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Heiko Bleher · 08-13-2009, 02:45 PM

Hi Guys,

this is Heiko Bleher from Italy and for those who do not know me, I hold (also) lectures around the world for that matter: the sick (in double sense) way of treating and keeping fishes MAINLY in US-Chain stores (little less in Canada) - it is a horror.

It this would be seen in any European pet store, they would close it.

This is really bad and does not seem to get any better, I feel it is getting wors all the time (saw it again in July in California stores - with one exception the family operated Rainbow Pet Shop on my website). many years ago I did a survey and I can show you hundreds of pictures it was BAD. In one Walmart store they carried me out and did not alow to take pictures - not a single tank has healthy fishes, in most of the were only dead ones floating.

I am sure, what some of you already mentioned, a letter to the head-office of such Chain store will be no good, useless, waste of time and energy. Individual approach as suggested by Rose is not bad, but than again for how long? Also the approach to the individual manager (probably the best - the direct approach is always the most successful) is very helpful, if you get a guy who will listen to you all. Unfortunately if he does, what happens when he is transferred to somewhere else?

On the other hand you all should also realize one thing not mentioned here at all: How much do you all want to pay for a fish? That is the main problem of all chain stores. And that goes to anything, not only fish. Everyone on this planet only wants (must) cut prices to attract customers. And if the customer does ONLY look for the price (as most of you do, or have to do) the chain store has to follow that trend and will (must) to survive. ONLY sales, offers of low prices (by 1 get 2; buy 10, get 2 free; 20 for only XX; clown loaches specials of the day/week; Lowest fish prices in the area; if you find another store with lower price money-back guarantee...). Don't we know that?

Are we not all to blame ALSO for these low quality, cheap fishes? How can a pet shop pay a "normal" price to the supplier/wholesaler/breeder and expect a healthy, acclimatised and well fed fish, if he cannot sell it above a certain price? If he has to compete with the next store? If he has to employ the cheapest untrained labor?

These are the facts as well and to change that, from the source, we, the hobbyist, must be prepared to pay for a live healthy animal a certain price. A live animal should NEVER EVER be on SALE, should never EVER be bargained, and should be respected, as we should respect each other as one-time-living creatures.

Many years ago I did this business (for 30plus years supplying tropical freshwater fishes to wholesalers around the world - to 86 countries) and saw around the globe the decline in quality, as people wanted everything cheaper and cheaper, as with everything else - BUT I tried very hard to explain to buyers around the world THAT WE ARE HANDLING LIFE STOCK, not nails or other dead merchandise. It was almost a lost battle. I founded the German Wholesaler Organization, than the OFI, Ornamental Fish International Association, to help the hobby, to bring good, quality fishes into the hobby. I worked for years again the TRANS-SHIPPERS (which started in the US and I claimed that this is causing the number one decline of the hobby, as fishes, which all need a minimum of quarantine, no longer had it and chain stores are getting week fishes and diseased ones...), but it was all lost time. The trans-shipping of fishes is number one in America, and almost around the world, as the people do not want to pay the price for a quality fish anymore...

And if you ask the chain stores, ALL of them will tell you the same: They never made money on fishes, they only have them to have the complete pet store line and they cannot invest in that side of it, as it is never profitable...

The number one thing, we still have in many parts of Europe, you find it in Japan and Singapore, in part in Australia and New Zealand, is to have the people who are willing to, pay the price for a healthy, quarantined fish.

I think you should also think of this side of the coin. Normally the evil is found at the source...isn't that also an American saying?

Think about it.

Always, and best regards from one who (I think and feel) was a fish sometime in a previous life-form, and will always think fish,

Heiko Bleher
Aquapress Bleher - Home
Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology

08-13-2009, 02:45 PM	#35 (permalink)
Heiko Bleher Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 18 My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Save these fish. Hi Guys, this is Heiko Bleher from Italy and for those who do not know me, I hold (also) lectures around the world for that matter: the sick (in double sense) way of treating and keeping fishes MAINLY in US-Chain stores (little less in Canada) - it is a horror. It this would be seen in any European pet store, they would close it. This is really bad and does not seem to get any better, I feel it is getting wors all the time (saw it again in July in California stores - with one exception the family operated Rainbow Pet Shop on my website). many years ago I did a survey and I can show you hundreds of pictures it was BAD. In one Walmart store they carried me out and did not alow to take pictures - not a single tank has healthy fishes, in most of the were only dead ones floating. I am sure, what some of you already mentioned, a letter to the head-office of such Chain store will be no good, useless, waste of time and energy. Individual approach as suggested by Rose is not bad, but than again for how long? Also the approach to the individual manager (probably the best - the direct approach is always the most successful) is very helpful, if you get a guy who will listen to you all. Unfortunately if he does, what happens when he is transferred to somewhere else? On the other hand you all should also realize one thing not mentioned here at all: How much do you all want to pay for a fish? That is the main problem of all chain stores. And that goes to anything, not only fish. Everyone on this planet only wants (must) cut prices to attract customers. And if the customer does ONLY look for the price (as most of you do, or have to do) the chain store has to follow that trend and will (must) to survive. ONLY sales, offers of low prices (by 1 get 2; buy 10, get 2 free; 20 for only XX; clown loaches specials of the day/week; Lowest fish prices in the area; if you find another store with lower price money-back guarantee...). Don't we know that? Are we not all to blame ALSO for these low quality, cheap fishes? How can a pet shop pay a "normal" price to the supplier/wholesaler/breeder and expect a healthy, acclimatised and well fed fish, if he cannot sell it above a certain price? If he has to compete with the next store? If he has to employ the cheapest untrained labor? These are the facts as well and to change that, from the source, we, the hobbyist, must be prepared to pay for a live healthy animal a certain price. A live animal should NEVER EVER be on SALE, should never EVER be bargained, and should be respected, as we should respect each other as one-time-living creatures. Many years ago I did this business (for 30plus years supplying tropical freshwater fishes to wholesalers around the world - to 86 countries) and saw around the globe the decline in quality, as people wanted everything cheaper and cheaper, as with everything else - BUT I tried very hard to explain to buyers around the world THAT WE ARE HANDLING LIFE STOCK, not nails or other dead merchandise. It was almost a lost battle. I founded the German Wholesaler Organization, than the OFI, Ornamental Fish International Association, to help the hobby, to bring good, quality fishes into the hobby. I worked for years again the TRANS-SHIPPERS (which started in the US and I claimed that this is causing the number one decline of the hobby, as fishes, which all need a minimum of quarantine, no longer had it and chain stores are getting week fishes and diseased ones...), but it was all lost time. The trans-shipping of fishes is number one in America, and almost around the world, as the people do not want to pay the price for a quality fish anymore... And if you ask the chain stores, ALL of them will tell you the same: They never made money on fishes, they only have them to have the complete pet store line and they cannot invest in that side of it, as it is never profitable... The number one thing, we still have in many parts of Europe, you find it in Japan and Singapore, in part in Australia and New Zealand, is to have the people who are willing to, pay the price for a healthy, quarantined fish. I think you should also think of this side of the coin. Normally the evil is found at the source...isn't that also an American saying? Think about it. Always, and best regards from one who (I think and feel) was a fish sometime in a previous life-form, and will always think fish, Heiko Bleher Aquapress Bleher - Home Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology