It was a silver arrowana, and no, there is no exchange policy - it's not like a defective TV. I've been going to the store for years because they specialize in hard-to-find, mid-to-high-end fish. They are very reputable, but due to the nature of their stock, they have a very-strictly-enforced 'no return/refund/exchange' policy due to all the dumbasses who buy one of their fish, thinking that since they have an oscar they know what they're doing
and have no clue how to care for it. I assure you, I've been keeping fish for a long time and don't fall into that category. Could have been a bad specimen, or had a bad feeder while at the store, I'm not sure.
Losing the kind of fish I have is part of the game due to their natures, but when it's a useless passing like this was (as opposed to a territory dispute or one fish exerting his Alpha place among the others) it really just sucks ass hardcore.
I had to mercy kill it to make it's death quick. To me, that's like how most people feel about watching their family dog put to sleep.