes me want to go back to TT. NOT!

[Mr Cob]

Because of these very same reasons, it has made it hard for me to shop at my once favorite fish store.

Sorry TT, you need to revise your game plan.

[alton]

First of all sorry about the loss of your fish, it is always a tough one when you lose one, much less three. I have shopped at TT since they opened in 91. I have bought and sold fish and corals from and to TT. I move my fish in a 6 gallon bucket with a battery operated pump. Most of the fish that I traded back in where clown triggers, I use to love to get a juvy and keep him/her a year or two and then trade them back in as an adult.. In the early days of TT they acclimated everything, but in time changed that process to a process that I don’t really agree with, but I don’t own the store. Every once in a while I will purchase a fish from there with good results for instance a juvy emperor angel, took him to my work tank where he commence to pick on some corals, so I took him home and my Blue face commence to eating on him. So I called Chris and took him back, sat there for a week or two and then sold to someone else. Have I lost fish yes, I lost a Purple Tang moving from my home tank to TT and he died during the drive. And if your wondering, I had him for two years before I decided to try to trade him back in. If you really care about your fish like someone here already mentioned sell them to some one you know and can ask questions too. If you take them to a fish store, you will have to follow there rules of acclimation. Most fish stores do not take in consignments, if you call around most will say no probably because of a similar situation like this one. Now for a little history lesson on acclimating and caring for fish the correct and proper way like most of you have talked about. Aquarium Sales and Service brought in fish acclimated them put them in quarantine for two weeks and then moved them to there display tanks. And yes they charged an extra 20 to 30% more but it was worth it. How about CB Pets did the same thing when they first opened and they soon found out no matter how well there fish looked and did people in this town are cheap and are always looking for a bargain. So since the consumer is always right I guess in this case it is the consumers who are responsible for San Antonio not having fish stores that acclimate and quarantine fish because both of them are no longer in business.

[Mr Cob]

alton...for the love of REEFING....USE Paragraphs! Man, that was hard to read.

[FossilReef]

Ok, so the fish were unceremoniously tossed into tanks b/c someone at TT didn't want to stay late? That's a cop-out if I ever heard one. Having worked at a couple of lfs and an aquarium maintenance specialist, I don't care how close it is to closing time, if somebody brings fish in, guess what? You're staying late so that the fish get properly cared for. Don't feel like being responsible for trade-in fish? Then don't take trade-ins. Needless to say, after reading this and some of the other experiences I've seen on here with TT, I will not be shopping there.

[Gilbert]

alton...for the love of REEFING....USE Paragraphs! Man, that was hard to read.

:rofl: i know how you feel i lost my place a couple of time and had to go looking for where i left off

[g-ray]

:rofl: i know how you feel i lost my place a couple of time and had to go looking for where i left off

My eyes hurt from reading it haha...:shades:

[Gilbertg78228]

fish where taken there because the trigger or puffer took a binte on the eel. and in a 5 gallon bucket with at leat 4.5 gallons of salt water. i got there 30 minutes before closing. and i did tell them why i was bringing them because i have those 4 fish in a 55 gallon and they where getting to big to be in there. the TT Employee at the counter looked at the fish and said ok there where all swimming and they got feed every other day at least 20 silver sides each feeding. don't come at me and say there where not feed. the TT employee who put them in the tank after the wrote done what was in the bucket and took my info just dumped them in there after i told him what are you doing? he said its almost closing time what do you expect? i expect you and the fish store to care for there customers and there fish. thats al i was asking give them a change they where shocked from being moved one time then to throw them in the tank with out acclimating what you expet two of them you dropped in and then yanked out and dropped again. those died the first night what you expect???? the puffer which should never be out of water was taken out with the net and dropped in the tank. he died two days later. how is there two sides of the story when i am giving them the truth?

[MRSBIGBIRD123]

This was a horrible experience for the fish and you. I would think that ANY LFS would have handled it better. If the store did not want to spend the time to acclimate the fish, I feel like it was THEIR responsibility to tell you. Then YOU could have made the decision yourself, in what you wanted to do. It is obvious you were trying to save the fish, because you were taking them somewhere else.
I personally don't have any experience with TT, it is very unfortunate that this happened.
I can regretfully, only say "Thanks" for sharing this with us, as it will continue to help determine where I shop.
MY OPINION ONLY........

