Fish Don’t Need Air And You Don’t Need Water

(I work in the fish department of a pet store. A customer walks up to me with a bag of 3 dead goldfish.)

Customer: “I’d like to return these fish.”

Me: “No problem, would you like to replace them?”

Customer: “No! This the third time I’ve bought fish from you people and they keep dying on me! I want my money back!”

Me: “I’m sorry to hear that. Is everything set up properly in your tank?”

Customer: “Of course it is! I set it up last week. I have the gravel in there and everything!”

Me: “Do you have a filter running?”

Customer: “No, they’re too expensive.”

Me: “How about an air-stone?”

Customer: “Why would I need an air-stone? Fish breathe underwater.”

Me: “Yes, ma’am, but they still require oxygen. An air-stone or filter dissolves oxygen in the water so the fish can absorb it through their gills.”

Customer: “What kind of idiot are you? Everyone knows fish don’t need oxygen! That’s why they live in the water!”

(The customer throws the bag of dead fish to the ground and storms off. She’s never come in the store again.)