Disappointed with my Wally

euRasian32 · 07-20-2005, 11:52 AM

Central Park, Fredericksburg VA

I saw some puffers in Wally's tanks, double take, PUFFERS! (spotted)

Then i saw that there were fifteen or so with the gouramis, and fifteen with the tiger barbs.

Gourami tank: every fish including all the puffers were missing fins. Half of the gouramis were doing a backstroke or sleeping on its side at the bottom. I witnessed a puffer smile at me, then proceeded to bite the ish out of a blue gourami because it could.

Barb Tank: surprisingly, some of the barbs had all of their fins. The CAE's were suffering big time. the puffers were smaller in this tank, and a couple had bellies like they had swallowed a CAE whole. Each and every puffer had nipped fins.

There is no excuse for the mistreatment of all these fish. My girl is so appalled that she's writing a letter to the coorporate office. She wanted to save one but I denied the notion. Half the gouramis were icky.

fishfreaks · 07-20-2005, 11:58 AM

wow, thats horrible, kinda sounds like my walmart

**Scuba Kid** · 07-20-2005, 01:46 PM

ugh....that's terrible.

surprisingly, it seems as though my walmart has cleaned up a bit. the tanks are still over crowded and you sometimes see a dead fish in the tank, but it's much better than before when they constantly had tons of dead fish, disgustingly dirty tanks, and it was so over crowded the fish could barly move. i haven't seen them with any GSPs though.

Lexus · 07-20-2005, 01:51 PM

Good Luck with home office they dont care at all.

Mr Aquarium · 07-20-2005, 01:53 PM

I refuse to post in amymore of the weekly walmart bad fish place posts, sheesh
I think we need to make Walmart a prohibited word in here..

euRasian32 · 07-20-2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Aquarium

I refuse to post in amymore of the weekly walmart bad fish place posts, sheesh
I think we need to make Walmart a prohibited word in here..

then why did you chime it? if you're trying to be a tool its working

The main reason i was dissappointed was because they were really decent before i saw the puffers. I got my tiger barbs from there a couple of months ago.

Lexus · 07-20-2005, 02:09 PM

Well ya know sometimes we get fish we arnt supposed to and it isnt Walmarts fault it is our supplier. I know many a fish we have gotten that we dont carry and should not carry but had to keep them once they were exposed to our tanks. It could be as simple as that, that and they didnt know what to mix them with. Many of the suppliers not only supply to Walmart but local LFS and Petco ect... like here.

shev · 07-20-2005, 02:17 PM

walmart is the devil.

euRasian32 · 07-20-2005, 02:20 PM

Thanks Lex, I'm not trying to start a Wally war with you, and I know the letter will probably go unnoticed, but it had to be done regardless or i'd be buying 30 10 gallon tanks for 30 badly injured, neglected puffers for my girl. The letter she wrote didn't go into detail about they suck this and they suck that. It stated the dissappointing scenario, explained briefly why that scenario was so bad, and gave a few suggestions about having someone with an ounce of experience work the fish section, or don't sell fish at all.

I'm not saying that I'm never going there again, i save money so i can spend more on other stuff like fish.

euRasian32 · 07-20-2005, 02:26 PM

Puffers are truly a unique fish. When I witnessed one smile at me and then start biting the badly injured gourami... I knew for a fact that all that is said about their curiousity for everything outside the tank and it's aggression inside the tank is all true.

Folks, it was like when Mike bit Evanders ear off. It seemed like the puffer was trying to impress me. Poor gourami.

euRasian32 · 07-20-2005, 02:42 PM

Here's a cut and past of the letter sent.

July 20, 2005

Wal-Mart Supercenter
Central Park
1800 Carl D Silver Pkwy
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Phone: (540) 786-2090

To Whom It May Concern:

I visited your store location on July 19, 2005 to purchase a plethora of items, but my boyfriend, Charlie, and I always stop to look at your fish. We have a hobby of going around to local fish stores, large pet stores, and aquariums alike. We own several fish and have a couple of aquariums. Charlie and I pride ourselves on researching the proper habitats and companionships of our fish and those of interest. I was excited and then horrified to find that your store decided to stock a species of puffer fish. When I noticed that Wal-Mart had placed not one puffer in a community tank, but several (more than 5) in a tank with other fish, I was alarmed. Let me explain why.