[alton]

I never said I was an English Major. Oh yea one more thing for information reasons only, no harpoon intended. When you buy a fish is there more water or air in the bag? Answer AIR, the same works with a bucket if you do not have an air pump.

[Gilbertg78228]

i enjoyed going to TT but this Experiance with one careless Employee has changed all that. sad because they do have some good people there. guess the guy just wanted to leave early. i work in customer service and if someone walks in one minute to closing its up to me to stay and give them the help they need for as long as they need. its just good customer service, we should all get good customer service. treat them the way we want to me treated.

[moe]

Not to my surprise, I've been here (sa, TX) for three years. From my experience from Texas Trop haven't been a good one, Since the frist time I step into the store. Since then I heard many negative thing about this place, all together I just avoid them. It very sad to a store put such a damper on a hobby that I love not to mention the poor new hobbist that they take advantage of.

VINI, VIDI, VICI.

[NateDogg]

jon... if you only had a store in SA.. It sounds like your customer service would make your store THE place to go!



No one knows exactly what happend or in what condition the fish were when they were brought to that store. It has become more of a HE SAID/HE SAID.

IMO, regardless of what time it is. The customer is a customer and even if they came in 30 seconds till close, you allowed them in and they pay your check. This customer might not have purchased anything this time nor may he not have ever purchased a significant item that would have caused an impact in your wallet, but they are still a customer and deserve to same right as one that enters long before closing hours. The rules dont change simply because its closing time. Simply treating this customer or any other customer or their fish/invert with little care simply because its closing time and you want to go home shows someone who may just ride the clock.

It would have been better to inquire on the condition of the fish instead of dismissing them as a loss. It would have also been better that if you were going to treat them as a loss, not do it in front of the customer that brought them in. Customers bring their unwanted fish, inverts back to the store not only because they dont have anyone else to give or sale it to, but they hope that they will be cared for and given, sold, or donated to instead of simply allowing them to die. If customers knew that their returned livestock were going to be mistreated, they would not take it there.

I wont break down everything that was written, however I will say. Expecting a customer to have an oxygen system to transfer fish from a short distance from point A to point B is stretching it. Aerators maybe.. Like I said I was not there but oxygen is not needed simply to take fish from your house to a petstore in a bucket.

By the way, triggerfish lay at the bottom of a bucket or bag when being being transfered, acclimated, or shipped. Simply assuming it was DOOMED because of the way it rests was a bad assumption.

As for the customer, next time take the fish in hours BEFORE any store is about to close so that your fish get proper acclimation.

Finally, this whole situation could have been handled better. Take all of this as learning experience.

[SoLiD]

Just read Jon's past post's. The dude knows his stuff. :thumbs_up:

[moe]

OOOOPPPPPPSSSS I mistaken Texas Torpical, for Alamo A's Sorry.

[Gilbertg78228]

just spoke with TT owner and he more less stood by his employee and said well it was 20 till or a quarter till closing. and that thats how they normaly handle fish. so when i asked him if thats how he handles the fish shipments do you just throw them in? he back tracked and said well not they are clod and we float them. i told him he could have kept the 5 gallon bucked and put an air stone in there. or i could have taken them back home and dopne the same. either way they would have had a better chance. i told him he lost out on more from selling my fish and i lost out on money because of his employees poor skills. he appologied and left it at that. i told him he has some good employee's its a shame one employee's poor skills can trist a view on someone's view on a store. i don't think i will ever spend an other cent in that store again.

[Mr Cob]

Loyal customer from 2001-2008...they couldn't keep up with the competition in every aspect of Customer Service, Fish Husbandry, Knowledge and Dedication to the hobby, Store Appearance including cleanliness and lets not forget about the store hours...they close before we can even have time to go home and pick up the family after work.

I will say that, Chris (Store Manager), is very knowledgeable and has helped me many times but everything I mentioned above is hard to overlook when choosing a LFS. I vote Chris opens his own shop... I'm not convinced the owner has a love for the hobby, which in my opinion makes all the difference.

