Bad thing...good intentions :(

[weidjd]

Well, I done a bad thing. My walmart is being remodeled. I walked back to pet supplies and noticed all fish for half off. They had about 8 GSP's....here it comes...I bought 2 . The lady told me the tanks were suppose to be removed last night but the contractors did not get to it. I asked what they were doing with all the fish and all she said was that the vendor wouldn't take them back. So I said they're being flushed aren't they...she didn't say a word which answered my question . I picked the two healthiest ones, so we shall see. All I have is a 20 gallon for now, but I suspect I might lose one if not both . Treating for IP's immediately and getting them in light brackish tonight. If I can get them healthy one will be rehomed with a good friend of mine.
I said I would never do this and I feel bad for supporting walmarts evil ways...I'm sick to my stomach that the others stand no chance at all though.

I dont have much choice either. And the WM that is by me is also remolding and all the pet stuff has moved but the fish are sitll on the old side of the store. I thought it was odd last night also. Now I see what you experienced and mine has 15 - 20 puffers in one of the tanks. It is so sad. And yes I consider Walmart to be evil in many ways.

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

Well nothing wrong for what you had to do . I would had done the same thing. Btw, it's not just WM doing these things. Greed goes along way really fast. Most stores will do this and tell you other wise unless there is really good proof. Talking about throwing out the clothes if they don't sale or anything else if it's not sold. So let's don't blame it all on WM. Yeah im a WM shopper but can't beat some of those prices with my budget. I got 3 small kids and I have to do what I can. Sorry for going on about that. But anyways, Srkoe you did a very good deed even if those GSP's don't make it. They have a better chance with you anyways .

[Srkoe]

I know it's not just walmart. I can remember when they sold birds and hamsters...at least they stopped doing that. When the girl told me they were being tore out I got all excited thinking they were doing away with fish for good...of course I was wrong. When I got off work tonight it took everything in me to not go back . I wish I could save them all so bad. Thanks for making me feel better about the ones I bought...I hope I can save them.

As for shopping at walmart, I will admit I will always shop there as well. I have three kids of my own and can't beat many of their prices.

[Srkoe]

They are doing great!!! I believe treatment is working! I have been giving them meds twice a day. They are excellent eaters. Their green is really bright and the sickest one has very little gray left on his belly. He even likes to eat worms right from my hand and likes to nibble my fingers. The less sick one is skittish but seems to be coming around. Their bellies are no longer sunk in. They spend the day swimming and hunting in the plants. They seem soooo happy!

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

Thats very good to hear that they are doing really good. I knew that they would be in good hands .

[Srkoe]

I will have to separate them soon...they are vicious to each other. I'll be truthful here by saying that I've never really been interested in GSP's but boy have they grown on me! I am in love with the sickest one...he is such a clown! On another note, I lost one of my sap's this morning...and the other probably won't last the day . They got very aggressive velvet or ich a few days ago that I just can't cure

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

I will have to separate them soon...they are vicious to each other. I'll be truthful here by saying that I've never really been interested in GSP's but boy have they grown on me! I am in love with the sickest one...he is such a clown! On another note, I lost one of my sap's this morning...and the other probably won't last the day . They got very aggressive velvet or ich a few days ago that I just can't cure

Oh wow, sorry to hear about one of your SAP's dying. I know how hard it is when they pass. I get extremely angry when I lose my favs. Did you try raising the temp to 86 degress, add extra oxygen, add the salt, and keeping the lights off while treating always been a big plus when I treated ich. Uv sterilizer's is another way that helps.

GSP's are cute but they can be awesome when full grown. I had many in the past a one adult. Probley one of my favs of all times but wished I had much much better info on them at that time. I think it was back in 1993 when I purcased that GSP but did not last long because most lfs' did not know much about them. So with much misinformed info on GSP's back in those years I lost many. Thank god for the internet and it's info. I see that still lfs' still have much to learn but some has taken that next step to at least tell you they are BW puffers and not FW.