I greatly enjoy puffers because of their cartoon-like movements and appearance, permanent smile, social interaction with their outside world, and most of all, their uniqueness! I appreciate fish that are unusual in the hobby, that present a challenge in the aquarium for the more experienced aquarist and the puffer fish fits the bill.

There are three different types of puffer fish. Those that live in fresh water, such as in ponds, the upper reaches of rivers, lakes, and streams; in the brackish waters of river estuaries, deltas, the lower reaches of a river and mangrove-type habitats or salt water (marine), that is, living in the ocean. The brackish water puffers require a lower dosage of marine salt mix, while the marine varieties require a high level of specialized marine mix salt. Most of the species seem to reside in true marine conditions, though there are a few, which are strictly fresh water puffers. In fact, most species of brackish water puffers can actually be kept in full marine conditions.

The species which your store stocked is commonly known as the leopard, green spotted, or green puffer, with its Latin name being Tetraodon nigroviridis. These puffers originated in South East Asia and reside in brackish to marine water conditions. Your store had them in FRESHWATER. Although often sold as a freshwater or brackish water fish, this species requires full saltwater conditions as an adult to really thrive. They should only be introduced to a fully cycled aquarium matching the salinity they were being kept in previously. The salinity should slowly be raised to at least 1.015, preferably full marine conditions. This species will not do well for an extended period in freshwater conditions. They need high end brackish water to full marine conditions as they grow. The green spotted puffer is an active fin nipper, and will predate smaller fish and invertebrates. Most of the puffers you had stocked, were bitten on all of their fins, some missing a tail and side fins altogether, not to mention the other fish in the tank. Although it is peaceful for a puffer, it should still be kept in a solitary tank that is no smaller than 30 gallons.
Although I shop at your store on a regular basis, I am truly hurt that you would treat these animals with less respect than you do the perishables in the grocery isles. If Wal-Mart cannot supply a proper environment for the fish you sell, then you should not be a proprietor of pets. Even though, fish are not fuzzy and cuddley, doesn’t mean that they are not loved pets. They are not toys, fads, or decorations for your home or office and should be taken very seriously. I trust that you will take this letter to heart and address this issue immediately whether with your store alone or the entire chain.

Sincerely,

**Baby_Baby** · 07-20-2005, 02:46 PM

Wal mart can make me so mad sometimes. I bought a goldfish from there, and i nursed him back to health. It made me so mad that they can just let this happen. It doesn't matter if they get the wrong fish and have nothing to do with em, they have a responsibility and they need to step up to the plate.

Mr Aquarium · 07-21-2005, 02:36 PM

Quote:

euRasian32 Here's a cut and past of the letter sent.

Now all you gotta do is get a few thousand people to send a letter just like that,,,,,then it maybe do some good..

fishfreaks · 07-21-2005, 06:32 PM

i'm down with it, no problem there

Beerleader · 07-21-2005, 10:17 PM

My wally has the same very thing right now. There were at least 20 or more in a 10 gallon w/ lots of other fish. And most of the puffers had HUGE chunks out of the backs, other places on their bodies, most of the fins bitten off, and many of them laying on the ground. I was horrified! They are very unique fish and have great personalities, I hated seeing them this way.

John · 08-03-2005, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Aquarium

Now all you gotta do is get a few thousand people to send a letter just like that,,,,,then it maybe do some good..

Man, is it that time of the month? euRasian already said that it probably wouldn't even get read. We all know that it more than likely won't change much, you don't have to be a tool about it.

**TheOldSalt** · 08-03-2005, 11:36 PM

I didn't think he was being anything but sincere, and he's right, too.

