Petland in Naperville IL.

HowardW · 07/15/2006, 02:53 PM

Petland is a pretty big chain and they have a store near me in Naperville, IL with a large marine dept. that sells saltwater fish, inverts, corals, etc.

It's really sad to walk down the isles and see starving show size 7" clown triggers and angels, dead fish in some tanks, a thick layer of scum on the surface of all the coral tanks, little or no circulation, mostly dead, half dead, and starting to die SPS, LPS, and softies, tipped over frags laying on other corals, VHO bulbs 12-14" over the tanks that look 5 yrs. old and covered with salt spray, cloudy water and bryopsis algae......etc, etc.

It's a real shame that stores like these hire such incompetent idiots to care for their saltwater livestock. Why do they even bother?

aquapod · 07/15/2006, 03:05 PM

its possible there is low demand for such items in the area. They should considerd discontinuing the saltwater section.

Gluestick · 07/15/2006, 08:10 PM

I am from the area. It really is a shame. However, I feel that JR's Pet n Feed in Morris, IL is worse. I went in there once and I left in tears.

Mr Bojangles · 07/15/2006, 08:48 PM

My wife worked for them for 4 years and yes they don't care for them as well as they should, however they don't sell SW fish for there main income, its mostly dogs and FW fish. And the freshwater guys take care of the salt and they dont understand how the setup works.

glbtrottr · 07/15/2006, 09:50 PM

I live in Naperville, and have visited the Petland there often.

Not long ago they had 2 people there, Mike and Joe, who focused more on saltwater.

Mike quit, and joe was let go. The owner is a lady who loves to sell puppies (read: high margin) and while fish make money, they don't make as much - corals are too hard to take care of, I guess.

Paul, their aquarium guy/"biologist" is related, I think. They just retiled their aquarium section.

The reality is that unless they step up, their aquarium department will always be high traffic, low purchase. There are no big LFS's in naperville, and if this place stepped up, they'd make bank, but..."puppies" are their priority.

Teremei · 07/16/2006, 12:51 AM

I must be going to the wrong store because the last few times I went everything looked pretty healthy. Sure I have seen a dying fish ONCE. But I have seen that in even the best of LFS.

07/15/2006, 02:53 PM	#1
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	Petland in Naperville IL. Petland is a pretty big chain and they have a store near me in Naperville, IL with a large marine dept. that sells saltwater fish, inverts, corals, etc. It's really sad to walk down the isles and see starving show size 7" clown triggers and angels, dead fish in some tanks, a thick layer of scum on the surface of all the coral tanks, little or no circulation, mostly dead, half dead, and starting to die SPS, LPS, and softies, tipped over frags laying on other corals, VHO bulbs 12-14" over the tanks that look 5 yrs. old and covered with salt spray, cloudy water and bryopsis algae......etc, etc. It's a real shame that stores like these hire such incompetent idiots to care for their saltwater livestock. Why do they even bother?

07/15/2006, 08:10 PM	#3
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	I am from the area. It really is a shame. However, I feel that JR's Pet n Feed in Morris, IL is worse. I went in there once and I left in tears. __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

07/15/2006, 09:50 PM	#5
glbtrottr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 531	I live in Naperville, and have visited the Petland there often. Not long ago they had 2 people there, Mike and Joe, who focused more on saltwater. Mike quit, and joe was let go. The owner is a lady who loves to sell puppies (read: high margin) and while fish make money, they don't make as much - corals are too hard to take care of, I guess. Paul, their aquarium guy/"biologist" is related, I think. They just retiled their aquarium section. The reality is that unless they step up, their aquarium department will always be high traffic, low purchase. There are no big LFS's in naperville, and if this place stepped up, they'd make bank, but..."puppies" are their priority. __________________ "When it absolutely, positively has to be destroyed overnight..." "Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination" (Oscar Wilde) Current Tank Info: 8X2X30", Bubble King skimmer, Red Dragon Return Pump, Tunzes, Neptune

07/15/2006, 03:05 PM	#2
aquapod Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 111	its possible there is low demand for such items in the area. They should considerd discontinuing the saltwater section.

07/15/2006, 08:48 PM	#4
Mr Bojangles Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brevard county, Fl Posts: 914	My wife worked for them for 4 years and yes they don't care for them as well as they should, however they don't sell SW fish for there main income, its mostly dogs and FW fish. And the freshwater guys take care of the salt and they dont understand how the setup works.

07/16/2006, 12:51 AM	#6
Teremei Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Chicago (one hour west) Posts: 2,751	I must be going to the wrong store because the last few times I went everything looked pretty healthy. Sure I have seen a dying fish ONCE. But I have seen that in even the best of LFS.