[Srkoe]

I'm treating the GSP's pretty aggressively for ip's although I'm really starting to think the illness may have not been illness at all and probably just poor water quality and starvation. Once I got them in their current tank they really perked up quickly and their colors changed tremendously! Their poops look healthy, no signs of ip's but I'm gonna continue to treat for a few more days to be safe and observe from there.

Thanks for the kind words about Tito. I am incredibly upset and angry with myself over losing him. Patron is a trooper, fighting for his life. I have posted more in the other thread about steps I'm taking. I'm determined not to lose him!

[Pufferpunk]

It can't hurt. I'm glad he's feeling better.

[Srkoe]

Well both gsp's are still alive and kicking! They seem to be doing really great! I fed them live black worms for the first time today. The "sickly" one was afraid at first but quickly realized they were food. They both recognize me now and beg for food as soon as they see me. They bicker A LOT, but sleep huddled up together at night under a plant. I hate to have to split them up but I'm sure the aggression will continue to get worse with age. Only problem I see is in the mornings the "sickly" one always looks thin and gray around the edges of his belly. He in no way acts sick. His belly is always bright white throughout the day. His slightly sunk belly worries me though. Both of their poops look perfect, no signs of ip's...could this just be his normal shape? Is it possible it's just taking him longer to plump up since he was sicker? All in all I'm just surprised they have lasted this long! Hoping I have a rare Walmart success story!

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

Well both gsp's are still alive and kicking! They seem to be doing really great! I fed them live black worms for the first time today. The "sickly" one was afraid at first but quickly realized they were food. They both recognize me now and beg for food as soon as they see me. They bicker A LOT, but sleep huddled up together at night under a plant. I hate to have to split them up but I'm sure the aggression will continue to get worse with age. Only problem I see is in the mornings the "sickly" one always looks thin and gray around the edges of his belly. He in no way acts sick. His belly is always bright white throughout the day. His slightly sunk belly worries me though. Both of their poops look perfect, no signs of ip's...could this just be his normal shape? Is it possible it's just taking him longer to plump up since he was sicker? All in all I'm just surprised they have lasted this long! Hoping I have a rare Walmart success story!

Good to hear, indeed . I will let PP answer the sunkin belly question. But good that their poops are solid though.

[Flutter]

I would deworm them both, regardless of how their feces look.

[Pufferpunk]

+1 to Flutter.

[fugu99]

[quote="Srkoe"]Only problem I see is in the mornings the "sickly" one always looks thin and gray around the edges of his belly. He in no way acts sick. His belly is always bright white throughot the day. His slightly sunk belly worries me though. quote]

Ive heard that puffers get grey bellies when they are hungry. Its probably hard to judge how much to feed them, since they are small puffers Im sure they start to look quite large when they just eat a little bit. But Ive also noticed my puffers, although they dont get grey bellies (I mean, my one puffer, *sigh* the other one died...) okay but anyway my puffer gets grey lines around his mouth leading down toward his belly, even though hes just eaten, and I think at times hes being moody. But my puffer is an F8, so pretty different!

I understand your intentions, of course you couldnt just let them all get thrown away, I probably would have done the same thing. It sickens me that they made you pay for it. Walmart has no business selling fish, or pets, they are a market not a pet store. Of course, Ive never seen a Walmart with a pet section before. It must be only certain Walmarts that do this. Not that I would sponsor them doing that at all. But in the end, you saved two adorable puffers from the flush. Nobody can give you grief for that. Its like I keep telling my mom, dont buy dogs at the petstore, but she keeps going back. Two Westys now, both of which had kennel cough. Outrageous prices for these dogs, too. So, I dunno. What can you do sometimes. Supply and demand. Its not possible to order everything online, to come to your door.

[I.Puff.Too]

I went to Walmart last night to look at their puffers and all of them were black, not just their stomachs, but the entire fish was black. And of course they had sunken bellies and tattered fins, but I've never seen the entire fish black. It was pretty sickening.