Another Trip to Petland

The most horrible thing happend on Saturday, I went to Petland (To play with ferret and Chinchillas, I wasn't buying nothing :zerb: ) And saw a Gold tegu in a 20 gal. This guy was a bit longer than the tank, but at least they had substrate for him to burrow in. Anyways, this small boy (8-10 years) came running up to the tank, dragging his mom screaming 'I want that one!' And she asks him how big it gets, and he responds with 'It doesn't get bigger, can I get it?' Well I turn around and tell her Tegus are a big responsibility, and her young child would probably not be able to take of it, then she gave me this odd look. I then explained to her that whatever pet her son wants she should do research on it first. Instead they went over and bought a baby Sulcatta(sp?) Tortoise. What can I say, I tried. :sigh2:

As poor a choice a gold tegu would have been, a sulcata is 10x worse.. people don't use their brains.

I wonder what that mom will think when she find out that tortoise will live over 100 years, weigh over 100lbs and will eat and poop like a horse?

I think the question should be, why are Petco and Petland (and any other chain store) allowed to sell these animals? At least at a quality reptile store, they (hopefully) would have been given that important information.

I can totally understand the sentiment. And yeah...you tried. But do keep in mind how it might have looked from the woman's point of view. Say you're looking at some plants at a nursery and considering buying something. You ask someone who works there a question about a particular plant...and because this person works there, you are going to assume they know at least a little bit about the plants they are selling. Then out of the blue, without being asked for their opinion, a total stranger walks up to you and says "That bush is really hard to take care of and I don't think you know what you're in for. You really should do your homework before trying to buy anything here." You don't think you'd be at least a little put off? It's not like that person comes to you with a glowing sign above their head saying "I have years of experience and education taking care of these bushes and therefore I know what I'm talking about." And even if they did, the average person will never get past the fact that a total stranger offered them unasked for advice, no matter how good it was.


Anyhow....this isn't directed specifically at you, just for everyone who doesn't understand why their well-meaning advice is not gratefully recieved by folks browsing a petstore.

Just the other day, I was in my local store where I get my feeders, and a girl came in asking about a boa she has that isn't eating. I tried to offer a suggestion and even gave her the addy for our forums here...but both her and the petshop guy looked at me like I was nuts for daring to think I knew what I was talking about. (And he even knows me 'cause I'm in there every week like clockwork buying feeders.)

I'm not saying to not keep trying. I've heard stories of grateful people who avoid the impulse buy because one of us was there to help guide them. Just don't be offended or surprised when that offer is totally rebuffed.

Yipes....here's the soapbox back if anyone is looking for it! :oops:
:soapbx:

I totally understand that..I was at the petshop when i first got Junior (i wanted to see how big she would get..) and there was this young girl begging her dad to buy her a Burmese. He did it, and the shop owner said nothing.

However, when Max bought Monty, the shop we went to had a full grown burm. Whenever someone wanted babies, the shop owner would point to the full grown and say "Can you handle that?"

I guess it just depends on what the shop-keeper is running his business for. If they are just trying to make money, they will sell anything. If they love their job, they will make sure all their animals are taken care of.

The Arizona Reptile Center (where Max bought Monty) looks very dumpy from the outside (it is in a slightly bad part of town) but inside is very, VERY clean. All the cages are clean, the animals are n appropriate cages, and the husbandry is wonderful. However, The Gilbert reptile store that I went to was dirty on the outside, and dirty on the inside. They were also selling poisonous snakes (i think it was an asian vine snake or something)

People make me sad...

The pet store I frequent is the Petco in Jackson, TN. For a large chain store, the herps are kept in pretty good conditions. Of course, it helps when one of the store managers is a herper too. :D