Hello All, this is david @ citypets.
First off, I would like to thank you for all the support throughout all the years. We had met great people their and many friends @ city pets. We cannot thank you enough. I'm sure i speak for my family as well. Yes, me and Donnie are not there anymore, we have decided that my parents are not getting any younger and need time off, we have been going strong for 30 years and its time for a change. My parents are still there part-time, they are more relaxed now, so just come by and say hi to them.
Like many people out there know, owning any business it takes hard work and lots and lots of hours. For us, it was picking up fish @ 11pm or 1am or 7 am, you would never know when, opening up to clean up @ 8:30am and closing @ 8:30 pm among ordering supplies, changing water, testing water, juggling exployees, feeding fish, keeping store clean, take care of bills, ordering fish, ordering corals, delivering, ordering everything else and still try to give good service. Not just City Pets but all the other stores have their work cut out, it is a lot of work. So pls do not get mad sometimes when you see ick or dead fish etc etc. (i did not mean to direct it at you, leo, I know u dont mean it like that, i am just saying) It is quite simple to tell whoever is in charge to go take care of it. I am sure that store doesnt want that either, that is their profit that is floating or infestation that they do not want they are still running a business. . Another thing GenSkiR6, that shark does look bad, honestly it came in like that unfortunately, we dont have the luxury of picking our own fish from wholesalers, we accepted it, try to treat it and move on. Sharks are seasonal, we may order a couple when they become available, my dad like to order them because some customers have huge tanks that can accomodate them correctly and plus kids like it when they swim around, my dad like it when kids come up and look at them. Yes tank is only 75gal but its just temporary, consider it as a holding tank. Baby birds in front are in the correct environment, I was shocked at first years ago myself but its been explained that in a container like this it is kept clean, (we feed hand-feed them a couple times a day), change bedding everyday, they are under a heating pad to stay warm, they are not old enough to feed themselves or perch yet so they are kept this way for their own good until they are weaned off of the formula and are strong enough to perch then they are brought out to a cage. So please forgive us for trying to do our job our way. They are so cute and ugly at the same time, we care for the like babies... Yes its great to own business but it is more than a full time job for our family. If it was a 40 hour job, that would be great but it is not. We have juggled with it for awhile and its taking a toll on my parents. We have been fortunate enough to have built up a decently great business that we can be very proud of, thanks to many of you at Marsh among many many others.
Secondly, thank you for supporting not just City Pets but all the local fish stores. Store owners, big or small have much stress and headaches so bear with them. I do know with online and everything people order stuff but really, thank you for supporting your local pet store. Even me, I am pretty proud to have pretty great stores in H-town. I have been traveling throughout the states and have to say we have some good stores. Honestly, I have only walked in City Pets, no others in Houston but I think CP is pretty good with dry good selection and livestock and probably keep up with the best.
We run things a certain way and I guess we are just used to our own ways of doing things. Yes, thing have changed there, running a pet store is not that simple as it may seem, there are many issues that arise and we ourselves are still learning everyday. Knowledge is so important, sometimes we dont have time to catch up with whats going on in the reef world.
Thirdly, Thanh is the headmaster @ city pets now so drop by and introduce yourself please. Shes new to the business and really needs alot of help. I am sure there is lots and lots of thing you all can help her with so she can keep City Pets going smoothly and continue the City Pets tradition. If anyone have any pointers to help Thanh out please do, seriously. If you have issues with the city pets, may it be whatever, give her feedback so she can adjust and correct it. thank you.
Once again, your business is greatly appreciated throughout the years, we miss many of you. Me and Donnie still swing by occasionally as we are just being bums and taking time of to relax a little bit. I cannot leave the hobby, I recently set up three tank at my house, fyi. Hope you see you all around some time.
David