Despicable treatment of fish

[Bryce M.]

Send the pics to PETA

don't know about that one, knowing them they would copyright the pics to get more money

 

[Dom]

don't know about that one, knowing them they would copyright the pics to get more money

So... let them make money of the pics. Its the welfare of the animals that counts.

 

[Rubblereefer]

My local petcos are complete disasters too. Notably, the one in Ramsey nj is especially terrible. That store constantly has dead fish in tanks, diseased fish, algae etc. You never even see employees in the fish section and if I you do you already know they know absolutely zero about fish, especially saltwater. Petco is also like a cancer, outcompeting and closing down lots of local fish stores in their wake. Now, the closest good fish store is 45 minutes from me and petco is only 5 minutes away, right across from where a good lfs used to be. Same with the petco by my job. Whatever, I’m willing to make the trip to my lfs and make sure to not spend money with petco these days. We need to boycott petco and support our local mom and pops before petco is the only place left Imo.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Send the pics to PETA

While I can a appreciate where your heart is at with the subject, those folks are somewhat lacking in the mental stability department. Besides, I accomplished what I set out to do with a well articulated letter and phone call. I'm happy! I like the way you think though!

 

[Old Fritz]

Today I was at the local big box store. A friend of mine works as a cashier there and wanted me to see the atrocity that is their marin sales tanks. I have seen some questionable LFS's in my day and even more big box stores, but what I witnessed today was atrocious.

This hawk has pop eye so bad, I wouldn't be surprised if it completely released from the orbital socket.

This scopas tang was being kept in, what appeared to be, a 10-15 gallon tank. Its dorsal fin ceases to exist and it is emaciated.

This foxface was far beyond emaciated and had clusters of lesions and tumors on its head and face. (Sorry for bad pic)

Desjardini and damsels left to rot

These were the only pictures I was able to take before the manager asked me to leave. All their fish had ich, rot, popeye, fungus', velvet...you name it, they had it. The corals were all covered in briopsis and cyanobacteria.

The "senior aquarist" said that he was happy with how things looked and that it had come a long way since it had been in his care! What an absolute crock! I've also sent test pictures to their corporate HQ. Whether or not they do anything about is another story, as they care about nothing more than the almighty dollar. While I am not normally one to raise my voice or get into the activist ideals, this display of inhumaness makes me sick.

Hi used to work at petco. Sadly sites like this weren't uncommon at some stores. However rarely was it this bad. Emailing corporate makes a big difference because petco does care about it's image believe it or not. That image will get sent to the district leader and the store leader and something will be done about it. If the store continues to be bad and lose a lot of fish people will get fired or they will be heavily limited on what they order.

Vendors rarely ever send fish that have any super visible sickness. Most of the time issues will pop up a few days after shipping as vendors don't like sending sick fish because petco expects to not be charged for said fish and in fact we could send them back.

I don't expect this aquatics specialist will be around much longer.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

My local petcos are complete disasters too. Notably, the one in Ramsey nj is especially terrible. That store constantly has dead fish in tanks, diseased fish, algae etc. You never even see employees in the fish section and if I you do you already know they know absolutely zero about fish, especially saltwater. Petco is also like a cancer, outcompeting and closing down lots of local fish stores in their wake. Now, the closest good fish store is 45 minutes from me and petco is only 5 minutes away, right across from where a good lfs used to be. Same with the petco by my job. Whatever, I’m willing to make the trip to my lfs and make sure to not spend money with petco these days. We need to boycott petco and support our local mom and pops before petco is the only place left Imo.

It's very strange to me that a company ( even a large one) would hire someone to work a department like that with no experience... smh

 

[Old Fritz]

Would you be comfortable naming the particular store/chain; I for one would like to pile on corporate, particularly if it turns out that I am a shareholder of this company.
Thanks.

It's owned by a private investment firm

 

[fish farmer]

Hi used to work at petco. Sadly sites like this weren't uncommon at some stores. However rarely was it this bad. Emailing corporate makes a big difference because petco does care about it's image believe it or not. That image will get sent to the district leader and the store leader and something will be done about it. If the store continues to be bad and lose a lot of fish people will get fired or they will be heavily limited on what they order.