And, "YES" our opinions do matter...because we are the customer!!! There's no store without the customer. More importantly is the fact that we are reefers...which makes our opinion count for even more because we spend probably ten times the amount a Freshwater hobbyist spends (I'm sure there are some exceptions to the rule). I'm both by the way.

Oh, and...who has a store in Texas without an air conditioner??? TT does. It gets hot and nasty in the summer. I'm so thankful there are other stores for us to choose from in San Antonio.

[moe]

Well I'm trying to get rid of my black edge eel. I thinking of going to AD. However I would like to try here, but I'm knew here. So how would go bout this?

[hobogato]

you could always donate it to my tank at school :)

actually, once you have at least 50 meaningful posts, you will be able to sell it in the FS forums.....

[moe]

I thought of donating, however it was a gift from my wife. He's going for my ray and hurting him.

[moe]

50 meaningful posts hum........

[Mr Cob]

50 meaningful posts hum........

This one does not count! LOL!:bigsmile:

[moe]

I know lol

[Gilbertg78228]

well moe i wouldn't take the Eel to TT it minght not survie the shock of getting dropped in. there should be a post of stores who love the hobby if there is not already. and yes you are right about chris he is the ONE outstanding bright spot in TT employees

[Mr Cob]

I know lol

Nor does this one!:rofl:

[Tiny]

I am new to this hobby, and got most of my stuff from TT. I think chris and vern and both very knowledgable and have had nothing but great customer service from both. I haven't talked to the other guys in there, so I can't speak for them. I got my tank from them 2 months ago, so I am new but will countinue to shop there.

[Gilbertg78228]

yes Chris and Vern are an asset to TT. like i said its a shame one employee lack of care for customers and Possable store Livestock and profits can twist a customers view on a going there again.

[princer7]

Ok, first it was that the cutsomer came in 5 minutes before closing, then it changed to 20 minutes????

Three of the 4 fish were normally a very hardy species of fish. The three that died were a hardy type fish.

Sounds like mishandling to me by an uncaring employee. Even 20 minutes of temperature acclimation would have an improvement and they would have most likely survived.

For fish that can be shipped across the country or halfway around the world to be able to survive just temperature acclimation alone and these home raised fish cannot even make it with just a short drive to a store - that is just downright sad!! It's a fish store - they could not have grabbed a few fish bags????

I know I would not want to risk buying a fish that was so improperly mishadled. They lost me as a potential customer. Even though I am in Austin, I will drive just about anywhere for a good fish store.

Even if you don't care about the fish and it is strictly economics - if they say they offer 50% on trade-ins if you do not collect until it sells - then you are taking a huge risk of never getting a dime!

How they handle fish traded in should be a huge concern to anyone buying or selling fish with TT.

[corkyGramma]

Right, complete mishandling by the employee and of course TT is going to be defensive about. Its too much to ask for someone or some place to own up to a mistake. Sad...

[Texreefer]

take a poll and I can bet that the new people in the hobby(less than a year) WAY out number the veterans that shop there.. There is a reason for that. for a newbie, ANYONE in a fish store might seem knowledgable.

[Bevobud@hotmail.com]

isn't this about how they take care of customers/fish and not over the knowledge the employees?

[Gilbert]

take a poll and I can bet that the new people in the hobby(less than a year) WAY out number the veterans that shop there.. There is a reason for that. for a newbie, ANYONE in a fish store might seem knowledgable.

its a little off the main subject but MAAST should put some flyers (???) up at all the LFS because i went a whole year an a half without even hearing about MAAST since i started in the hobby. Felipe from fin addict is the one that mention the site but i use to shop all the stores in san antonio and none of them ever said anything. the site really helped answer alot of questions. it would really help out the newbies, just my opinion

[jrsatx20]

i dont think shops will allow it for the simple fact that i will interfer with there sales. why buy a new tank from them when u can find it here for a lot less.

[MRSBIGBIRD123]

MAAST should put some flyers (???) up at all the LFS because i went a whole year an a half without even hearing about MAAST since i started in the hobby. Felipe from fin addict is the one that mention the site but i use to shop all the stores in san antonio and none of them ever said anything. the site really helped answer alot of questions. it would really help out the newbies, just my opinion

I agree, and several of our Sponsors do direct their Customers to MAAST, (Thank you all,) it's just whatever that Store's preference may be.
I know the previous BOD had talked about having Membership Drives outside of the Sponsored LFS, and most LFS were cooperative. Maybe the current BOD could put the "Drive" into place/action. I am sure, it would not only advertise for MAAST, but would also be convenient for the Renewal Members.
What do you think BOD?

