So sad...

[Kinra]

I've been debating about if I should share this or not and I've decided to share it. I was in one of the local chain stores (PetWorld Warehouse) in my area yesterday. They have a very large reptile section and my first ball python came from them before I learned better. I was there because I wanted a pair of rats and I figured it was them or PetSmart, neither of which is a favorable option. I can't help myself when I walk into a pet store, I have to look in the reptile section first. Well I did and this is what I saw in one of the tanks.



This poor thing is mostly in its grave and they have all these massive crickets in the tank that are hiding up on top of the other hide in the cage.

I couldn't take it. I stared at the poor thing for a minute before I said something to one of the employees. I thought it was dead. Surprisingly the employee listened to me and we found out it was still alive, if only just barely. He was pretty convinced it was just dehydrated, which I don't believe because its tail was pretty skinny. He even listen when I suggested mealworms over crickets for a while so it didn't need to chase them. I doubt he's actually going to give it mealworms and I doubt it recovers, but I am glad some poor unsuspecting person isn't going to end up with it as their first pet or something.

If I hadn't already learned you can't save them all and if I had the space I would have most likely taken it home with me. Now I can only hope it recovers.

[Rylmad]

That is just terrible!

[The Serpent Merchant]

I agree as much as it sucks we can't save them all. I really wish that pet stores would just take care of their animals. I can't think of any other business that has such a widespread disregard for their product. It truly is sickening.

[Jonas@Balls2TheWall]

Your right, its just sad.

[spitzu]

I agree as much as it sucks we can't save them all. I really wish that pet stores would just take care of their animals. I can't think of any other business that has such a widespread disregard for their product. It truly is sickening.

x2. I don't understand why any pet store lets employees get away with neglect like this. At the very least they should understand that simply taking care of the animals yields more profits. Not to mention all of the good word of mouth business.

[Markg6]

I was in my local store, Pet World? or something like that. ANyways I was there for a few mice. And ofcourse I have to go and look at the reptiles also, I found and extremely healthy and fat tailed leopard gecko (what a surprise). Followed by an extremely dehydrated BP...and then in the tank next to it a beautiful colored Mali Uromastyx. Which had no basking spot, poor lighting and a few crickets running around...Its eyes were clouded over, so I asked the owner to move the hide so I could check him out....it had passed...I was so furious...I looked the owner in the eye and told him he had lost any of my future business ( i had spent nearly two hundred there in the past month). And I also told him I would be writing a terrible review for his store anywhere I saw it advertised.,..it was just disgraceful how they treat their animals.

[DooLittle]

I don't know why the local pet stores can't seem to properly care for their animals. We went to ours for cat food, and like everyone else have to look at the reptile. They had several young Leo's and a couple of them looked near death. There also was a tank with 3 males in it. 2 of which who were pretty beaten up. One of them who We asked to see was the sweetest albino guy, who had dropped his tail. He has still been left in with the others and had sand stuck in his wounds. Well, we had to bring him home and save him. AS soon as we got him home he started to rub off a shed. The tank he had been in at lps according to thermometer on the wall was also 102. Anyhow, his shed is off now, and his wounds are healing. He seems much happier. But really is sad to see that stuff, and knowing they can't all be saved.

[mr.spooky]

The only thing you can do is ask if this place has a vet that looks at their animals, and try to get in contact with their vet,, or get in contact with their corp office and demand to n know why they are knowingly abusing animals.
spooky