confilicting info

Also keep in mind that a lot of pet store employees are only there because they need a job, not because they know everything about all animals. The only exception that I know of is PetCo, they actually keep a trained dog specialist at most stores. Other stores might do that too, but if so, I don't know about it.

Yep, bad info from a pet store....not a new scenario.

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Why did you make 2 threads asking the same things? :confused:

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Originally Posted by killedbyfire

i figured i posted in the wrong area.

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Problem solved, answers merged and duplicated thread deleted :gj:

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Originally Posted by killedbyfire

yea i kinda figured. anyone know why pet smart carrys snakes but dosent cary feeding mice/rats???

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I asked the same question and the answer I got was...."Because we dont have snakes that get big enough to eat them". But personaly I wouldnt buy them if they did, my supplier is quite a drive from Pet Smart so when I got my Sand Boa I went ahead and got my Pinkies there and they charge $10.99 for a box of 6 pinkies!!!! Can you imagine what a rat would cost ? :O

Back to the "not having snakes big enough"...After seeing the Ball Pythons I cant imagine them being fed only pinkies, I should of asked about that while I was there but I didnt think about it at the time.

Edit: I usualy pretend to pay attention to the pet shop people, because I know I can come here and the answers I need. Unless I am talking to my friend / Vet Tech. at Petco, I ignore them usualy...like the lady that tried to sell me a bunch of stuff I didnt need for my Crestie...like the Reptiglow 10.0 basking bulb, and other things since its a desert species..WUT ? :rolleye2:

I just don't understand why Petsmart and Petco can't get a simple, 1 page caresheet explaining the proper prey size from baby to adult, proper temp/humidity, proper heating element, hide, and tank. At least the employees could tell people that buy baby BP's a little bit of correct information.........hopefully people buy a book or do research online, but unforatunetely, I bet most don't. I was at Petco the other day and saw a bunch of pamplets on mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and various other rodents. My wife took one and was interested in the rats.......it had a lot of good information and it was free.

As far as the prey thing, most places will say they feed F/T. That is how they get around the live feeding or anything bigger then a mouse question.

I don't agree with many parts of the caresheet, but Petco does have a caresheet.

http://www.petco.com/caresheets/snak...ython_Ball.pdf


Jim Smith

I personally would not want a care sheet from Pet-co or Pet-smart. Most of them simply don't know what they are doing is wrong.

For Example: Back in my college days, I worked at Orscheln's. We had a ball python and that's when I fell in love with them. We weren't even close to having the correct husbandry. We never measured anything, kept him in a glass 10 gal with a screen top, a heat bulb, and no hides. We didn't have him for very long before someone bought him, so i never actually saw him eat.

I never looked up correct husbandry because I assumed the store managers knew what they were doing. Not to mention trying to teach a pet expert something, is near to impossible. When I tried to talk to our Pet-Co manager, she was very rude and acted like I was some kid just trying to cause trouble. Ignorant.

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Originally Posted by jfreels

Also keep in mind that a lot of pet store employees are only there because they need a job, not because they know everything about all animals. The only exception that I know of is PetCo, they actually keep a trained dog specialist at most stores. Other stores might do that too, but if so, I don't know about it.

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Unfortunately this is true. But, lucky for me, the Petsmart near me has a MATES (Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science, the same school I go to) alumnus that takes care of the reptiles. It's the only reason I really trust them.

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Originally Posted by killedbyfire

yea i kinda figured. anyone know why pet smart carrys snakes but dosent cary feeding mice/rats???

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Sometimes stores will refuse to sell mice/rats when they know they are going to be used for feeding purposes.

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I asked the same question and the answer I got was...."Because we dont have snakes that get big enough to eat them". But personaly I wouldnt buy them if they did, my supplier is quite a drive from Pet Smart so when I got my Sand Boa I went ahead and got my Pinkies there and they charge $10.99 for a box of 6 pinkies!!!! Can you imagine what a rat would cost ?

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I can't get over how many people in other PetSMART stores lie to you guys, I find it disturbing.

PetSMART doesn't sell live feeder rodents because it's just the company's policy not to. In fact if we suspect that someone is buying an animal from us other than feeder fish, worms or crickets to feed to another animal, we are required to deny the sale. However some do go to extremes...I have considered getting a Gerbil as a companion animal and I've been told they won't sell it to me since I own a lot of snakes...nevermind that all my snakes eat f/t prey. :rolleyes:

BTW, I work at a PetSMART, in case you didn't notice. ;)

Also, while I get a nice hefty discount on in-store purchases, I STILL don't buy feeders from the store...I pick 'em up at the closest monthly reptile expo. Better quality, less than half the price. :D Several of us in the store do that, actually.

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I just don't understand why Petsmart and Petco can't get a simple, 1 page caresheet explaining the proper prey size from baby to adult, proper temp/humidity, proper heating element, hide, and tank.

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We do offer a care sheet, and I'll be damned if I have EVER seen someone buy a snake who took one with them. Then again I haven't read it personally, so I can't guarantee that the information is even remotely accurate. After all...we sell Captive Hatched now, which I find just plan disturbing and sad. :P

Also bear in mind that a lot of pet stores want to sell you stuff, and they assume that any cold-blooded animal needs lights and heat rocks and stuff. I for one refuse to push those things, and often do what I can to talk people out of buying our reptiles. We have so many great products and services, but...our reptiles are overpriced and not great quality. More than a few times I've found myself in a back room with an unwanted thawed rodent, cursing at another skinny, sad little Ball who has never eaten in his life...and probably never will. :(

And some of the non-reptile-knowledgeable people were supprised when I revealed that I buy my snakes from reptutable breeders, not our store. :weirdface