just rescued this guy from one of those chain stores

as i'm sure most of you are well aware, reptiles do not usually receive adequate care in the chain stores

this guy has some stuck shed that will be a relatively easy fix

he appears to be a healthy weight, plus mite free

still quarantined though

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/...psq4cf8cai.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/...psyxsp6cqi.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/...pscnqm1gkw.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/...psrkoeq9hd.jpg

Really like his pattern, especially the last big saddle in the group of saddles in his middle. What are you planning on plugging him into?

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Originally Posted by Slowcountry Balls

Really like his pattern, especially the last big saddle in the group of saddles in his middle. What are you planning on plugging him into?

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no plans at the moment. having a visual recessive gene male never hurts though. 100% het offspring are never difficult to sell.

He's beautiful!
Glad to learn he has a good home.

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Originally Posted by se7en

as i'm sure most of you are well aware, reptiles do not usually receive adequate care in the chain stores

this guy has some stuck shed that will be a relatively easy fix

he appears to be a healthy weight, plus mite free

still quarantined though

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/...psq4cf8cai.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/...psyxsp6cqi.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/...pscnqm1gkw.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/...psrkoeq9hd.jpg

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So how is this a RESCUE from a store??? Looks very healthy even your description says it is :confuzd:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

So how is this a RESCUE from a store??? Looks very healthy even your description says it is :confuzd:

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being in one of those stores, the odds were not in his favor

I've never quite really understood the "rescue from a chain store" mentality. By purchasing, you're only supporting the store and within days there's another new snake to fill the enclosure?

It's the equivalent of purchasing a puppy from a petstore that purchases from puppy mills. Why not rescue from the shelter or other non-profit rescue organizations...just my opinion though. Congrats on your new purchase- he looks quite healthy!

Did you pay for him?

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Originally Posted by tacticalveterinarian

I've never quite really understood the "rescue from a chain store" mentality. By purchasing, you're only supporting the store and within days there's another new snake to fill the enclosure?

It's the equivalent of purchasing a puppy from a petstore that purchases from puppy mills. Why not rescue from the shelter or other non-profit rescue organizations...just my opinion though. Congrats on your new purchase- he looks quite healthy!

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Agreed. I feel as if this snake was purchased more for breeding or self interest, not a rescue...

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Originally Posted by se7en

being in one of those stores, the odds were not in his favor

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You bought a healthy, plump animal, I don't call that a rescue, and the rest is generalization.

I call that a nice purchase.

Nice purchase. :gj::gj:

I purchased two animals from chain stores in 2014 but it was for the beauty i saw in the one from Petco . The other was because of the 1/2 price off sale from Petsmart. Both were before i learned all the information i have now on the "chains". Thank goodness both my purchases turned out to be healthy animals that i still have today. I would never patronize them again for any live animals. I think se7en was thinking "rescue" bc he knows that the animal was headed for disaster remaining in the "chain stores" care or lack thereof. :(

Seems like some of the big box stores have been catching on to the bad rap they have been getting on their reptiles and husbandry. Actually saw I nice fat blood Python while I was picking up cat food the other day.
Nice pied purchase [emoji108]


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Nice Pied there Se7en. :)

Nice Pied, the stuck shed is an easy fix.

I think the word rescue gets over used, you go in and pay for a product. Congrats on your Purchase

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

I think se7en was thinking "rescue" bc he knows that the animal was headed for disaster remaining in the "chain stores" care or lack thereof. :(

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^^this

The negative stigma big box stores get within this hobby is ridiculous. It is no different than the stigma we, as snake hobbyists, get from the general public based off of man-eating python t.v. shows. Those are the extreme exceptions - not the rules. The number of healthy, well cared for, snakes purchased (not rescued) from big box stores finding good homes every day far outweighs the few we see popping up now and again in rough shape. There are so many caring people working in these stores doing great things with the animals there (not to mention them doing a saint's work dealing with the general public in a retail store). Big box pet stores turn so many more people on to this hobby than any one of us could ever imagine, and largely do a fine job doing so. THAT'S A GOOD THING!

It's this kind of "in-fighting" that makes us, as snake hobbyists, easy targets for the activist groups. If we can't even support each other, and the good we are all doing for the hobby, why should we expect the rest of the voting public to do so?