[corkyGramma]

take a poll and I can bet that the new people in the hobby(less than a year) WAY out number the veterans that shop there.. There is a reason for that. for a newbie, ANYONE in a fish store might seem knowledgable.
No.. they go hand in hand. Texreefer is right. I have friends that empty out their pockets there and for what? I go in there check it out but am not very motivated to shop there.

[moe]

Not to my surprise, I've been here (sa, TX) for three years. From my experience from Texas Trop haven't been a good one, Since the frist time I step into the store. Since then I heard many negative thing about this place, all together I just avoid them. It very sad to a store put such a damper on a hobby that I love not to mention the poor new hobbist that they take advantage of.

VINI, VIDI, VICI.


I'm sincerely thougt that grip TT was actully another store that I have a hugh problem with. Who to me, take advantage of there new customer.

In defense for TT and Vern, and Chris if not them, I would not shop there. Honestly those are two that I mainly deal with, often picking Chris head. There are very helpful, however I do feel sorry for what happen all together. And I understand the passion because I love my fish and have a strange connection with them. I really hope one bad seed doesn't ruin it for the other.

That all

moe
"VINI, VIDI, VICI.

[Tiny]

Like I said, I am new so I did not know about this sight. This is why I bought my tank from TT.

[wesheltonj]

I have read all the posts and I think their is plenty of blame to go around. I personally would not take something at the end of the day to a store, nor would I close up shop just because its quiting time. I shop at TT its close to my office and have not had a problem. I also shop other fish stores when I am in there area. Everyone has there favorite.

Will TT be a MAAST sponser, I would guess not, based on some of the comments that have been made. It reminds me of how Fishy Business was treated. Remember its the business that keep this funded and I would think you want as many as possible. I am not saying do not complain about something, but take a look at some of the posts.

[Gilbert]

I have read all the posts and I think their is plenty of blame to go around. I personally would not take something at the end of the day to a store, nor would I close up shop just because its quiting time.

I personally know that other shops will stay open late if you need them to, for the people that knew felipe from fin-addict he would stay at his shop till 10 or 11 just kicking back and talking, even if you where not buying anything. that guy would really try to help anybody out, from friends to newbies, and he is only one of the store owners that don't mind staying late.
But i also have to state that i have only had time to pass by TT like 4 times in the past 2yrs. due to their hours, so i dont know much about their staff.

[beerguy]

I have read all the posts and I think their is plenty of blame to go around. I personally would not take something at the end of the day to a store, nor would I close up shop just because its quiting time.

Ditto.
Without going in to detail I only buy drygoods from there. I wrote a whole other post but decided to take another route, conscience FTW!!!!

[mozartkt]

This seems like the same song, different verse for this store. I do drop by there to look and grab drygoods, but I think upkeep is very important. Look at MAAST first for livestock, tanks, etc.

[Kyle46N]

I enjoy there selection of fish, more or less looking at them, because I have no more room in my tank. Also they have a good invert selection. But I feel their corals are overpriced compared to other vendors. Which is fine, thats their call. It definitely keeps me from buying their corals though.

[Richard]

HMMM. A trip to the store in a bucket - that's LOTS more water than is put into a bag.


That's usually the problem when hobbyists transport fish. You can put a fish in a bucket with just 2-3 inches of water and it will be fine for 24 hours or more without any aeration. You fill the bucket all the way up and they suffocate pretty quick. Simple diffusion.

I've taken thousands of fish straight out of the shipping bag, dropped them in freshwater for 15 minutes and then put them straight into the tank with no problems. So I don't think the fishes deaths can be blamed all on TT. The types of fish your talking about here are ridiculously hardy IF they were otherwise healthy.


Sorry TT, you need to revise your game plan.

