trying to get a job in a fish store

[512148048]

well i know enough for salt water to get the job but i dont know enough about FW. i was wonder what i should know like the ph's for different types of fish and general things about them ie live barrers and different things involving temperment just though i would ask for some help

[manderson0805]

I wouldn't think you'd need to know a whole lot to begin with. You'll pick up on that stuff from coworkers and the FW people faster than you think. Maybe it would be a good idea to get some "community setups" before you started working there...so when someone comes in and buys a 29g or a 55g you can recommend what types of fish to add after it cycles. From what I see, there's two types of freshwater tanks...community and african cichlids.

[512148048]

lol community and chiclads how bout oscar? thanks for your input there is actualy a test i have to take to get the job its kinda funny cuz this store kills more fish then i have ever dreamed to have

[manderson0805]

sorry, never was a big fan of oscars, or any south american cichlid, besides angelfish. Everything else reminds me of panfish stuck in a sewer or drainage ditch.

[512148048]

lol thats kinda funny

[AJ31655]

I just started at a LFS and an having the same problem, but here is the run down they gave me, becuase they hired me knowing I didn't remmeber much on FW. African Cichlids should only be kept with african cichlids, they like hard water with a ph around 8.0-8.2. South american cihlids like soft nuetral (7.0 Ph) water. Community fish (tetras, gouramis) are comfortable in anything reasonable, 6.5-7.5 hard or soft. Discus, if you sell them there, like it 7.0-6.5, and soft, usually 3 parts RO water to one part tap water is a good mix, this I learned from another LFS who breeds discus. They also need water up at 86-88 degrees, Cardinal tetras are the best fish to put with them since they are supposed to be able to handle the higher temps. better. Don't mix South american cihlids and African cichlids, I learned that one personally. And I would say they are 4 types of FW tanks, Community, african cichlid, South american cihlid, and discus. Barbs nip fins and should not be kept with Angelfish or anything thing else with long fins. You want to have a filter that can turn the tank volume over 3-5 times per hour. But really thats about all you really need to know, aside from maybe tank sizes for the different fish. Hope this helped some what.

[Phishnoob]

We have a fresh water tank that was once a q tank. It is so funny how I feel stupid in the FW half of the store. I guess our blue lobster and some guppies and the chinese algae eater guy are going to be it forever.

After reading this post I looked at the LFS on the last two trips and there were easily three times as many folks on the FW side as the SW side. What is bad is that two coworkers come to me for FW advice about their fish dying and it seems like FW is an automatic pass to skip on the research.

Good luck on your new job there and keep us posted on how it goes.

[512148048]

well here is a post to how it went manager A hired me gave me all the paper work and sent me on my way then went on honymoon i call back later and ask for time to go in for work and manager X says im not hired so im stick with the job i have cuz if the lfs can figure out if they want to or dont want to hire me then they can go $(R3w them selfs

[Phishnoob]

Our cardboard guy came in today who used to keep SW tanks. He has a CO2 something and PC lighting for his FW stuff. This is a whole parallel universe it seems.

[sunnysmom]

Came in here first so I wouldn't feel so dumb...

I've been keeping FW for awhile... well, years. lol. The last several years it's been planted aquaria. Definitely a parallel--gave me the guts to try SW because I knew my lighting, had the equipment, starting slow and all that.

Planted aquarists are probably just about as hardcore, but a lot less money. My 55gal has probably cost me only about $1800, including the fish because of trades and cuttings.

I'd post a pic, but I'm not sure how on this board yet. hmm, lemme try...

nope, that sucked.

I work in a FW store, and believe me there is a learning curve. Even though they hired me because I "knew my FW," I still feel like I learn something critical everyday. Like the ongoing debate about substrates and filtration... yep folks, happens with FW too! Maybe because our store is ALL freshwater, so we see a lot of the exotic, plus tons of the basic.

Anyways, ramping up to the SW, I got my first soft coral frags yesterday, they are opening nicely this morning. Have a lawnmower that doesn't want to eat. So I'm panicking.

see ya around board.

Stacey

[Junkzoo]

Welcome to TRT Stacey!
Go ahead and pop in to General Reef Discussion, and say hi!
We don't bite any heads off around here,,,,
Enjoy your time here, ask away with anything you need to know, we have plenty of very good members here to help you..
We also have a great archive section , to help in anything you want to know,,,
Again ,Welcome aboard!

[Junkzoo]

Stacey, read the post in GRD(General Reef Discussion) today titled "ooo, ooo,ooo, LFS has a sale!,,,it loosely revolves around Lawn mower blennies,,
Don't worry, a LMB seems to take a while to get to munchin' in the tank , at least , mine for one, did,,,now he's a hog,,,,

[Deborah]

Hi Stacey:

I shop at The Wet Spot for my fish & stuff. Want to share which store you work at? I love hearing about new stores to explore.

Deborah
(in Portland, I don't remember if that's in my info or not)

So how come my D'oh smiley came out as a smiley next to a doh? Not what I was expecting at all (I'd put some disgruntled emoticon here but "once bitten, twice shy")

[F15hareF00d]

i wish i worked in a fish store. That owuld be sweet

[512148048]

lol, mee tooo