pet stores

I've noticed some really crappy pet stores that don't take very good care of their balls. One of the Petcos i went to actually had cedar in the tank. I mentioned something to the owner, but i'm not so sure if they changed it. Yesterday though, i was at a different pet store and they had some type of "vitamin" crickets in with the snakes. Do balls eat crickets?? They were alive and bouncin around and the snake didnt even notice it. I've never heard of snakes eating crickets before....

:shock: dude. snakes do not eat crickets. what kind of pet store was this exactly? i would imagine that having crickets in the cage would stress a ball to death.

Might have just crawled in from another herp's cage. Those little things can get into anywhere...

alot of pet stores suck, i was kinda volunteering at one but not really, i went in once and helped him feed and that was it, i dont really like the way things are done there so im kinda glad he doesnt call to ask for help, i just go in , get my mice,pay and leave now.

Grass snakes eat crickets! And some species of asp snd stiletto snakes, I think ...

Not pythons, though.

As for the cedar - thas' not good. If the problem isn't fixed, I'd call the SPCA in your area (if there is one). They're usually pretty good about fixing that sort of thing up.

Yes, most pet stores suck. Sad but true...

Some are good .. most arent tho. I've found that most of the national chain stores are pretty bad, and the local ones you find are usually pretty good.

Most pet stores are out to make the almighty dollar, and don't care about giving proper care to the animals they sell. Usually with cheaper herps and rodents, the initial cost of the animal is dirt cheap, but the stores make their killing when you pay hundreds of dollars for the tank or setup for the animal and continue to support them by buying food from them weekly.
There are good stores out there, and the local ones I have found, I support wholeheartedly. But I'd rather order rats and mice online, if I had to, than step foot in one of those bad pet shops.