i visited this location on april 18, 2026, primarily to restock on bloodworms. while browsing, i decided to pick up a juvenile angelfish. it wasn't an impulse buy. this was a koi marbled anglefish that i've been reserving space for in my aquariums for months.
my plan for this fish was specific: it would start in an established 40-gallon tank with neon tetras and eventually be moved to my 60-gallon community tank once it reached a size where its natural predatory instincts might pose a risk to the smaller tetras.
tanks pictured above are the 60-gallon and 40-gallon respectively.
since the angelfish was only about the size of a half-dollar, i knew from my five years of experience in the hobby that aggression or predation wouldn't be an issue in the immediate future.
i approached an employee for assistance, but the interaction quickly became a disagreement about compatibility because as soon as i mentioned the neon tetras, she refused the sale. i explained my setup, my background in fishkeeping, and my plan to rehome the fish as it matured. i essentially told her i would take full responsibility for the livestock. after some back and forth, she eventually agreed to the sale. i walked away believing we had reached a understanding, even if we disagreed on the level of risk.
the situation took a bizarre and unprofessional turn while i was in the checkout line. in front of other customers and staff, a manager approached me and informed me that i was no longer welcome because i had "cussed out" or was "cussing at" her employee, specifically citing the "f-word". banning a customer is a nuclear move. at no point during my interaction with the staff member did i raise my voice, use profanity, or act in a way that could be described as abusive or would warrant such a reaction. i was genuinely flabbergasted at that point. absolute disbelief.
if this store has security cameras, i highly recommend reviewing them for proof of me "cussing out" or being abusive to the employee. i was there between 2:30pm and 3:00pm. you will find no evidence of anything other than reasonable conduct. if you find the contrary, i will check myself into a mental institution as it would mean i'm clearly losing grip on reality.
i respect a business that prioritizes the health of its animals and tries to educate its customers - so two stars for that. the staff showed concern i would expect. i’ve seen first hand the crap staff here or any pet store can experience with people coming back with dead fish and blaming the store while demanding a refund.
however, i cannot respect a staff member who fabricates stories of abuse to poison the well on a customer’s character simply because they didn't like being challenged during a disagreement.
using management as a weapon to retaliate against a customer after a sale is agreed upon is a massive failure in integrity. i understand the stress of dealing with uninformed buyers, but lying to justify a power move is where you lose all credibility.
not to mention the "sorry he's your husband" insult directed at my wife. there is absolutely no professional context where a remark towards a customer's marriage is appropriate or warranted.
i went in purchasing $10 bloodworms + a few other dollars in supplies. this debacle was over a $4 fish.