Customer Problem Solving

Customers expect that the fish they purchase from your store will be healthy and long lived. You can help avoid potential problems and position yourself and your store as good sources of expert advice by:

• Verifying tank water chemistry and equipment will meet fishes’ needs.
• Asking about types of fish stocked in the customer’s home aquarium, tank size and number of fish to prevent compatibility issues and/or overcrowding.
• Providing advice and, when available, care sheets for new fish purchases.

Regardless of the steps you take to help customers care for their fish, most home hobbyists will experience fish loss or other problems. This section will help you troubleshoot and solve the most common issues.

Whenever water quality problems may be an issue, ask customers to bring a water sample from the tank to the store for testing (about one cup or eight ounces). Note that in some cases there may be no obvious reason for fish loss.

for guidance in solving common customer problems with freshwater fish.