Ugh...PetCo

[Moonshae]

I went to PetCo today to get some bird seed, and decided to check out their reptile setup, for kicks, particularly after hearing how people talk about how the box stores don't house their snakes properly.

First I noticed the red tailed boa they had. Small, and it was lounging half in and half out of its water dish. It struck me as odd, but I don't read the boa sub-forum here, so I didn't know if that was off or not. Good looking snake, though, I thought.

Then I looked at the BP tank. Sad...actually worse than I expected, despite what I read here. Four young snakes all in one tank (I have no idea how to assess how old they were, but they were quite small). Substrate of coconut fiber, soaking wet. One hide, which was a half log. None of the snakes were in it...there was one draped across the branch that was in there, and the other three were kinda tangled together. I assumed they were all grouped in the warm area. The glass was dripping with water, and only a stick-on analog thermometer was in the tank (reading 85...but that doesn't mean anything, necessarily). I didn't know how to assess the snakes' health, but I looked for a while at their eyes, noses, and mouths, looking for mites or a RI, but didn't see anything like that. The tank size itself seemed awfully large from what I've read here, but maybe the space wasn't such an issue, being shared among 4 snakes (if that makes a difference). I don't have any experience, so I couldn't tell if they were too skinny or not, but it sure struck me that they were having trouble being warm, if they preferred to lay out in the open rather than in the (substandard) hide.

Now, I don't have a snake (yet), but it didn't take much reading here to be able to see how much they were doing wrong. The BPs weren't roaming or anything, but I had to wonder how well they were feeding and all. If I actually had some personal experience, and not just knowledge from reading this forum, I might have questioned someone about their care, but without any real credibility, I was hesitant to do so. Besides, any regular employee wouldn't likely know anything, and what would my input mean to them, about housing them individually and meeting the other husbandry needs? I assume that their hope is to move them quickly enough that their husbandry doesn't make a difference...but with feeding being so tricky, I can't imagine how they could tell if one snake was feeding regularly and another wasn't...if they can't house them correctly, I doubt they could identify the snakes as individuals.

Sad. It made me want to buy them all just to get them out, but I'm not in a position to bring a single snake home, let alone 4 or 5...not to mention the correct housing I would need to purchase. Besides...buying them out would only encourage them to stock more...

It does make me feel good to know that I know enough to see what they were doing wrong and know how to rectify the situation...not to say that makes me an expert or anything like it, but the basic needs are pretty easy to understand, and this wasn't even close to an attempt to meet them. A lot of people here looking for advice may be doing things wrong, but not this completely.

I am very much looking forward to a snake of my own, eventually...I just need the space first.

[luna13]

i know what you mean about petco and there reptiles...i went there about a week ago and in a ten gallon they had about 7 BPs and they were all rather skinny and all of them had a bad shed, pieces of skin were hanging off from the shed...ugh its disgusting

[Hock3ymonk3y]

Even though petsmart is a little better than petco they are usually all bad Once in PetCo, I saw mites all over the place in a tank with at least 10 BPs with stuck sheds. To add to that, a terrrible smell was being emitted from the cage. (I hope one of them didnt die!) It is very depressing

[4theSNAKElady]

I hear what you are saying moonshae, but that does not mean ALL Petcos are BAD.I have been in some pretty bad ones,but I actually used to work for a Petco, as a specialist when I lived in DE... for 7 years! I certainly do know how to take care of snakes, and the guy there weas absolutely wonderful. he had BPs of his own, as well as other reptiles. I know it only takes one bad trip to any Petco to spoil it for a person, as far as reputation goes. But, i would be a little hurt if you came into my store and told me I don't know how to take care of snakes!! I knew the snakes were all fed and well taken care of to the best of what Petco provided us to care for them with.

[Prophet]

The petco out here in my area is a good one, the girl who runs the reptiles and fish area ive known for 5 years before she started working at it. She had about 30-35 snakes when i worked with her now im sure she has more, shes very knowledgeable.

[Patricia]

But, i would be a little hurt if you came into my store and told me I don't know how to take care of snakes!!

Rather than feel hurt, feel glad instead that someone not only noticed bad conditions but had the guts to bring it to the store's attention.

[k2l3d4]

The Petco that i live near by is not one of the best... there is normally 4-5 BPs in a single 10 gallon tank, and the last time i was in there to pick up mice for my two BPs I noticed shed left on the head of one of the snakes,,,,, well that Petco knows that I will say something and i did. I let the girl know that there was stuck shed left on one of the snakes and that it needed to be removed.... now I can not complain too much since I have gotten my three garters and my male normal BP from there, .... and there has been minmal issues... mainly that all of the snakes that I have gotten from that store love the fact that they get regular full meals here at my home and have grown by leaps and bounds living with me... that and they all seem to have shedding problems when I first get them.... my boyfriend has said that I should not be allowed to go in to that store since I always see a snake that I feel needs rescued..... hmm maybe that is how i have ended up with five snakes....

[Swingline0.0.1]

I went to Petland earlier this year, and they had at least 10 baby balls in one setup, no hides at all. I pointed out that one of the balls looked really sick, and was on the bottom of the pile, and they took him in the back. I asked what they were doing for him, and they said they threw him in the trash, cause he was going to die anyways! I will never go back there again. It was horrible!

[Patricia]

they said they threw him in the trash, cause he was going to die anyways!

[omnibus2]

Wow, the petco near me isn't that bad, thank god. But they aren't that good either. Most of the herps look pretty healthy.

But they sell normal bp's for 80 bucks, lol.