There was a tank with Black Moors, Fancy Goldfish, and Apple ("Mystery") snails. There was a sign on the tank that said it was being "treated" and that the animals inside could not be sold.
Of the 30 or so black and gold snails in there, about half were dead, and another group seemed to be dying. The snails that weren't dead or dying were eating the dead snails...which might be harmful if they died of a bacterial problem.
On top of this, there was a Black Moor who should have been in the prime of his life, floating on his side at the top...a goner.
On top of THIS, it took me forever to find anyone to help me. No one was monitoring the pet area, and I finally dragged someone over, and demanded that they at least remove the dead Moor. I told them that bacteria would flourish in these conditions, and that ~everyone~ in the tank was going to wind up dead, and soon.
They removed the Moor, but only at my insistance. I told them about the mass snail graveyard going on at the bottom of the tank, but the girl just looked at it. She didn't seem to be able to tell a live snail from a dead one, even if other snails were eating it. (To be fair, it wasn't her department.)
Anyway, 'tis the season and all that, and I hate to bring people "down," but a warning to one and all: beware when buying live creatures at WalMart. No one knows how to care for them, it would seem!
On another thread, someone suggested that we, the people who know, should make up little stickers with instructions on how to care for the snails, and sneak them onto the tanks. It was suggested in jest, but now, I think it's a good idea!
<---thanks !
