Petco does not keep their tanks at 1.017. I have bought from petco and test the water it is definitely not at 1.017. It’s not their policy to keep it that low. Fish only tanks they keep them at 1.022 and corals tanks at 1.025. I know because I use to be an employee and was I charge of all the animals as a companion animal manager. If you have an issue with petco just call corporate let them know their tanks are not up to par and trust me they will send a manager from another store and the market leader to the store that very same day to test the stuff. Well at least in LA. So please if you have an issue report to help improve the stores it does make a difference because the might dollar speaks.
Not cool
- Thread starter S.O.MLemos
- Start date
- Tagged users None
OP
OP
S.O.MLemos
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2017
- Messages
- 234
- Reaction score
- 273
Yeah it’s different everywhere I think because all the ones near me are under 1.020 and their temps are at 82 degrees which is why they don’t keep coral except a few leathers, couple crappy zoas and Xenia. And contacting corporate does absolutely nothing but give you an automated return message that basically says thank you for contacting us we will forward the message.
As a former Petco manager I can tell you it doesn’t always depend on what store you go to and the experience of the employees taking care of the saltwater tanks...it’s what stores are deemed worthy (by corporate) of running their department independently and given more leniency and the payroll hours to do it. Those are the ones you see with frag tanks and nice healthy fish. Number one problem is Petco cuts payroll for the stores down to the bare minimum and the aquatics specialist usually ends up running the register when they are supposed to be cleaning and caring for the tanks. As for the dead fish you see in the tanks(or don’t see): Petco has a strict “scoop policy” where every morning all of the dead fish have to be scooped before the store opens and then scooped throughout the day. I’ve scooped 50+ at a time on more than one occasion. There are strict guidelines that corporate sets for the stores (like 1.018 salinity, no quarantine tanks allowed, absolutely no meds in the tanks unless they are herbal meds that Petco carries on the shelves, etc) and there is a district manager that pops in unannounced to check these things. They “score” a store depending on how well you are following the rules, bad score and the store managers are looking for a new job. There are many employees who mean well and really want to take care of the fish properly but their hands are tied by corporate.
Humblefish has come into the store I worked at and I gave him sick fish to try and nurse back to health. A few died and he did an autopsy on them and found it’s not just ich they carry but also brook and velvet. I think the same diseases are present in most of the stores.
There are many different vendors that Petco buys their fish from and those are who you need to target if you want Petco to stop carrying saltwater. These vendors know that the fish are going to die but they continue to sell to Petco for the almighty dollar. You can contact Petco corporate along with the hundreds of others that have before and it falls on deaf ears. It’s sad and it sucks. It was very hard to work for such an employer that doesn’t care about its animals and I’m thankful I don’t work their anymore.
Humblefish has come into the store I worked at and I gave him sick fish to try and nurse back to health. A few died and he did an autopsy on them and found it’s not just ich they carry but also brook and velvet. I think the same diseases are present in most of the stores.
There are many different vendors that Petco buys their fish from and those are who you need to target if you want Petco to stop carrying saltwater. These vendors know that the fish are going to die but they continue to sell to Petco for the almighty dollar. You can contact Petco corporate along with the hundreds of others that have before and it falls on deaf ears. It’s sad and it sucks. It was very hard to work for such an employer that doesn’t care about its animals and I’m thankful I don’t work their anymore.
As sad as this is, it's great to have a little bit of insight shared so thank you! If they only have stores that are "worthy" then why not get rid of the saltwater sections in the other stores? Just deem the ones with extra resources (like the frag tanks you mention) to be their "specialty shops". It just ticks me off and I'm sure all of you that these fish are loving creatures. They have personality just as does a dog or cat! I'm sure they wouldn't just let an employee leave a group of dogs or cats for dead... so why do they not give a **** about their fish!? It's so disheartening to go there and see the diseased tanks when it could be easily taken care of. It's really just to bad it always seems to come down to making a buck... I wish this thread would get some corporate attention by someone up high enough at petco that would care and make a difference.
I asked the same thing; why not get rid of the saltwater fish and put the resources into other parts of the store and no one had an answer. I think it’s bc a saltwater section sets them apart from Petsmart. Petco loses thousands of dollars from saltwater fish loss (and that was just at the stores I worked at) so I know it’s not because saltwater is a money maker for them. Sadly it’s not just the fish that are treated poorly, the other animals suffer too. If you ever get a chance to visit the “wellness” room at a petco you’d be shocked at what you see.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the employees fault, most Petco employees absolutely love animals and do the best they can for them but it’s hard when corporate ties the employees hands and doesn’t give the resources for proper care.
Sunpet, quality marine, live aquaria, ORA, Segrest Farms are the biggest marine suppliers for Petco. If you want to do something go after them for selling to Petco.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the employees fault, most Petco employees absolutely love animals and do the best they can for them but it’s hard when corporate ties the employees hands and doesn’t give the resources for proper care.
Sunpet, quality marine, live aquaria, ORA, Segrest Farms are the biggest marine suppliers for Petco. If you want to do something go after them for selling to Petco.
Kenzie Jeanine
Community Member
Unfortunately I don't have room in my apartment for a quarantine set up. This clown was going to be my last addition anyway.
Bmezz
Active Member
i understand. u know you can set up a quarentine and take it down after the cycle is done and for one fish a 10 gallon would be enough. its a safety net to try to keep problems out of your display tank. but if you cant you cant. maybe use a dip after acclimation and before going into the display?
