Fruit Tetras...bah!

[bassbonediva]

Okay, so I was at one of the LFSs today seeing if they had any panda cories so I could round out the stock in my 20gL to 4 (there's only one in there right now). They didn't have any, but they did have what looked like "fruit" tetras. For those who don't know what fruit tetras are, they are white skirt tetras that have been dipped into a solution which removes their slime coat and then either dipped into another solution to color them, or injected with dye (in a process somewhat similar to tattooing in people, where there are many punctures made, as only a small amount of dye is placed with each puncture), after which they are dipped in yet another solution which stimulates them to regrow their slime coat. The owner of the store wasn't there, but I politely told the two girls (and I mean girls, as they couldn't have been more than 16 or 17) working there exactly how fruit tetras are made. One of the girls brought up glofish and said that the fruit tetras aren't any different than they are, but in fact, glofish are genetically altered danios (they have had jellyfish DNA added to their existing DNA, if I remember correctly) and are not subjected to any cruel practices like the fruit tetras are. Anyway, the other girl was simply appalled and said she'd tell the store owner to see if they could send them back to the supplier (the first girl just rolled her eyes). What really got me, though, was that there were some people looking at fish while I was talking to the girls and they couldn't help but overhear what was said (it's a TINY store...I think my little doublewide trailer is bigger than the store is), but immediately after I started to walk away, they asked the girls if they could get two of each color of the fruit tetras, saying that it'd be cool to have "tattooed" fish. Apparently they missed the entire point of what I had said! Bah!

 

[achase]

That's gross and really quite sad! You will have to keep us updated about the owner's decision.

 

[bassbonediva]

I will. I'm going to go in there next week (hopefully, if I have money) to see if they have gotten any panda cories in, so I'll check on the fruit tetra situation. It just really irked me that those people would listen to all the stuff those poor fish have to go through, and then want to buy them because of it! Bah for living in a redneck town, as well! (Although I generally love my town and the smallness of it...)

 

[ryanoh]

I had no idea that's what fruit tetras are. I almost bought some a few weeks ago, but now I'm glad I didn't.

 

[littletankbigworld]

I did my report on fish abuse and I know quite a bit about fish tattooing. Most people who tattoo fish do not even bother to clean the needles in between fish and diseases like Ich run rampant. Over 3/4 of the fish (if I recall correctly) die from infection. That is terrible. Our Walmart used to have fruit tetras. They all had ich and missing fins. It was extremely depressing.

 

[ValRasbora]

...some people should just never have any kind of pet whatsoever. I think the tattoo-fish-guy is one of them.,
Pets are not to make you look "cool", they're an animal that depends on you for care, they're not home decor or whatever.

Paige, I wish I was like you! I see people in chain stores buying fish that are no way suitable... Like, an uncycled 2 gallon tank, honestly the people [a guy and his 6yo daughter and 3yo son] hardly knew how small it was, bought a couple neons and a couple red-eyed tetras, because that's what the kids said. That wasn't too bad but then they asked the obviously new employee who I've never seen there before if they could add a pleco. The employee girl obviously had NO idea what she was talking about "yes but wait a while for algae." I didn't have the guts to speak up but I wish I did.
Then, some fat employee answered the phone. "...oh yes we have turtles... we have red eyed darters... no, no your tank should be fine... they're 60/ea or 2 for 80... red eye darters... yes, I'm sure... alrighty have a nice day..."
red EARED SLIDERS, the only thing he got right was "red". Idiots. I wish I wasn't shy.

 

[Thyra]

When some one in the LFS says, "Can I help you?" I say, "Have you got an aquarium at home? For how long?" If they say they only have a dog or cat or no pet, then I ask for someone who does. Once I get to know someone, then I will ask for them by name and wait if necessary for them to help me. If the manager should come by while I'm waiting and ask what I am doing, I tell him/her. I don't want any young person who is trying to keep a job to lose it, that's not the point. Just have them work in an area where they have more experience. They will be more comfortable, too. I am not sure that those big chain stores make so much money on the actual fish. Think about the cost of that bank of tanks, the upkeep and the overhead. At Petsmart you can return dead fish - no questions ask - within fourteen days. Their profits are in the accessories and of course, the tons of pet food and cutesy pet toys etc.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Bass, if you want, I can e-mail you my research paper on cruelty to fish. There is a section on tattooing and dying that might help you to educate yourself more. You can even use the paper as a resource if you decide to write a letter to the store or tell off the owner. You can pm me your e-mail if you wish.

 

[OrangeCones]

I personally won't do business with any store for any product, fish related or not, that sells fish that have been 'created' inhumanely.

The LFS near me has good prices on food/supplies, but I will order online from a catalog before I'll buy from them. When I saw the 'fruit tetras' and dyed glassfish, it turned my stomach. That day I saw the owner toss some gourami into a tank with oscars to feed them. These were fish that were 'returned' as they didn't get along with whatever else was in the tank of the purchaser. Had they educated the customer (or the customer had educated him/herself), a beautiful fish would not have been eaten alive (small bites taken out of them as the oscars were small still).

Walmart has the best price for cat litter, but I spend a bit more to buy at my grocery store, because I won't give Walmart a penny.

*gets off soapbox*

 

[bassbonediva]

This is the first time they've carried the fruit tetras and I honestly don't think they knew anything about them. The lady only carries fish because there are people who don't want to drive the 20-30 minutes in to Petsmart, Petco or the other LFS that stocks fish. She has about nine 10gal tanks that usually only have 5-10 fish in them (aside from the feeder goldfish she carries).

Val, I didn't used to be this way. Seriously, when I was in high school and first started college, I was shy and wouldn't speak up about anything. Then I started working at a rental car agency and literally stopped caring. Now if I see something that I know is obviously wrong, I will say something about it. I try to be nice about it, obviously, cuz I'm not out to hurt people's feelings or anything, but to be completely honest, the amount of idiocy I see (and have seen through my various jobs) just annoys the heck out of me and I can't keep my mouth shut.

 

[littletankbigworld]

I wish I had enough guts to speak up more. Today, I told a man at my favourite fish store that there was a dead molly in one of the tanks. I didn't want an ammonia spike to kill the other fish, but at the same time I was embarrassed to mention it. When I told the young guy this, he said, "You sure know a lot about fish." I was a bit embarrassed, since I don't really consider knowing about ammonia spikes knowing a lot about fish. ^^

 

[aakaakaak]

Compared to your standard schmo selling fish you do know quite a lot. The single dead molly is a pittance compared to what you get the pleasure of watching at a walmart. At one I saw a yellow puffer in every tank with fins that didn't look like fins anymore. At another every single tank had a dead fish at the bottom being fed on except one. That one just had a small skeleton. Just sad.

 

[bassbonediva]

Once you start opening your mouth, it really becomes easier each time you do it. Especially because sometimes the people/employees in the stores don't notice EVERYTHING. I was in the LFS in my area and noticed a dead peppered cory. It was on kind of brownish gravel, so it was kind of hard to see. As soon as I pointed it out, the guy (who was helping me get my GBR, angel, clown pleco and zebra nerite snail) stopped what he was doing and fished the dead cory out, then tested the water. Granted, he didn't really know what he was looking for because all he was going to test was the pH, but he wasn't adverse to me helping him figure out if any "damage" had been done to the tank chemistry. I don't mind inadvertant idiocy, as long as you're willing to learn from your mistake(s) and take advice.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Thanks for the advice, bass. It does seem to progressively become easier each time.