Pet's Mart refused to sell a comet goldfish.?

Question

My friend and I went to pet's mart recently and were a little pissed when the manager, when we asked her to please get us one comet goldfish, demanded to know what size the tank was and the filter, etc. I wasn't aware that a simple goldfish needed something so complex, and we had a bowl. We would have been able to come at a later time to get the proper tools, but everyone who worked there but the manager seemed fine and surprised that the manager would flat-out refuse to sell us a fish. I can understand maybe she thought it would have endangered the fish, but another saleswoman said that it would be fine to just keep it in a fishbowl, it would have a shorter life. We would want our fish to live of course, as long as it could. But I don't understand why they couldn't simply sell a 26 cent fish to us. Plus, she was incredibly rude.

Answer 1

sorry but i have to take the managers side on this one

hes doing a great job

Answer 2

Claire,

   Considering the fact that some people buy goldfish to feed to their larger fish (Oscars, Arawanas, and so on),  and you weren't even trying to do that, the manager was way out of line.  If you choose to do something about it, you could write a complaint to the store's headquarters which you could find on the internet.  I probably would if I were treated like that.

-Kevin

Answer 3

First off I'm surprised a big chain store would do that. Second, kudos to them for refusing to sell to a inexperienced person. You said it yourself, you weren't aware that a goldfish needed a complex system. Goldfish require at least 20 gallons of water because they are p**p factories. They also need water movement to breath because the water needs pass over their gills. A bowl cannot provide adequate room for a goldfish. Basically in a bowl without they are choking on their own waste until you change their water. They need the filter to take out the waste and toxins in the water. Goldfish do not grow to their environment, they may stop growing on the outside, but their insides and spine keep growing. It is very painful. Fish are a lot of work, they aren't a simple pet. They need weekly water changes and gravel vacs. They need treatments to their water to keep it at the ideal pH and hardness. You have to put conditioner in the water so they don't get killed by the chlorine. They need a variety of food to keep from getting constipated. They get sick and need medicine. You just don't put them in a bowl and call it good. They are living things. Research a pet before you buy it, for the benefit of you and the animal that you will be responsible for. Everyone has had their blunders in their novice fish keeping days, but it will get better with experience. So it is better to start off on a good foot than with your goldfish dying in the bowl and you on Y! Answers asking what you can do to help it.  

Answer 4

You know why because you cannot take proper care of a goldfish every good goldfish keeper knows 1 comet needs at least 10 gallons of water and your keeping it in a tiny fish bowl that is why before buying fish people should research on them first

Answer 5

The manager was simply being responsible. Sorry, but you're wrong in this situation. A goldfish will grow to be about 8 inches long, which is way too big for a bowl. They also produce a lot more waste than other fish. A single goldfish needs 20 gallons minimum, with an additional 10 gallons for each additional fish. The manager shouldn't have been rude, but she was just concerned about the fish's welfare. I wish there were more pet store employees like her.

Answer 6

1st i would get either a 10 gallon pr 20+ gallon tank. never bowls! plus talking to a petsmart employee is talking to a wall they dont know anything!!!!! you can get the comet fish yourself if you ask the employee too. but i know how you feel sometimes theyre rude and theyll ask very rude questions like "why do you want to get a comet fish when you have a 10 gallon tank?" they asked me that and i had reported them to their manager i hope the employee got fired!

Answer 7

so you would sell a animal to some one, knowing that its going not live long and not going to be treated right, just because its a "26 cent fish"?

i have to side with petsmart on this one.

Answer 8

I work at petsmart & what set's us apart from other petstore's is we ask questions & have the right to refuse sale's if it is not in the best interest of the pet. The only fish suitable to live in a bowl is a betta "fighting fish". Comet's reach 12' in, so she was right in refusing the sale. The price of a pet does not matter. Just so u know, we don't condone "puppy mills" & people putting Oscar's in 10 gal. tanks either.  

Answer 9

Go to PETCO. They might ask you the same thing, but they might be a bit nicer. I guess comet goldfish need a specific range of things in their tank. Just don't go to Wal-Mart. All they sell is c**p.