We all have our place here, large or small, and there's more than enough room for everyone. Heck - there's an empty chair next to me. Come on by and we can share stories about all of the friends we've made because of a silly little snake addiction. No negativity allowed. Maybe we'll even get to chatting about the snakes themselves. Maybe... :)

EDIT: OH YEAH! Nice new addition! :D

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

The negative stigma big box stores get within this hobby is ridiculous. D

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While I agree with a lot of your points of them turning on people to the hobby. A lot of the criticism is warranted. Just I alone have seen countless times those stores having people with little to no knowledge of the animals they are selling giving dead wrong advice to people buying a reptile. That and selling animals that are covered in mites, dehydrated, covered in stuck shed, you name it. On top of that selling a $25 normal bp for $200 is insanity. But like I said before from what I have seen as of late is the quality of animals and husbandry improve at my local big box store. So hopefully the stigma they have gotten as finally reached the higher ups and they are working towards change.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rob

On top of that selling a $25 normal bp for $200 is insanity.

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Overhead dictates a lot of cost. Many people don't know or forget what is costs just to open the doors.

Thanks, Rob! I agree that some of the criticism is warranted. Much of the rest is because they are easy targets for bandwagon "down with the man" types.

I'm sure the higher-ups are, and have been, well aware of the stigma. How could they not be? As in any business, you are only as good as your employees. It's the education and buy-in of how many thousands of part-time types where the opportunity is - especially when it involves reptiles that they may or may not be thrilled to learn about. Let's face it - we aren't talking about cute and cuddly here. :) Not every employee can be expected to know the ins and outs of dog, cat, fish, small animal, bird, reptile, and amphibian care for every customer that comes in the door. Basics? Sure. Details? No. The flat out wrong information is most likely the employee going rogue because they are too embarrassed to ask or look for help. They feel like they are expected to know all of the answers because they are wearing the company shirt. When they don't, they refer back to what they think is tribal knowledge. Is that OK? No. Is it reality? Yes. If that kind of incorrect spew was coming from corporate, the companies would be in a lot worse off shape.

As far as pricing goes, the $25 vs $200 example is extreme, but I see what you're going for. Truth is, though, comparing retail vs hobbyist prices is like comparing apples and toasters. I would argue that it costs most hobbyists more to produce that lower priced animal than the price they get from selling it. Probably quite a bit more if they actually took the time to factor in all they have spent doing so. Unfortunately, most hobbyists have no clue what it costs them to make their animals. After all of that, whose pricing ends up sounding more crazy - hobbyist breeder or profitable retailer? We can't both complain about the state of the hobby and in the same breath complain about high retail prices.

Sorry, se7en, for hijacking your post. If you'd like, I can split this off and we can continue elsewhere. :)

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

I would argue that it costs most hobbyists more to produce that lower priced animal than the price they get from selling it. Probably quite a bit more if they actually took the time to factor in all they have spent doing so. Unfortunately, most hobbyists have no clue what it costs them to make their animals. After all of that, whose pricing ends up sounding more crazy - hobbyist breeder or profitable retailer? We can't both complain about the state of the hobby and in the same breath complain about high retail prices.

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JUST my electric bill is about $100 to $150 higher per month for the rodents and reptiles. This doesn't include anything but heat and A/C. :rofl::rofl:

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Sorry, se7en, for hijacking your post. If you'd like, I can split this off and we can continue elsewhere. :)

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no worries. at the end of the day, i care about the animals.

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Originally Posted by se7en

no worries. at the end of the day, i care about the animals.

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Amen to that. :colbert2:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Overhead dictates a lot of cost. Many people don't know or forget what is costs just to open the doors.

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Retail is expensive, especially brick and mortar retail. Typical retail markup is 100% - in other words, the store sells the item for twice what they paid for it (or the distributor gives their retailers a 50%discount off the retail price, which is the same thing). But they aren't out to rip you off - most retail store owners are not rolling in it. And that is for inanimate products that don't need to be fed, cleaned, watered, quarantined, etc.
Maintaining a store that people can walk into and buy things requires paying for square footage in an area where people go to shop, and employees, and a good selection of stock, etc. Paying $100 for a normal that's healthy and well cared for, from a store that takes good care of their animals isn't so ridiculous even if you could get one for $20 from a breeder; you aren't paying the extra $80 for the snake per se. You're paying the extra for the convenience of being able to walk in off the street and buy the snake in person on the spot; and pick up your bedding and feeders and other stuff in the same place, and the instant gratification of having your purchases in hand right away.

If that's not worth the premium price to you, don't shop at a pet store. But don't expect the convenience/service of a brick and mortar store for the price of someplace with minimal overhead.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Coluber42

Retail is expensive, especially brick and mortar retail. Typical retail markup is 100% - in other words, the store sells the item for twice what they paid for it (or the distributor gives their retailers a 50%discount off the retail price, which is the same thing). But they aren't out to rip you off - most retail store owners are not rolling in it. And that is for inanimate products that don't need to be fed, cleaned, watered, quarantined, etc.
Maintaining a store that people can walk into and buy things requires paying for square footage in an area where people go to shop, and employees, and a good selection of stock, etc. Paying $100 for a normal that's healthy and well cared for, from a store that takes good care of their animals isn't so ridiculous even if you could get one for $20 from a breeder; you aren't paying the extra $80 for the snake per se. You're paying the extra for the convenience of being able to walk in off the street and buy the snake in person on the spot; and pick up your bedding and feeders and other stuff in the same place, and the instant gratification of having your purchases in hand right away.

