 |
Previous Message | All Messages | Next Message |  |
| RE: Re:RE: Fairy Lake |
Naomi Mizumoto
|
|
I think you were the one who posted something about "skinny disease" on the AB forum. I have no experience keeping clown loaches and I've never heard of this ailment, so I can't say anything about what you saw... But I'm wondering if you asked if these fish were for sale. I've seen it where a non-quarantine tank is suddenly infested with Ich, and the employees are instructed not to sell any fish from that tank. A lot of times, if you see a tank that doesn't have any lights on, it means it's being treated and you can't buy anything from it. Maybe they're not familiar with skinny disease. If you didn't mention it to any of them last time, definitely say something if you see it again. If it's a slow-progressing disease, their quarantine is not going to be effective. From what I understand, they quarantine for one week. If they're still having die-offs, they keep the fish in quarantine. Once they go for a run of three consecutive days with no deaths and no noticeable symptoms, then they put them out for sale. Point out diseased fish, especially if Ray's working or if Guy (the owner) happens to be there. Ray's pretty easy-going and has been employed there for quite a long time. And don't underestimate these people just because they're "teenage-looking." Fanna (fa-NAY) knows quite a bit about plants. Stan and the other guy (if he's still there) are new employees and are still learning. Ray's quiet but mellow and reasonably knowledgeable about fish. He'll pass on any messages to Guy if you leave any. Unfortunately, the turnover rate is high so people are always coming and going. Several years ago, there was a REALLY MEAN sourpuss lady managing the store. I don't know if she was fired or just left, but my visits there were a LOT more pleasant after she left. I'll admit, my opinion is biased because I've been a very satisfied customer for years. But I've learned that you can't judge a store based on just one visit, or even two... I've gone into shops that made me think of only four-letter words you'd find scrawled on bathroom walls and I'd visit again months later and see the whole place turned around. Sometimes, it's just that you happened to go on a particularly bad day for that store. Other places have impressed me beyond words and I'd go again and be dumbstruck by how things had changed for the worse. Then I'll go again and all's well. Even Albany's tanks will look shabby 2 weeks after their last plant shipment. As far as I'm concerned, Albany Aquarium really is THE PLACE for plants. I've been asking for a long time for some seriously hard-to-find species (Ludwigia sp. 'Cuba', L. sp. 'Pantanal', Hemianthus callitrichoides, Tonina fluviatilis) and they were finally able to get them in either or both of the last two shipments. So far, the only thing they haven't been able to get for me that I've been wanting for years is Corydoras hastatus. NOBODY seems to be able to get them. IF they do, they end up being C. pygmaeus, but sure enough, the invoice will say "Corydoras hastatus."
Like I said, you really can't judge a store just from a single visit, so I hope you'll give them another chance or two. I have a good rapport going with pretty much everybody there. I enjoy chatting with them. When I started bringing by my own plant clippings to give to them, they realized I was a plant-head and began asking *me* questions about how I grow my plants and such...Sometimes they'll give me store credit for what I bring in, but I don't expect it since it's never very much plant material. If you want to be wow-ed, go a day or two after a plant shipment comes in (usually every other Sunday - give 'em a call and ask if they came in). They're still in the process of revamping their upstairs, too, so it's going through something of an "awkward stage." Sorry about writing a book, but I always have to put in some good words for Albany Aquarium. It's just too bad that you got a bad first-impression... Happy planting! -Naomi |
|
Previous Message | All Messages | Next Message | |