07-20-2005, 11:52 AM	#1
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	Disappointed with my Wally Central Park, Fredericksburg VA I saw some puffers in Wally's tanks, double take, PUFFERS! (spotted) Then i saw that there were fifteen or so with the gouramis, and fifteen with the tiger barbs. Gourami tank: every fish including all the puffers were missing fins. Half of the gouramis were doing a backstroke or sleeping on its side at the bottom. I witnessed a puffer smile at me, then proceeded to bite the ish out of a blue gourami because it could. Barb Tank: surprisingly, some of the barbs had all of their fins. The CAE's were suffering big time. the puffers were smaller in this tank, and a couple had bellies like they had swallowed a CAE whole. Each and every puffer had nipped fins. There is no excuse for the mistreatment of all these fish. My girl is so appalled that she's writing a letter to the coorporate office. She wanted to save one but I denied the notion. Half the gouramis were icky. __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies

07-20-2005, 11:58 AM	#2
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	wow, thats horrible, kinda sounds like my walmart __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

07-20-2005, 01:46 PM	#3
Scuba Kid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RI Age: 18 Posts: 4,221	ugh....that's terrible. surprisingly, it seems as though my walmart has cleaned up a bit. the tanks are still over crowded and you sometimes see a dead fish in the tank, but it's much better than before when they constantly had tons of dead fish, disgustingly dirty tanks, and it was so over crowded the fish could barly move. i haven't seen them with any GSPs though. __________________ Current setups: 1800 gallon koi pond, 10 gallon planted, 150 gallon reef, other FOWLR tanks

07-20-2005, 01:51 PM	#4
Lexus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 22 Posts: 2,406	Good Luck with home office they dont care at all. __________________ 55 Gallon 2 Blood Parrots 2 Angelfish 1 Fantail Goldfish 46 Gallon 1 Albino Bristlenose 2 Angelfish 4 African Dwarf Frogs 4 Black Skirt Tetras 5 Zebra Danios 8 Tiger Barbs 9 Neon Tetras 13 Assorted Corys 29 Gallon 8 Daffodil Cichlids & fry 1 Electric Blue Crayfish 10 Gallon 2 Snails

07-20-2005, 02:09 PM	#7
Lexus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 22 Posts: 2,406	Well ya know sometimes we get fish we arnt supposed to and it isnt Walmarts fault it is our supplier. I know many a fish we have gotten that we dont carry and should not carry but had to keep them once they were exposed to our tanks. It could be as simple as that, that and they didnt know what to mix them with. Many of the suppliers not only supply to Walmart but local LFS and Petco ect... like here. __________________ 55 Gallon 2 Blood Parrots 2 Angelfish 1 Fantail Goldfish 46 Gallon 1 Albino Bristlenose 2 Angelfish 4 African Dwarf Frogs 4 Black Skirt Tetras 5 Zebra Danios 8 Tiger Barbs 9 Neon Tetras 13 Assorted Corys 29 Gallon 8 Daffodil Cichlids & fry 1 Electric Blue Crayfish 10 Gallon 2 Snails

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07-20-2005, 01:53 PM	#5
Mr Aquarium Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Age: 43 Posts: 499	I refuse to post in amymore of the weekly walmart bad fish place posts, sheesh I think we need to make Walmart a prohibited word in here..

07-20-2005, 02:17 PM	#8
shev Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montana Age: 19 Posts: 1,561	walmart is the devil.

07-20-2005, 02:20 PM	#9
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	Thanks Lex, I'm not trying to start a Wally war with you, and I know the letter will probably go unnoticed, but it had to be done regardless or i'd be buying 30 10 gallon tanks for 30 badly injured, neglected puffers for my girl. The letter she wrote didn't go into detail about they suck this and they suck that. It stated the dissappointing scenario, explained briefly why that scenario was so bad, and gave a few suggestions about having someone with an ounce of experience work the fish section, or don't sell fish at all. I'm not saying that I'm never going there again, i save money so i can spend more on other stuff like fish. __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies

07-20-2005, 02:26 PM	#10
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	Puffers are truly a unique fish. When I witnessed one smile at me and then start biting the badly injured gourami... I knew for a fact that all that is said about their curiousity for everything outside the tank and it's aggression inside the tank is all true. Folks, it was like when Mike bit Evanders ear off. It seemed like the puffer was trying to impress me. Poor gourami. __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies

