Dropped in to buy cat biscuits last Saturday and was horrified to see a thick carpet of cyanobacteria throughout most of the tanks, dead fish lying everywhere, and a poor little Oscar with horrible fin rot. The staff don't seem to give a rats... what is going on ?!?

its Animates...

Oh. I think I'll buy my cat biscuits from the vet from now on.

Animates tower junction has been having heater problems lately( what a lady that works there told me). Apparently the fuse keeps blowing or something- Cant remember exacly what she told me.

Animates tower junction has been having heater problems lately( what a lady that works there told me). Apparently the fuse keeps blowing or something- Cant remember exacly what she told me.

One bung heater in a system that size would have a negligable effect - they are idiots! If I buy and 'fix' the Oscar, will anyone in Christchurch give it a home?

i would if i had tank space but i sadly dont

poor oscar

yeah i was in there the other day as well and the guy had no idea what to do with it as there were a few dead clowns, gave him a few pointers on getting rid of it, whether he takes advice or not who knows

By buying the oscar you'd be giving them money and supporting their shitty practises! I feel bad for the fish, but you don't wanna encourage them. This is disappointing, I'd noticed that all the Animates seemed to be improving in regards to tank conditions. Oh well, I'll just continue to not buy things from them.

yeah its definitely a point, they are a big company so therefore should at least be able to sell cheap things, but they cant even do that let alone quality. i was horrified when they were asking 9.98 for a rummynose

The Animates chains have been sold to Jansens who in turn have been bought by PetBarn Australia with the helping hand of Masterpet. As Animates were outbid for Jansens by the "consortium" they really had no way to expand anymore up in Auckland.

Look at this way if Animates had the Jansens chain then they would have enough stores to import bulk product from overseas eliminating some NZ wholesalers = no sales.

The trend overseas now is for a company to import and then sell through there own retail stores.....they get a bite of all the apple.

You may find in the future, maybe the "consortium" will have many large format stores in Aust and NZ and possibly then list on the stock market for the owners to "get out" with plenty of money.

You find overseas because of the large format stores, the small normal pet shop fails to exist, unless it specialises and the large stores charge what they want ala Wal Mart scenario.

Is there not some organisation who do health checks on these kinds of stores?

I am sure the SPCA would be interested!

SPCA don't seem to care so much about fish. I've heard of people complaining about that poor giant gourami at Critter Kingdom on Stanmore road, but it's still in the too-small tank.

I've heard of people complaining about that poor giant gourami at Critter Kingdom on Blenheim road, but it's still in the too-small tank.

You mean stanmore road?

the SPCA do act on pet shops, but it is hard for them to find a "Qualified" person to inspect the fish, birds or other unusual animals

obvious cases of neglect can be spotted by a layman, but if that is explained away by a "power cut" or other occurence beyond their control they cannot act

if enough people complain over a long time period action can be taken

a notice to clean up your act will be given and if this is done in a specified time period then no further action can be taken unless these are repeated offences

bring it to the attention of the shop owner or manager and even a written complaint to head office can have a better result

The Animates chains have been sold to Jansens who in turn have been bought by PetBarn Australia with the helping hand of Masterpet. As Animates were outbid for Jansens by the "consortium" they really had no way to expand anymore up in Auckland.

Look at this way if Animates had the Jansens chain then they would have enough stores to import bulk product from overseas eliminating some NZ wholesalers = no sales.

The trend overseas now is for a company to import and then sell through there own retail stores.....they get a bite of all the apple.

You may find in the future, maybe the "consortium" will have many large format stores in Aust and NZ and possibly then list on the stock market for the owners to "get out" with plenty of money.

You find overseas because of the large format stores, the small normal pet shop fails to exist, unless it specialises and the large stores charge what they want ala Wal Mart scenario.

None of that excuses their apalling attitude toward animal welfare - all of those organisations have the financial clout to maintain proper systems and train staff, in fact given the investment you would have thought they'd have to make a good job of it. Very sad to see that they are actually now worse than a lot of the poxy little stores that make me cringe every time I go near them. I'm not going back to any Animates, nor will anyone else I know.

Wal Mart scenario

The only place close to me that sells fish. Over the years, small pet stores opened up, but alas soon closed. There is one small store that opened last year, I think, but they don't sell fish.

Caper

Be interesting then to see how this big new Store of theirs in Albany turns out. Maybe i can get a car battery, groceries and fish all at the same time.

Does anybody buy fish from Animates now other than Tues-Thurs. Any other day and they just aren't competitive.

Pricing Cardinals at $10 each when they are $3.50 wholesale. Sounds like they are trying to make up for all the fish they kill.

they're $3.50 wholesale!!!? DOH!! man that is pretty raw - I realise they are in it to make money but thats a heck of a markup!

I don't bother going in unless its a day with the deal on - just too expensive.

but there is no way we can buy it wholesale

I don't mind paying a margin for good healthy fish - but diseased manky ones? No.

Very sad to see that they are actually now worse than a lot of the poxy little stores that make me cringe every time I go near them. I'm not going back to any Animates, nor will anyone else I know.

thats a strong statement conch

basically its because they dont really care about their fish, seems to be their lowest priority so they dont bother hiring or training people so they know wht they are doing. Silly dogs and cats etc putting fish on the bottom shelf, not that dogs and cats are bad but you know what i mean

The animates here in Palmy has a massive staff turnover. Seems whenever I go in there theres a couple of new faces. They can't hold down staff at all.

Had a manager early last year that was fantastic with the fish, but she left due to conflicts in interest and it went downhill from there....

Well, from what I know, Animates hire salespeople, not pet people.

I think it's funny playing silly buggers with some of the salespeople by asking questions I already know the answers to. That is... when I can even get someone to talk to me... which is about 5% of the time...

my brother who has no idea about fish is getting a job at this shop

his name is hamish i invite any one to turn up and give him a hard time :lol:

he dosnt know what a neon is :roll: