Sunset Pet & Supplies — Attraction in Los Angeles

FISH LICE AND TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE: I went in several weeks ago because they were one of the few stores that carried fancy goldfish. I purchased 3 orandas and took them home and put them into a brand new tank that I had been cycling for 6 weeks. The tank was fully cycled before I put them in (I'm a very experienced fish keeper and have been in the hobby for years).

Within a week one of the orandas starting getting red spots so I separated it into a quarantine tank. I know that fish can sometimes get sick within the first month of "coming home" since the stress can lead to a lowered immune system. My first thought was that it was an internal infection (septicemia?) so I started treating it with an antibiotic trio (the water is a bit yellow in the pictures since the nitrofurazone yellow colors the water). I also added aquarium salt and increased the temperature. Plus I made sure to mix the medication into the food which is faster way to get the antibiotics into their system.

The fish showed no improvement during the first 7 days so I went to the pet store and spoke to Jims (not sure if that's the spelling of his name). I told him everything I was doing and he told me I was doing everything right and that he had nothing else to add. I know that antibiotics can take 10-14 days to fully work so I figured I simply needed to continue treatment.

A few days after, the other 2 orandas in the main tank started showing red spots and then I noticed that there were little white spots in straight lines on the aquarium glass and immediately realized they were fish lice eggs (argulus)! Yikes! So I basically put the first fish through an intense antibiotic treatment that was totally unnecessary and useless.

I called the store and spoke to Jesse and he told me that there was nothing that I could do except to PICK OFF THE LICE BY HAND--he didn't give me any treatment options and didn't explain to me any other options as a customer (full/partial refund, exchanges, returns, etc.). I told him that was terrible advice because that wouldn't take care of the eggs or any juveniles that weren't visible to the naked eye. He said he had no other advice other than to manually remove the ones I could see. I asked him if he knew they had a lice outbreak and he stayed quiet for a really long time. I insisted that he tell me the truth because I needed to know exactly what was wrong with my fish so I could treat them properly. He then admitted that he had seen "one or two lice" in the store aquariums which he had been picking off of them. I explained it was incredibly irresponsible to be selling sick fish and that I had 3 other aquariums that I could have spread them to (luckily, I know all about quarantining and also use separate equipment for the quarantine tank so as to not cross-contaminate).

I hung up and called my other trusted fish store (Bob's Tropical Fish) and they immediately provided me with several treatments even though they weren't the ones to sell me the fish.

Knowing now what was actually wrong with my fish, I spent the evening literally "picking" lice off of all 3 orandas. In total, I got about 75 lice!!!!! I put them all in a container and went to the store the next day.

Jims was there and I showed him the lice and told him about my conversation with Jesse. I told him I was really upset about the whole thing, all the time (and money) I'd spent on trying to treat the first fish (for the WRONG disease) and that I hadn't been given any good advice, that Jesse had admitted he knew they had a lice problem and that I hadn't been given any "customer service" options. He tried to talk around in circles and didn't provide any additional help. After a while of insisting that something needed to be done, he said he would speak with the owner and that someone would call me with options. He took my name and phone number down and that was 5 days ago, Wednesday (March 15) and, not surprising, no one has called me back.

AVOID THIS PLACE COMPLETELY--AWFUL FISH STORE AND AWFUL...

Knowledge and helpful staff. Healthy well run fresh and saltwater tanks. A comprehensive fairly priced supplies for set up and maintenance for the bird and aquatic plants and animals. Impressive variation of stock. Truly helpful staff. Disability and handicapped friendly and helpful even with safe safety and social distancing. Compact but well laid out and maintained for variety and safety. Patient honest and knowledgeable helpful staff at fair prices with good sales based on seasonal stock. It is hard to find places that actually put the work and planning into the ability to use a wheelchair in a small space that works instead of following a rulebook and hoping it works. They have put the effort into both safe social distancing and mobility issues. Staff was cooperative in both making time for customer help and referring to others who were more experienced in less common questions. They have the stock and expertise to help the beginner to the expert for freshwater saltwater and reef planted or not without over specialization. Well suited to assist in people maintaining, adding, or changing aquatic environments. Was not looking at birds, but the lovebirds and parakeets were healthy, well treated, the staff was speaking knowledgeably about love bird health and al the necessary basics for both species different needs were easily found in that area. Honestly specialized but one of the best run pet store and supply stores I've ever seen within their area. They appear to focus on what they know well. A very strong plant expertise and variety for a variety of needs, environments, and customer experience and maintenance levels. I was also impressed at their honestly about the variety of different possibilities based on realistic expectations instead of empty promises or unrealistic guarantees that might increase one sale but wouldn't be in either the pet or the customers best interest without offering...

This location is a danger to the animals it sells. I purchased 2 african peach love birds from this location last Wednesday, and on Saturday the male bird suddenly dropped too its death. I contacted the store and was told no refunds by the same cruel individual who violently stuffed my bird's intonthe cage i purchased at the same location. The heartless carelessness i witnessed leads me to believe this location intentionally sold me a sick, or dying bird. I was told the owners would not be in store till Thursday. I intend to get to the bottom of this situation, even if legal action needs to be taken. I have filed a formal complaint with the health department, also will file a formal complaint with the California better buisness Bureau Association, and will further more have an investigation launched based upon the poor health / care of animals, and the possibility of harboring and selling band exotic animals within the United States of America. I am saddened by the death of our bird, and too think the meae refusal of a refun mentioned when a refund was not asked for is both insulating and disgusting. AVOID THIS LOCATION IF YOU LOVE ANIMAL'S THEY WILL NOT BE IN BUISNESS...