Most expensive filter floss ever

Hi my fellow fish keepers.

I nearly took on a lfs owner regarding their price of filter floss.

They charge R13.50 for a 25g of Daro Filter floss.

I normally pay between R3.50 to R4.50 a bag at decent lfs.

I heard about this little pet shop close to my work and I was not amazed.

They do have about 25 - 30 x 2 foot tanks most of them with live plants some of the plant look ok but all the tanks are only running on a little under gravel filter.

95 % of the fishes are just hovering around with no movement.

Sad sad day.

Cheers.

 

eish - you get some and then you seriously get some

 

A person that does not know the avg price of this stuff will pay R13.50 for the filter floss.

Tired of these little pet shops ripping everyone off.

 

I pay r7.00 for that same bag, but r13.50 is a real rip-off

 

For sure dude, I nearly approached the women behind the counter.

Then I thought what would it help.

 

Ja people like that shouldn't own any shops with animals or pet cause they are just in it for the money not the love or passion for pets. The spca should do something about all the lfs thats like that. Wish we could get some competent people to do inspections on these shops. Sorry for going on like this but it p$#@&*s me off.

 

Why dont you guys just use batting? I have a local store in town who make padded jackets and i just collect tons of their off cuts which they keep aside for me. And its free.

Just a thought.

Andrew

 

I think a lot of the pet stores are absoulute F@$#?!rs . They have no care for their fish or the customers. Luckily my LFS is pretty good and they at least have a really good filtration system. The tanks are kept clean and I dont often see dead fish which are, unfortunately, always inevitable. So sorry to hear about your bad experience. Had the same experience with another LFS, puppies and kittens in tiny cages in the boiling heat with only one fan in the room. Hate it when I see this. Also what they do to bettas is AWFUL!!!! Fish and all animals need proper care and I think there should be regular checkups on LFS's with problems and bad reports. There must be something that we can do. If only the name and shame policy wasnt as it is.
Sorry to go on such a rant but this kind of thing really upsets me and i hear it all the time!!!!!!!!

 

Same story with a lfs in krugersdorp, they keep cihlids with guppys ect and they charge R150 for a 50watt heater, the oke wanted to buy my iguana and put him in a bird cage outside as well, but these lizzards require 80% humidity and a average temp of 28 degrees, not something you get outside in the winter.

I hate these people out there just to make a buck and who doesnt care about any of the animals they sell

 

Is there a registry or list of pet shops in SA? I've started compiling my own list (on Google Maps) but it would be nice to have input from the community on where shops are with comments on the quality of the shops.

 

Putting up lists like that might get the forum a few law suits from the shops that goes on the bad list

 

Thanks for the positive free info @pHish_man. I also use the batting it's cheaper and you can cut it to what ever shape you need! I get mine from the local material shop.

Regards

Jason

 

Hi @jpvd007

Long time no hear. Trust you and the family ( oh yeah, and the fish ) have all settled in in Namibia.

Yip, it irks me to see hobbyists unwittingly being ripped off. I am fast getting the feeling that certain people in the trade are only in it to make a buck and have lost the passion for the livestock.

Glad im not the only one using batting :blink1:

Andrew

 

Oh, I use batting too - costs me around R8 for 6 months worth - its not free, but its hardly an expense!

 

I refuse to buy from any pet shop that does not appear to have the proper facilities for the animals they keep/stock. Nothing infuriates me more than walking into a pet shop and feeling instantly sorry for the animals in there.
My LFS has the best fish department I have seen, with alot of tanks looking good enough to put in anyones home....not to mention their fish are all super healthy.

 

While I in no way condone overpriced goods or mistreated animals, it isn't all as simple as that.

Many of the smaller pet stores are bound to be overpriced, at least compared to more popular and/or larger stores. They cannot buy their goods in bulk as the other stores do, and therefore have to pay more and also charge you more to make a decent profit.

Secondly, I feel the real reason we see a lot of fish in bad shape at many pet stores - and not just the smaller ones - is because the staff simply don't know any better. But we can't expect them all to be qualified ichthyologists or pet owners of many years of experience. A good quality staff member for a pet store is really hard to come by. The staff tend to be regular folks who are trying to earn a living and are learning on the job. It doesn't make it right, but you can help. Offer your advice to staff when you can, and if possible offer to help the store when you have free time. Point them toward this forum, or other resources. This is one way to ensure the staff are even just slightly better equipped to help their fish and to help their customers.

My 2c.

Regards,

 

@SalmonAfrica,

I agree with pretty much everything you have said.....but the fact that annoys me is this - if anyone decides that they are going to start / run a pet store, then surely the wellfare of those animals is 100% their responsibility. My point being, that if my tanks and or fish are in bad shape, it isn't my employees fault. I as the owner, need to ensure the wellfare of these animals and the correct equipment while they are in my care.
I cant exactly start an engineering business without at least knowing the trade, and it seems like common sense to me to expect similar from a pet shop owner.
But alas, it seems I drifted off topic....this is about expensive filter floss :laugh:

 

Then we can stick to a list of good shops, and completely ignore the bad ones.

 

Spotted some silk batting in a window of a boutique shop today, did not dare ask the price but I immediately thought of this thread.


Take care when you get off cut peaces or stuff that is used at upholsterers, it might contain poisons, glues or toxins from the surrounding area.

BTW I use the thick sheets of batting, works like a charm - cheap as chips.

Later Ferdie