Petco isn't all bad!!

[Bob Escher]

My Petco also has a saltwater section and there are two "Aquatic specialists" that each work part time but both are hobbyists. As one was telling me their corporate sends out planograms on where they want whatever to be placed into each tank. When I pointed out to him ( I don't remember exactly what it was) something wrong he said corporate. Now this is guy that has salt for ten years so I think he knows what he's doing. But supposedly they're getting in new tanks and a newer filtration system. Out of the four Perco's in my area this is the only one that carries salt.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Yes, I work at one of the big box pet stores. I am the store manager and I have been with the company for almost ten years. I started as a pet care associate with experience handling small animals. I had no experience with fish keeping or other pets. However, I always had been and always will be passionate about pets. I learned as much as I could about all the pets we carried. I had the drive to educate myself and to learn. If I didn't know an answer, I was honest with customers and helped them to find the answer. I expect and challenge my team to do the same. I also support them when they are trying to educate customers and know how to intervene when I need to.

 

[Bob Escher]

Oh I worked retail as well for ten years, I started as full time sales and worked up to become a district manager a year before they went bankrupt ( computer software, the likes of bestbuy, CompUSA, and others just killed us as we only sold software) so I know exactly what your talking about and I agree it's neverending process learning goes on. After I was laid off I was self employed for 14 years until I became disabled

 

[Naiad]

Ahh corporate ideals lol. How beautiful somethings look on paper yet they are so disastrous when you try to accomplish it in the real world. That's when you need a team that is comfortable enough with management and regional higher ups to just say this isn't going to work.

 

[Humblefish]

About a week ago I spent some time at a Petco showing them the proper way to perform a FW dip, to provide temporary relief for diseases such brook, velvet & flukes. You could tell the employees were keenly interested in doing anything possible to save the lives of the fish in their care. Even though I'm sure my little demonstration broke half a dozen Petco corporate policy rules.

 

[michaust]

Here in the DC area there are probably over a dozen Petco stores. All but one are varying degrees of crapiness. They should make the good one (Clinton MD) a training center for all the rest.

Agreed I like the fact that they have a little frag tank at that one

 

[Tankr75]

Yea me too. Our local Petco is horrible I go there just to "rescue " the fish.

 

[tomxreef]

Imo its who you hire and what policies your employees are willing to bend for the good of the animals. Those policies are in place to prevent catastrophic medication overdoses and interactions due to an inexperienced employee. Out of all retailers, Petco can afford to pay more for better help.

 

[mmw64]

Many of the big box pet stores get a bad reputation because of poor management and care.

But I'm here to tell you that there is hope!

I was in the local Petco picking up some cat food when I noticed that they had a saltwater section of fish that I didn't know about. I went over and saw a nice selection of fish and a young man taking the proper care and time to acclimate a new shipment of fish including some nice fairy wrasse.

I started talking with him and got around to asking him if he ever checked out any forums and to my delight he said he was on a place called Reef2Reef.

We had a nice chat and now I have a cool friend who sends me updates on new fish and sales. Just got a text from him today about a 20% off aquatics which promted this thread.

Anyway the skews on the fairy wrasse were all $20 so I took 5 of them home! Ha!

Moral of the story? There are some good caring people in all places and all types of stores! Let's encourage one another to be better and be there for one another! One of our very own moderators is a manager at one of these big box pet stores! @SeahorseKeeper

Score!!!

 

[Freakyyfort]

Was at our local petco here and one damsel was beating the other one to a pulp..told the guy working... he said it's against policy to move them... he ended up bending the rules after about 5 mins of looking over his shoulder making sure Noone was watching. He also got all the dead fish out as well.. I know very little in the eyes of many but.. when fish are killing fish you're loosing money.. not that it matter in a corporate chair.. he said they can't do a lot if any for most fish. 3/4 of them have ich or worse.. wish petco would have more ppl like @SeahorseKeeper..maybe things would be set up better and given the proper time.. instead of just following a feeding schedule. That is awesome tho @SeahorseKeeper. Make your way up a little higher and change some views on corporate! Have a good day!

 

[Kristi Tinsley]

Many of the big box pet stores get a bad reputation because of poor management and care.

But I'm here to tell you that there is hope!

I was in the local Petco picking up some cat food when I noticed that they had a saltwater section of fish that I didn't know about. I went over and saw a nice selection of fish and a young man taking the proper care and time to acclimate a new shipment of fish including some nice fairy wrasse.

I started talking with him and got around to asking him if he ever checked out any forums and to my delight he said he was on a place called Reef2Reef.