I was just at one of the sponsor stores that everyone gives kudos to and the owner said he hoped to someday get his salary UP to minimum wage. Meanwhile the stores that people always complain about here on maast, Texas Tropical and Alamo Aquatics, have managed to make it in the SA market for around two decades and EVERY new store since has ultimately failed. So don't hold your breath waiting on Allen to change his game plan.

[corkyGramma]

I would just like to say that I'm glad that gilbert brought this up to our attention because if this would have occurred at a corporate chain (PETA would have been all over it), the store would have been forced to prove its claims and enforce a handling proceedure for receiving livestock. At least with all this noise (while quite entertaining) TT or any other fish store who cares about its reputation, will think twice about the consequences of their actions.

[Aqua-Dome]

Since this thread seems to be never ending, I have decided to post a response, something I rarely do. As with most of these posts I also am on the outside looking in and there are only two people that know the conversations that took place.

If the customer did not call before hand and let the store know that they wanted to bring some fish in, but instead just showed up with a bucket of fish, they were both irresponsible and inconsiderate. Employees have lives and as with all of us would like to go home when they are off. It is very doubtful that the lack of acclimation would, by itself, cause the fish to die that quickly unless two conditions existed.
1) There was a HUGE difference in water parameters ( pH or Temp mainly)
2) The fish were so stressed that the chances of surviving now or on the customers return trip home are debatable.
If the store had no idea these fish were coming in, it would have been better for the employee to say that they couldn’t take them in at that time. In retrospect that is exactly what the employee should have done, but the customer would probably been upset about that, especially ****ed off if they lost some of the fish on the way home. It’s kind of a no-win scenario- for the store, the employee, the customer, and especially the fish.
No store or employee wants to purposely or accidentally lose fish.

The only facts that I can state are:
1) We would not have acclimated them either, if you don’t trust that it is in our best interest to keep fish alive when traded in, don’t bring them in. If you do, they’re our fish now, not yours. Not to be callous but it’s true, we really do want to keep them alive and make money on them.

2) Customers have a habit of hearing what they want to hear and think their stuff is worth more than a retail store can give on it and still make a profit which is what we do to try to stay around.

3) Allen of Texas Tropicals is one of the most respected owners in this business.

4) I HAVE been doing this business for 36 years, I DO have a B.S. degree in Zoology from THE University
Of Texas, I HAVE attended Dr. Gratzek’s Fish Disease course of the University of Georgia, I HAVE attended trade shows in the U.S. and Europe.

I normally would not even mention my background but I wanted you to know that I’m no slouch either.

Gary- Owner Austin Aqua-Dome

[Gilbertg78228]

i called and asked what time they are closing and did state i was bringing fish over because of there size and that the tank is to small that they are starting to nip on the eel. i got there with 30 minutes (my time) they said i got there 20 till closing (there view on time) i explained again what was going on with the fish and that the eel had a bite taken out of this tail. my water was fine the shock of being moved then thrown in an other tank witha different temp is what did it. at least i think the two that died the fist night where taking out twice and thrown in different tanks. my fish where hardy fish but they didn't need to be just dropped in a tank with out at least getting them used to the temp. i talked with allen and he said that was there norm for there store to just throw them in like that. again i asked him when he gets his shipments of fish in if he does that he said no he floats them. i don't understand why he wouldn't do the same thing with customer fish that are brought in? this is free fish his store gets to make money off of. don't you think he should treat the fish the same way? its not costing him a thing and he makes money off of it. now its a lose lose situation no one makes money off these practices.

[Darth-Tater]

I know I am going to be blasted for this but....... Don't you think we have beat this dead horse long enough? it has been going on for about a week. 7 pages. Would somebody please lock this thread or are back into bashing people and places for ever. If I am out of line and nobody else feels this way then it is time for me to move on.


Bye

David

[captexas]

I know I am going to be blasted for this but....... Don't you think we have beat this dead horse long enough? it has been going on for about a week. 7 pages. Would somebody please lock this thread or are back into bashing people and places for ever. If I am out of line and nobody else feels this way then it is time for me to move on.


Bye

David

I agree 100%. Both sides have vented their opinions over what happened and neither side it seems is going to admit they did anything wrong.

[Neptune@gabesfish]

Not our place to say and sorry if we also offend but we agree with Darth !!!

[BIGBIRD123]

I agree and this is now closed.

Steve