[cheeks69]

IME it's very difficult to sort out good advice from bad if you don't know anything. When I first started I was told by someone who has been working at an LFS for years and has his own tank that Mandarins eat flake food, so not knowing anything I bought the fish and he died in the first month or two, went back to the store and bought another one and unfortunately the list goes on and on especially for the first year.

My advice is if your new to the hobby buy some good books ! Also do some research on your own, the internet has some great online magazines that are very informative. If your better informed when you do go to the LFS you'll be able to easily distinguish from good/bad advice.