07-20-2005, 02:42 PM	#11
euRasian32 Why So Serious? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Age: 33 Posts: 771	Here's a cut and past of the letter sent. July 20, 2005 Wal-Mart Supercenter Central Park 1800 Carl D Silver Pkwy Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Phone: (540) 786-2090 To Whom It May Concern: I visited your store location on July 19, 2005 to purchase a plethora of items, but my boyfriend, Charlie, and I always stop to look at your fish. We have a hobby of going around to local fish stores, large pet stores, and aquariums alike. We own several fish and have a couple of aquariums. Charlie and I pride ourselves on researching the proper habitats and companionships of our fish and those of interest. I was excited and then horrified to find that your store decided to stock a species of puffer fish. When I noticed that Wal-Mart had placed not one puffer in a community tank, but several (more than 5) in a tank with other fish, I was alarmed. Let me explain why. I greatly enjoy puffers because of their cartoon-like movements and appearance, permanent smile, social interaction with their outside world, and most of all, their uniqueness! I appreciate fish that are unusual in the hobby, that present a challenge in the aquarium for the more experienced aquarist and the puffer fish fits the bill. There are three different types of puffer fish. Those that live in fresh water, such as in ponds, the upper reaches of rivers, lakes, and streams; in the brackish waters of river estuaries, deltas, the lower reaches of a river and mangrove-type habitats or salt water (marine), that is, living in the ocean. The brackish water puffers require a lower dosage of marine salt mix, while the marine varieties require a high level of specialized marine mix salt. Most of the species seem to reside in true marine conditions, though there are a few, which are strictly fresh water puffers. In fact, most species of brackish water puffers can actually be kept in full marine conditions. The species which your store stocked is commonly known as the leopard, green spotted, or green puffer, with its Latin name being Tetraodon nigroviridis. These puffers originated in South East Asia and reside in brackish to marine water conditions. Your store had them in FRESHWATER. Although often sold as a freshwater or brackish water fish, this species requires full saltwater conditions as an adult to really thrive. They should only be introduced to a fully cycled aquarium matching the salinity they were being kept in previously. The salinity should slowly be raised to at least 1.015, preferably full marine conditions. This species will not do well for an extended period in freshwater conditions. They need high end brackish water to full marine conditions as they grow. The green spotted puffer is an active fin nipper, and will predate smaller fish and invertebrates. Most of the puffers you had stocked, were bitten on all of their fins, some missing a tail and side fins altogether, not to mention the other fish in the tank. Although it is peaceful for a puffer, it should still be kept in a solitary tank that is no smaller than 30 gallons. Although I shop at your store on a regular basis, I am truly hurt that you would treat these animals with less respect than you do the perishables in the grocery isles. If Wal-Mart cannot supply a proper environment for the fish you sell, then you should not be a proprietor of pets. Even though, fish are not fuzzy and cuddley, doesn’t mean that they are not loved pets. They are not toys, fads, or decorations for your home or office and should be taken very seriously. I trust that you will take this letter to heart and address this issue immediately whether with your store alone or the entire chain. Sincerely, __________________ “Corporations pay people just enough money so they won’t quit. People work just enough so they don’t get fired. What's that about?” – Christopher Walken, Pool Hall Junkies

07-20-2005, 02:46 PM	#12
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,681	Wal mart can make me so mad sometimes. I bought a goldfish from there, and i nursed him back to health. It made me so mad that they can just let this happen. It doesn't matter if they get the wrong fish and have nothing to do with em, they have a responsibility and they need to step up to the plate. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

07-21-2005, 06:32 PM	#14
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	i'm down with it, no problem there __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

07-21-2005, 10:17 PM	#15
Beerleader Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lexington, Kentucky Age: 35 Posts: 382	My wally has the same very thing right now. There were at least 20 or more in a 10 gallon w/ lots of other fish. And most of the puffers had HUGE chunks out of the backs, other places on their bodies, most of the fins bitten off, and many of them laying on the ground. I was horrified! They are very unique fish and have great personalities, I hated seeing them this way.

08-03-2005, 11:36 PM	#17
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,358	I didn't think he was being anything but sincere, and he's right, too.

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