Petco should not sell coral.

[Jamo7]

Funny this came up. I was at petco today to grab some snails and they had a little yellow tang and a bigger scopas together in a ten gallon.. maybe 20gallon. But the scopas was beating the heck out of the yellow. I told the guy he should separate them at least. He said he would but he also claimed he has had tangs together in that same tank and they got along fine. Ultimately not my call just voiced my opinion bought my snails and went home.

 

[Ashish Patel]

All the Petcos in NJ near me went down the hill. Ironically it was a Petco in sayreville that got me into saltwater fish back in 1997. Back then the fish quality and selection was on another level. I still remember seeing that Undulate Triggerfish and was hooked ever since

 

[vetteguy53081]

Petco has the potential to ne an industry leader but fails to train their employees from a corporate standpoint.

 

[...]

I wish all animals were treated with respect, they should hire people who care! I am Australian of course and we have awesome LFS but from what I have heard, most petcos are just in the business for money and profit.

 

[Beefyreefy]

My local petco’s saltwater section is run by kids basically. From talking with them they do seem to care, but they basically have no idea what they are doing. They really don’t even have the most rudimentary knowledge of saltwater or reef keeping. I try and give them tips on ways they can help fix things, but they seem to have a pretty high turnover, so it may be in vain. People are buying their brown coral and sick fish so it’s kind of a shame, as it seems to work for them. I generally don’t buy live stock from them but I did purchase what amounts to a show quality, large yellow tang from them. The thought of it going to someone who’s clueless got to me, so I took him home-

 

[WIReefer]

Welcome to reef2reef!

Thankfully, none of the petcos in my area carry any coral, only good old fashioned Valonia and aiptasia

However, to play devil's advocate, I have visited one Petco where the saltwater section was run by a fellow hobbyist who really kept the tanks well cared for. He even set up his own QT in the back to treat some of the sick fish! While I've been pretty underwhelmed/dissapointed with >90% of the Petco saltwater sections I've visited, I do think it's important to recognize the few that do a good job or where they are the only "LFS" in town.

Mine has a few nems, but man there aiptasia is out of control.

 

[WV Reefer]

Are we taking Petco or liveAquaria? Or both?

Live Aquaria is Petco

 

[XNavyDiver]

M

There was a Petco in Tucson that sold fish and coral for a little while, I kept badgering them over the fact their lights were wrong and that's why they were losing corals. I saved my Blue Maxima from them 5 years ago, got him for $20 and he was 4" long. Now he's VERY happy and healthy.

Was that the one on Broadway?

 

[Alanna102499]

Welcome to R2R!

I have to agree with others, most Petco’s are no good for livestock, but a if you can find one that has a fish department of fellow reefers then you’d be ok!

 

[Crowbar]

I've got 3 Petco stores in my general area, and have browsed all of them since starting the hobby. One tends to have a pretty icky saltwater section - when they have coral, it's sad and definitely not worth the price. The second one I've gotten healthy fish from, and is much better taken care of in general, but I've never seen coral there (aside from one big chunk of GSP that's been there for months).

The third one, furthest from me, I think must be a hub store of some sort? Their stuff is always healthy, their frag tank has actually looked great every time I've been there, and when I need to get something and have time to make the drive I prefer to go out there.

We don't have a lot of smaller outfits where I'm at, which is a shame. So it's either drive 40 minutes, pay $$$ shipping, or hope Petco is having a good week, haha. I wish I had the resources available locally.

 

[najer]

I will say this, I wish that they all had more universal standards that all of them had to follow about quality and care, as a corporate company.

Petco has the potential to ne an industry leader but fails to train their employees from a corporate standpoint.

England calling, this, I worked 19 years for a pharma company, production, Standard Operating Procedures - SOPs, we have a "chain" over here that are mostly in garden centres, their shops are not allowed to do marines unless they fit come specific criteria, one of which is that they have to have at least a hobby level marine assistant as far as I could wheedle out of someone!

 

[Perthegallon]

Petco is horrible

 

[Flippers4pups]

England calling, this, I worked 19 years for a pharma company, production, Standard Operating Procedures - SOPs, we have a "chain" over here that are mostly in garden centres, their shops are not allowed to do marines unless they fit come specific criteria, one of which is that they have to have at least a hobby level marine assistant as far as I could wheedle out of someone!

The question comes in to play "what level of knowledge and experience". The employee may have a extensive background and personal experience, either by being a seasoned hobbyist or prior LFS work or little of the above.

The "criteria" is key. Often upper management may have no idea what's required in a employee and at this level. Just having or had a saltwater tank isn't one of them necessarily.

Big gap.

 

[NashobaTek]

The question comes in to play "what level of knowledge and experience". The employee may have a extensive background and personal experience, either by being a seasoned hobbyist or prior LFS work or little of the above.

The "criteria" is key. Often upper management may have no idea what's required in a employee and at this level. Just having or had a saltwater tank isn't one of them necessarily.

Big gap.

Exactly, I have had several Marine tanks and I don't feel qualified to run any saltwater section for any store.
I have a lot to learn in the saltwater aquariums and I willingly admit it. Lol

 

[Ashish Patel]

When I setup a proper QT I am just going to go to Petco and save their fish!

 

[NashobaTek]

When I setup a proper QT I am just going to go to Petco and save their fish!

Better be a large qt!

 

[Noob_reefer]

Hi guys and gals. I'm actually an aquatics specialist in a petco that's located in fort myers florida. I do agree that many petcos don't train their employees. I also blame corporate because their 'learning center's gives the bare minimum if you can call it that.

 

[The_Skrimp]

The first thing I picked up for my tank were two clowns from petco. Of course they had flukes. I noticed they were sick immediately after getting them home and petco wouldn’t return them. They’re fine now but I’m glad I learned my lesson early.

 

[Noob_reefer]

The first thing I picked up for my tank were two clowns from petco. Of course they had flukes. I noticed they were sick immediately after getting them home and petco wouldn’t return them. They’re fine now but I’m glad I learned my lesson early.

Tbh if an employee wants to set up a quarantine tank for sick fish it has to come out of pocket because they are not willing to pay for it sadly.

 

[Ippyroy]

There is nothing wrong with PetCo selling anything. It is all about the person(s) taking care of the animals. Some people shouldn't have reef tanks just like some people shouldn't try to grow plants. As long as a caring person is taking care of the animals I am ok with it.