another pet store story

[robeyeshua]

Pet Supercenter - I believe it was called - At any rate, I dropped in today after leaving Petsmart where I 4 month old King Charles Cavalier puppy is receiving puppy training to try and find some small feeders for my 2011 het albino gal that had refused f/t for her 3rd straight week - she was extremely hungry I could tell and was beginning to look thin - slipped back to glance at the reptiles - you know how it is - lol - and lo and behold, no baby balls but 2 adult balls - one very normal and one very beautiful pastel of sorts priced at $ 79.99 - I inquired with a store worker who was feeding fish if I could see it and he pulled out the tub and I took it out - it was fantastic. Now, I had absolutely no need for it and I know what most posters say "that if I buy it it will only cause them to buy more" but $ 80 ??? - As I took it out, he chose then to tell me that it had just ate last night, so right away I knew he was clueless . I alreadyhad it out by then so I checked it out for just a minute - it took a swing at me and then he said " oh, yeah, we just got those in on Thursday - kills me - 2 adults housed together supposedly bought from Florida?? - I'm thinking shipping $50 - price $80 - what can he be making - Anyways, I did what I thought and left it - What to do???

[MidSouthMorphs]

You sure it's a Pastel? An adult Pastel for $80 is cheap. Are you sure it wasn't a nice looking normal?

[robeyeshua]

he didn't know what he had and i ain't sure either - i know it was a beautiful very light snake - i'm certainly learning at best but it looked like a pastel to me - i'm gonna leave it at any rate - i don't think its good practice when these retailers try and dabble around in ignorance, especially with adults

[MidSouthMorphs]

A couple years back, I was in Petco getting dog food and made my routine stop to check on the overall health of the reptiles. And one BP they had looked to be an Enchi, I didn't buy it of coarse.

Speaking of Petco, I was in there yesterday for the same reason. And stopped by the reptiles and talk about Petco keeping their reputation with me. Seen 2 super skinny BP and a dead baby Chameleon. I almost went off on them, it just kills me to see that.

[crepers86]

I got my first baby from petsmart in ****inson, TX. I have no problem going back into that store because a lot of the girls that work in there are owners and them selves of the reptiles they sell. On girl inperticuler that sold me my baby ball was actually a breeder, and was really able to give me a lot of correct information.

across the street was a petco, all their balls look sick stuck on shed and aggressive, under waight, dirty tank. I talked to the manager there one time about even a part time job just to come in and care for there herps. He said no I got plenty of works that do the job... and when you talk to them they don't know crap. They sold a ball to a friend of mine, told him it was a boa, and told him to feed it a pinkie mouse once a month. Actually sold them two, one died. they had there snake longer then I had mine. I went over for the first time to see it and it was like looking at a rotting carcus of a snake. I had told him then what to do. went back two months later still the same. I took him some of my supplyies explained to him about the heat and humidity and a weekly feeding of bigger food. I had my big ball with me and he asked me "what I have is a boa though right" I laughed and told him that his looked like mine what do you think. Well the guy at the pet store told me it was a boa, I also pointed out that the guy at the pet store told him that he needed a heat lamp and should use a heat rock over uth... I set up his tank properly, took him some pinkie rats and that ball is looking much better today

[meowmeowkazoo]

A few months ago I sent a letter to Petco because they had a baby ball that was literally dying against the glass in one of the cages. It made me so upset.

[MidSouthMorphs]

I won't buy from any pet stores, only thing I ever buy there is dog food and dog toys. Both Petco and PetSmart have misinformed workers, I go in there sometimes and ask questions about some snakes like I don't know. It is sad their lack of knowledge and these poeple are the ones taking care of them. Honestly I would stay away from pet stores and buy from breeders, they care about the snakes and can answer any questions you may have.

[Bill T]

I went into a petco in duluth MN and it was horrible. They actually had them labled right tho. I was just looking for a normal female at the time and they wouldnt sex any of them. Normals for 100$. the cage was disgusting and they were super skinny. It is sad these people are allowed to do this but what can ya do.

[Jessica Loesch]

The petco here is actually really great thankfully. Petsmart is medium. No mom and pop stores. Got my normal from petco and nothing else. I still order most everything on line.

[Anatopism]

robeyeshua - If you want to support that particular store, or chain, and feel the animal is worth having, go for it. If they take horrible care of their animals, have poor practices, and are more interested in the profit than the care of living creatures... do what you can to make it better for the animals, or simply don't support them by buying an animal.

The petco here is actually really great thankfully. Petsmart is medium. No mom and pop stores. Got my normal from petco and nothing else. I still order most everything on line.

Which Petco? I used to work at the one on 48th & O st, and I'd raise hell if they had any complaints like the other ones listed. I currently work at a Petco in Washington, and I guarantee our animals are taken care of to the best of our ability. There are certain things we as store employees can't do much about (but I'm currently trying to fix through talking to higher management for the district and region), such as too many animals per habitat. People wonder why the green anoles don't do very well.. probably because the company wants an animal minimum of 15 per 5 gallons. I'm not sure how many people I've directed to these forums, or how many times I've possibly saved an animal's life, for the sole reason that I do work in a well known pet store, and the people who come in most frequently are also those who might not know the right questions to ask.

My point I guess, is each store/employee is a case by case basis, and there are individuals who work in large chain pet stores who do have a wealth of knowledge. I don't support the idea of mass production of lower quality animals, and don't expect anybody to actually support something like Petco/Petsmart, but I do value being able to afford food and a place to live, and I do value the opportunity I have to teach something new to a person who might otherwise not have encountered the right answers. Not everybody who works at a pet store (large chain or small scale) falls into the generalized category of the ignorant masses.