We had a nice chat and now I have a cool friend who sends me updates on new fish and sales. Just got a text from him today about a 20% off aquatics which promted this thread.

Anyway the skews on the fairy wrasse were all $20 so I took 5 of them home! Ha!

Moral of the story? There are some good caring people in all places and all types of stores! Let's encourage one another to be better and be there for one another! One of our very own moderators is a manager at one of these big box pet stores! @SeahorseKeeper

That's my baby!! I love you, honey! Keep up the good work! Keep those fish swimming!

 

[Maritimer]

The fellow who works in the Aquatics department at my local Petco is a hobbyist, though not marine. He does his level best with what he has to work with, and the guidelines he has to work within, to maintain his systems in good condition. That's not easy . . .

Heater failures happen.

Corporate tells him what medications he can use for Cryptocaryon (ich) in his marine systems. (Herbals only . . . I've seen the results, in-store and at home, and they make me ill.)

He's been there for years, he's a good guy, and each individual store will rise or fall on the backs of the folks on the front lines.

~Bruce

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Please keep in mind that Petco has changed their treatment policies over the years. When I managed the aquatics dept. of a Petco years ago I was able to treat with Formalin, Clout (for Goldfish with anchor worm etc) and copper. Petco today has gone "all natural" with their fish treatment resulting in a lot of ich issues particularly with their saltwater systems in the stores that have them. Don't get me started on the effectiveness of these natural remedies.
Also keep in mind, although a fish might not show the typical sprinkled with salt look of ich, they can still have it. I strongly encourage anyone who buys any livestock from Petco to quarantine them before introducing them into your main tank. I totally agree with Rev though, there are some great Petcos out there with caring staff and we shouldn't lump them all together. However, no matter how great a hobbyist there is at a store, they are not likely to break company policy jeopardizing their job to use the proper medications to treat illnesses and parasites in their depts.

 

[Maritimer]

Bouncingsoul39, I understand your point completely - I just don't understand Petco Corporate's attitude towards using medications that _work_.

I don't even look there unless I've got a QT open and ready to receive. Took the trip down that road, and it led to a great deal of sadness.

~Bruce

 

[Humblefish]

I just don't understand Petco Corporate's attitude towards using medications that _work_.

Petco Corporate has my email on permanent block because they are tired of hearing about medications that _work_.

 

[rayn]

That's cool @revhtree!

 

[Kristi Tinsley]

Please keep in mind that Petco has changed their treatment policies over the years. When I managed the aquatics dept. of a Petco years ago I was able to treat with Formalin, Clout (for Goldfish with anchor worm etc) and copper. Petco today has gone "all natural" with their fish treatment resulting in a lot of ich issues particularly with their saltwater systems in the stores that have them. Don't get me started on the effectiveness of these natural remedies.
Also keep in mind, although a fish might not show the typical sprinkled with salt look of ich, they can still have it. I strongly encourage anyone who buys any livestock from Petco to quarantine them before introducing them into your main tank. I totally agree with Rev though, there are some great Petcos out there with caring staff and we shouldn't lump them all together. However, no matter how great a hobbyist there is at a store, they are not likely to break company policy jeopardizing their job to use the proper medications to treat illnesses and parasites in their depts.

I understand what you are saying. They have limited resources due to policies at each different store. The man in the photo is also a hobbyist at home and he has had an interest in fish since he was 16. He knows what to use and what not to use. But sometimes the store won't let him use what needs to be used. But its because corporate won't allow them to buy those things for their department. But he does what he can to keep the fish happy and healthy with what he has permission to use. Also sorting fish with proper tank mates in the store is a big help! Which he does his best to do. But with limited salt tanks its hard to have space to keep a good selection. All in all though I would say I do like this Petco and most of the people there are kind and caring. The aquatics specialist is my favorite though.

 

[Maritimer]

Welcome, Kristi!

Sounds like your gentleman is one of the good guys that make his Petco a better place than the general run.

~Bruce

 

[Kristi Tinsley]

Welcome, Kristi!

Sounds like your gentleman is one of the good guys that make his Petco a better place than the general run.

~Bruce

He definitely is! He has a great passion for fish and taking care of tanks. They calm him down and relax him, even if they get a little stressful. But since he has been the aquatic specialist at his Petco, they have had more business in the fish department and has even brought a few new people into the hobby!

 

[Bdog4u2]

Here in the DC area there are probably over a dozen Petco stores. All but one are varying degrees of crapiness. They should make the good one (Clinton MD) a training center for all the rest.

Dale city va has a good manager and employee but Spotsylvania va has had velvet for the past 6 months.