If that's not worth the premium price to you, don't shop at a pet store. But don't expect the convenience/service of a brick and mortar store for the price of someplace with minimal overhead.

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that's all stuff i have to take into consider, as i was kicking around the idea of opening my own pet store someday. might just run the business out of my home, which would save on said overhead costs, but limit the number of animals i could manage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by se7en

that's all stuff i have to take into consider, as i was kicking around the idea of opening my own pet store someday. might just run the business out of my home, which would save on said overhead costs, but limit the number of animals i could manage.

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Don't forget local code enforcement and all the other red tape you will have to jump through. LoL

He seems quite healthy and plump so I doubt this would've ever turned into a horror story, but nice pickup. Thing is, he has been eating and eating well by the looks of it so the chain stores method of give them a frozen thawed rat once a week would have likely been just fine until someone like yourself picked him up.

The problem is when a snake isn't well started or can't handle the stress of the new environment, its never malicious with the intent to make the animal suffer, the employees simply lack the knowledge, initiative and time to try and get a picky feeder to start eating. Then one of us more knowledgeable owners comes in and sees them and off goes another tirade which everyone joins in on.
I've yet to see a malnourished sickly snake in a chain store near me, albeit I don't visit them often, but from the way I see it, its an uncommon situation when a snake doesn't adjust well and then we make it a big story. Exactly like people picking out the snake stories from a bad keeper to show the world how no one should keep these dangerous snakes.
Instead of coming on the internet to complain about it why not put together a proper care pamphlet, take it in and calmly explain why what they're doing is incorrect and how they can correct it. A simple, helpful explanation of why the care is inadequate will do tenfold more than screaming judgmental accusations of how they're torturing animals.
Anyways, sorry for going off-topic, its a beautiful snake and I'm sure they'll have a great life with you :gj:

Nice purchase, its a beautiful animal.

But most definately not what should be considered a rescue. That animal appears healthy, just has stuck shed, which likely was nothing more thn a humidity issue in its prior placment.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Don't forget local code enforcement and all the other red tape you will have to jump through. LoL

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:taz::(:rage:

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Originally Posted by se7en

:taz::(:rage:

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:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: I'm there now. :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

The negative stigma big box stores get within this hobby is ridiculous. It is no different than the stigma we, as snake hobbyists, get from the general public based off of man-eating python t.v. shows. Those are the extreme exceptions - not the rules. The number of healthy, well cared for, snakes purchased (not rescued) from big box stores finding good homes every day far outweighs the few we see popping up now and again in rough shape. There are so many caring people working in these stores doing great things with the animals there (not to mention them doing a saint's work dealing with the general public in a retail store). Big box pet stores turn so many more people on to this hobby than any one of us could ever imagine, and largely do a fine job doing so. THAT'S A GOOD THING!

It's this kind of "in-fighting" that makes us, as snake hobbyists, easy targets for the activist groups. If we can't even support each other, and the good we are all doing for the hobby, why should we expect the rest of the voting public to do so?

We all have our place here, large or small, and there's more than enough room for everyone. Heck - there's an empty chair next to me. Come on by and we can share stories about all of the friends we've made because of a silly little snake addiction. No negativity allowed. Maybe we'll even get to chatting about the snakes themselves. Maybe... :)

EDIT: OH YEAH! Nice new addition! :D

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Couldnt agree more. I, myself am a MANAGER at a big box store. I love my job, and we take excellent care of our reptiles. Its amazing how many customers I talk with about reptiles dont even know reptile shows or breeders exist. Pet stores are all they know! Hell, when I first started in the hobby some 18 years ago, I didnt know they existed either! It was because of a young lady at a yes - BIG BOX PET STORE who told me about them. Not all individual stores are great, with knowledgeable people that actually know what theyre talking about and have a true passion for the anomals....but there are many out there that are. I think what it boils down to is not the company itself or the store itself, but great people who work within it who have a true passion for the animals, and not just a bunch of kids who can barely bag up some crickets, know nothing, dont care and just basically working for ipod money.

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I also 110% agree that the term "RESCUE" is used too loosely these days.... like with what everybody else said. I find myself referring people to a Websters quite often lol...

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