Vendors rarely ever send fish that have any super visible sickness. Most of the time issues will pop up a few days after shipping as vendors don't like sending sick fish because petco expects to not be charged for said fish and in fact we could send them back.

I don't expect this aquatics specialist will be around much longer.

This is a question directed at any former Petco employees. Is there a policy on picking out the dead fish prior to the store opening? I mean I can understand having a sick fish, etc on display if the stores don't have a "back of the house" QT/rehab area, but to me picking your morts is Fish Culture lession one and should be part of their merchandising protocol as well. The first thing the public will see and point out is a dead fish....it could be one out of a thousand...they will see it and take note of it.

 

[laverda]

Send the pics to PETA

I don’t think that is a good idea. They will just use it as a reason to argue saltwater animal should not be sold period.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

This is a question directed at any former Petco employees. Is there a policy on picking out the dead fish prior to the store opening? I mean I can understand having a sick fish, etc on display if the stores don't have a "back of the house" QT/rehab area, but to me picking your morts is Fish Culture lession one and should be part of their merchandising protocol as well. The first thing the public will see and point out is a dead fish....it could be one out of a thousand...they will see it and take note of it.

Not really policy as much as common sense. The day that I was there I had also been in several days prior and the same fish were still dead in the tank

 

[laverda]

The petco closest to me is pretty bad, not as bad as what the OP posted. Some times it is OK others it isn’t. I suspect employee turnover has a lot to do with it. The next closest Petco in Orange is pretty good the main guy in the fish dept is a hobbiest although not real experienced. He is doing a good job of maintaining the tanks and the fish are usually pretty healthy. He asks questions and listens to advice given to him. He knows a fair bit about the animals they have in stock and will order in for you. That store Is much much better then the LFS 2 blocks from it.

 

[Mikedawg]

It's owned by a private investment firm

Here's the guy to write: Pet specialty retail chain Petco has appointed Ron Coughlin as its new CEO. Previously, Coughlin worked at HP Inc where he served as president of personal systems. Petco is owned by CVC Capital Partners and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
[email protected] <[email protected]
Reference: www.pehub.com/2018/06/pe-owned-petco-names-coughlin-ceo/

 

[TheOne]

My petco is exactly the same. Lots of dead decaying fish. Some stuck to powerheads and some just decaying on the bottom. I can't understand why someone can't just once a day check the tanks and take the dead fish out. The temp stickers on the glass are always sky high also.

 

[FishyDave]

This shouldn't be. But unfortunately, Petco just doesn't seem to care. I've been to lots of local fish stores in many states and I've never seen fish like this. Petco however, it's nearly every store I've been into. I've personally spoken with managers about the treatment not only of the fish but other animals at various stores and they all offer the standard we're sorry and will look in to it response, yet weeks later nothing has changed. they don't care, they just look at profits. I think the best way to stop them is to stop shopping there.

I agree that Petco does not seem to care. Part of the reason they don't care is because they were bought in 2015 by a group of bankers and venture capitalists. At that time they had to make 3.9 billion to just pay the loans on the stores they owned. It's why DFS is gone too. No one stayed around after the purchase. Sad.

 

[JP Reef]

Send the pics to PETA

I would not do that. PETA has been known to be highly unethical, and they have been known to kill many animals.

 

[Old Fritz]

This is a question directed at any former Petco employees. Is there a policy on picking out the dead fish prior to the store opening? I mean I can understand having a sick fish, etc on display if the stores don't have a "back of the house" QT/rehab area, but to me picking your morts is Fish Culture lession one and should be part of their merchandising protocol as well. The first thing the public will see and point out is a dead fish....it could be one out of a thousand...they will see it and take note of it.

You're supposed to check before you open and then every hour you're supposed to do a wellness check like making sure reptiles have the right humidity but it also includes pulling out dead fish and looking for and treating sick ones