Petco - fish adoption policy

[woodenkey]

Hey everyone! I just found this little guy at Petco. Originally ~$100. But apparantly he was there for a bit of time, and they gave him to me free under their adoption policy. I didn't know they did that at Petco!

In summary, maybe inquire and see if any are available for adoption. I never thought to own a Black Storm due to their price tag, but the fact it was given to me free was mind-blowing!!

 

[code4]

Wow, that is really neat. Good luck with the little guy.

Shelley

 

[Aquavaj]

Were you planning to buy it and they brought up the adoption? Or how did it go?

 

[Klewtz]

I also didn’t know they did that! I have seen fish at my local Petco stay there for quite some time! Is this a Petco wide thing or individual stores?

 

[woodenkey]

Were you planning to buy it and they brought up the adoption? Or how did it go?

I was planning to buy him. I had a $20 coupon that I was hoping to use, and figured I'd splurge on him. They couldn't find the SKU in the system. After several minutes the manager had to call their HQ site and was told that the fish fell into their adoption policy because he was there "too long". I don't know what qualifies as that.

 

[Bpones]

As a former corporate fish sales person I’ve found this tends to go store by store. I managed a big box in Boulder CO for a few years and was happy to adopt our fish who were outgrowing our display tanks. BUT I made sure they went to customers I knew had adequate means of caring for the fish. Normally this meant regulars who I had an existing relationship with. I never advertised “adoptable fish” as people were always looking for a deal and “cheap” or “free” fish tended to not get as much respect as animals with a high dollar sign on them.

Other stores in my district would hang up “for adoption signs” or would discount the price. Other stores didn’t want to take the loss and would hold onto fish and other animals longer than I thought was wise.

Congrats on that beauty though. Glad you’re excited and she has a nice home now!

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I was planning to buy him. I had a $20 coupon that I was hoping to use, and figured I'd splurge on him. They couldn't find the SKU in the system. After several minutes the manager had to call their HQ site and was told that the fish fell into their adoption policy because he was there "too long". I don't know what qualifies as that.

I've come across discrete "specials" due to the length of time some kids spend in the pool but haven't encountered a "free adoption" yet. I did learn Petco QTs with meds before they receive the stuff in store.

 

[exnisstech]

I've come across discrete "specials" due to the length of time some kids spend in the pool but haven't encountered a "free adoption" yet. I did learn Petco QTs with meds before they receive the stuff in store.

Never heard that. I thought their livestock came from quality marine.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Never heard that. I thought their livestock came from quality marine.

I specifically asked last time I was there about it and they said yes for QT. they can't treat the tanks in store with copper they said. they might have a single tank in that event but they can't with all the inverts they have mixed in.

 

[Aquavaj]

Sorry to hijack but do all Petco have a marine section or is that dependent on the store?

 

[Darstar301]

I would call the Petco first to see if they have a marine section. Not all Petco has this, some now are called super stores with a larger marine section.

 

[Joeganja]

As someone who worked at Petco for nearly 5 years as their “aquatics specialist” their clownfish come from ORA, most other unique fish and larger fish come from quality marine, and freshwater and most saltwater came from Coast Tropicals which were never in the same boat as far as quality and health as either ORA or Quality Marine and we never ever quarantined fish when we received them. We only would quarantine when there was a parasite or disease and I’d do whatever I could to not have to use copper and I’d never order fish that were topically more susceptible to stress like tangs too large for their tank or fish that would sit there. You got lucky with that clownfish. My store or even to my knowledge any Petco would ever give away free saltwater fish unless someone had donated it to the store from their tank regardless how long it was there for. We did have reptiles and small animals that we would discount but after being there for a month or two but that’s about it.

 

[rdirtytwo]

Sorry to hijack but do all Petco have a marine section or is that dependent on the store?

It seems independent, but a lot of them are leaning into saltwater and marine selections. There are 2 in my area that have frag tanks, but it's up to the employees to maintain them. Some weeks they'll look great and then they'll lose that employee and it goes to crap. The Petco near me carries tropic marin in store as well. It just depends.

I have the vital care premier account with Petco because they have a decent selection of dry goods, frozen food and livestock at my local Petco. The discounts are worth it if yours is good.

 

[salty joe]

I was in the Wadsworth Oh Petco a few years ago and they had a scopas tang that was starving to death. Skinny would be an understatement. I told them they should give me that fish to release in my 700 gallon tank with lots of bugs and algae, it's just gonna die in here. Guy just said he has clove oil if fish gets too bad. The fish was already too bad....probably would have died in my tank anyway, at least it would have had a chance.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Sorry to hijack but do all Petco have a marine section or is that dependent on the store?

The one by my house has only freshwater, yet they sell saltwater equipment!

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

The one by my house has only freshwater, yet they sell saltwater equipment!

Petsmart sells like a 4 foot section (end cap typically) of a few saltwater equipment. Along with seawater. At least the stores by me do. I have found surprising frags at Petco too. An 11 head Duncan the other day for $60. usually they are only 2 headed.