Going to walmart, need tips on what fish to get: reply now as I'm leaving in 30 min

[Durbkat]

A few weeks ago while I was out of town I went to the walmart and saw a crown tail betta that had pop eye so I felt sorry for it and bought it and was going to bring it home so I could treat it but it died on the way back. So I called the manager of that walmart and he said that I could go to any walmart and get another fish as long as I have the reciept. So I'm going to walmart in about 30 min and I need ideas of what kind of fish to get if they don't have a betta. So what fish would you recommend me to get?

[book_em_danio]

Most Wal-Marts have horrible fish in horrible conditions. I know of one Wal-Mart, out of five in a 50 mile radius, that has acceptable conditions. The person running the department also was manager at a local fish store until they went under. I believe few Wal-Marts are run this well.

[Durbkat]

Well that still doesn't help me choose a fish. This walmart takes pretty good care of the fish, well they were the last time I went there.

I want to quarentine the fish if I don't get a betta but I don't have a hospital tank, would one of these work? and I'd add a air stone with a control valve to control how much bubbles come out. And I'll change water daily. So would using this work as far as quartining goes?

[Durbkat]

Well I found out that I won't be going to walmart till tommorow so that will give you all some more time to suggest fish for me to get.

[JustOneMore20]

Its kind of hard for us to tell you what to get because most Walmarts carry different fish.

You could look for some cories or loaches, if they look healthy. I got all 6 of my panda cories from 2 different Walmarts. I bought about 4 at each place, so I only lost 2 out of the whole bunch, but they were pretty healthy looking. I also bought my albino cories at a Walmart (with clean tanks) and I still have all 4...have had them for about 3 months now with no problems or diseases. If there are any dead fish, I wouldn't buy anything except a betta if you have a tank for it.

[Durbkat]

So your saying if I see a sick or dead fish in one of the tanks to not get any fish from a different tank? Why would you say that? Well I'm going right now so I may get a bristlenose plec, if they have it. Well I'll let you know what I get. Wish me luck that they have healthy fish.

[Christine]

Because the store setups frequently have a shared water system. The water leaves one tank goes through the filtration system and voila its now in the other tanks also.

[JustOneMore20]

Exactly! And usually, at the Walmarts in my area, there is always atleast 1 dead fish.

Good luck finding a BN. I got mine at a small LFS...haven't seen them anywhere else. Maybe they are more common in your area.

[MaryPa]

Don`t buy any.

[MaryPa]

Don`t forget the ick meds, you`ll most likely need it for wal mart fish. Seems a bit careless not doing research on the fish before you buy any.
Fish are living creatures,not something you buy on the spur of the moment.

[Scy64]

I got my common Pleco there, and he's never had any problems at all. I guess jut go for a fish that's acting normally for that species (this particular one was cleaning the sides of the tank, then swam away quickly when he saw the net coming at him).

I guess the best advice is just to pick the most healthy fish you can find that fits your limitations (both tanksmates, size, and so forth). I saw someone mention Cories as well- I got an Albino Cory there along with the Pleco (different tanks, same purchase), and he's also been doing fine.

[Durbkat]

Well now I'm peeved. I went there waited 45 min for someone to go back there and they didn't have any bettas and wouldn't let me get two platys but said to go to customer service and get a refund and then buy the fish. Which I think is stupid when they are still getting their money. So I go to customer service and they tell me that they only have a 3 day policy and I asked why they can't honor the other wal-marts return policy but they still wouldn't give me my freaking money. What I don't understand is why they can't give me $3.47 so I can get the fish then the will get the money right back. *rolls eyes and cusses alot* So I'm going to the walmart where I got the fish and if they won't give me my money I'm going to say something like "I drove 4 *&*&^%$ hours here to get a &&&& refund because the other walmart wouldn't do it which I think is &^%*()$ rediculous but anyway I come down here just to get my money back for a sick fish that I was going to treat since you all don't know %$^# about caring for fish I thought I'd do it for you but it died, which isn't my fault. Now I demand that you give me my money back because it doesn't really matter as you are still going to get your precious $3.47 back except I'm going to get something back for it for having to go thru all this crap to get my money!

Then if they don't give me my money I may just go back to the fish department, bag me a betta and walk out the door.

*rant over*

[Bub]

You might as well just cut your losses and forget it. The cost of gas to drive that far will be a lot more than the amount of the refund.

[Durbkat]

Well we are going to this town where this walmart is any way so thats why I'm going this far to get my money back. Then once I get my money I'm going to a reliable lfs to get my fish.

[|V|][{|-|/\[-|_]

Then if they don't give me my money I may just go back to the fish department, bag me a betta and walk out the door.

Wal Mart throws in a free pair of silver bracelets with each of these types of transactions. Let us know how your pair fits.

I wouldn't quarantine in the plastic bucket. You really need a separate aquarium for that or there is no point in quarantining at all.

[Durbkat]

I wasn't actually going to do that, I was just in that kind of mood at the time.

[Osiris]

Go to Fishforums auction, have it delivered to the house, no worries

[|V|][{|-|/\[-|_]

I wasn't actually going to do that, I was just in that kind of mood at the time.

Sorry about that. I know exactly the kind of mood you're talking about. I was just makin' a joke. My wife says I need to give people some clue when I'm not being serious. I'll try using these swell smiley guys from now on and see if that helps...at least online. Have you tried to get your money back yet?

[Durbkat]

I'm not going there till this weekend, and if they don't give me my money I'm going to be really peeved. But if they say I can get another betta whats the best way to get it back alive? As last time I just put it in the box that my new 2.5g was in so that it will be dark but it still died. So like I said is there a way to get a betta back alive with a 4 1/2 hour trip?

[Christine]

Put him in a styro box or a lunch cooler for the trip.