Does my BP have IBD or the Spider Gene?? Please help!

[Danger noodles]

I’m going to bet money that the op doesn’t have a thermostat. These should be sold with the snake at most stores!

[zina10]

I’m going to bet money that the op doesn’t have a thermostat. These should be sold with the snake at most stores!

Or at the least they should tell people to get one ! But they won't, because they don't sell them.

Very unfortunate.

Would it really be so very difficult to make up a proper HUSBANDRY sheet that addresses each basic necessity for each species. Their basic needs (heat range, humidity range, enclosure size and setup incl. privacy needs when it comes to BPs) AND the items needed. Enclosure, water dish, hides, heater (UTH, lamp, or RHP) substrate if wanted and most importantly the tools needed to check and maintain the crucial heat and humidity.

Thermostat is absolutely 110% without a doubt non-negotiable.

If the stores for whatever reason just refuse to do the right thing and simply hand out a printout that is worth while and SAFE, then each manager should teach their employee to let people know what to buy.

And if its such a big deal to recommend and item that isn't being sold in the store, for gods sake, SELL IT ALREADY !!!!

If they sell live animals, living beings, then there is NO excuse not to do at least that much. Its not like it would be a big deal!!!

ugh..

[pretends2bnormal]

Or at the least they should tell people to get one ! But they won't, because they don't sell them.

Very unfortunate.

Would it really be so very difficult to make up a proper HUSBANDRY sheet that addresses each basic necessity for each species. Their basic needs (heat range, humidity range, enclosure size and setup incl. privacy needs when it comes to BPs) AND the items needed. Enclosure, water dish, hides, heater (UTH, lamp, or RHP) substrate if wanted and most importantly the tools needed to check and maintain the crucial heat and humidity.

Thermostat is absolutely 110% without a doubt non-negotiable.

If the stores for whatever reason just refuse to do the right thing and simply hand out a printout that is worth while and SAFE, then each manager should teach their employee to let people know what to buy.

And if its such a big deal to recommend and item that isn't being sold in the store, for gods sake, SELL IT ALREADY !!!!

If they sell live animals, living beings, then there is NO excuse not to do at least that much. Its not like it would be a big deal!!!

ugh..

I've been to several PetCo stores near me for dog supplies, and usually when I browse the reptile supplies, I do see the zilla dial-contrilled on-off thermostat, and even a Flukers brand dome lamp that has a built in dimmer (they sell both the one with and without dimmer).

I think I've seen the same Zilla thermostat at PetSnart, before, but not with the regularity I see it at PetCo... no clue why they can't reliably (or at all in many stores) at least carry a basic on/off model!


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[Bogertophis]

I've been to several PetCo stores near me for dog supplies, and usually when I browse the reptile supplies, I do see the zilla dial-contrilled on-off thermostat, and even a Flukers brand dome lamp that has a built in dimmer (they sell both the one with and without dimmer).

I think I've seen the same Zilla thermostat at PetSnart, before, but not with the regularity I see it at PetCo... no clue why they can't reliably (or at all in many stores) at least carry a basic on/off model!


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If I had to guess, it might be because they fear the cost of a QUALITY thermostat would turn off those who would buy snakes; instead, they allow them to get off to a
bad start with the reptiles they sell...are they hoping to sell them another snake when the first one gets sick? I wonder if our members who work in Petco & Petsmart
can shed any light on their store's philosophy? Anyone in the business of selling reptiles for this long HAS to be aware of their needs???

[Timelugia]

If I had to guess, it might be because they fear the cost of a QUALITY thermostat would turn off those who would buy snakes; instead, they allow them to get off to a
bad start with the reptiles they sell...are they hoping to sell them another snake when the first one gets sick? I wonder if our members who work in Petco & Petsmart
can shed any light on their store's philosophy? Anyone in the business of selling reptiles for this long HAS to be aware of their needs???

Having worked at petsmart...its probably A) they make more money in dog food anyway, so they don't bother. Or B) whoever is in charge of what gets sold literally doesn't know.
I mean...employees are supposed to refer to the care guide for any questions. The care guide says to get snakes a food bowl and is very clearly copy pasted from other reptile guides.

[Armiyana]

I honestly have no clue. It's a corporation, so any changes to the system are slow as molasses.
Like, the care guides we give out to customers have the right temps listed, and mention the hides and such. It's just the method to everything is so behind on the times. Like Thermometers to monitor the temp ranges. But no mention of what to do otherwise.

I'm lucky enough that most of the employees at my store will come to me for opinions or questions and I can steer them the right way. We also have a reptile specialty shop not too far away so I can point them there for a thermostat as well.

I know not every store can run the same... but mine actually has a vet who will see our animals in the same building. So we will have critters in an out when needed. Like right now I have a guinea pig with a bite wound that abscessed in treatment. So it bugs me when people just assume we kill anything that isn't sellable.

I've adopted far too many critters that were unable to be sold. My newest being a chinchilla. Adoption means 0$ paid to the store. And that was after having dropped 100$ at the vet.
2 of them were ball pythons. 1 because it would only eat live. Another for a severe burn from the breeder. Again, both having spent time at the vet as well beforehand.

I try and give my customers the best options with what I have. And hopefully, some follow through and pick up the stuff I tell them to at that reptile shop. But even with that, you'll have people picking up turtles off Craigslist and calling me a liar for telling them they need UV light and heat sources.

It's frustrating at times since you always have to deal with the constant complaints everywhere else as well. I'm sure Sunnieskies gets it a bunch as well as they work at Petco...though it bothers me that sometimes they will just bash petsmart as well. Lol. I just know we both are trying to make do with what corporate will let us get away with though.
Or sometimes do it regardless, unless corporate is in for a visit....

[bcr229]

There are thermostats on Amazon in the $20-25 range. I find it strange that Petco/PetSmart would consider that too expensive when there are bags of specialty dog food that cost twice that amount.

Selling a thermostat with a heating appliance is a stupidly easy money-making upsell for a retailer, and I'm rather shocked that the stores don't do it.

At any rate, unless/until OP returns to state 1) how she is measuring temperatures, and 2) whether or not her heat sources were regulated, we don't know if she cooked her snake due to ignorance, or if the store sold her a sick one.

[pretends2bnormal]

If I had to guess, it might be because they fear the cost of a QUALITY thermostat would turn off those who would buy snakes

Honestly, I'd be happier if they would at least stock and recommend any of the less pricey on-off thermostats, like the Jumpstart. It would be an improvement over the nothing that most of the snakes they sell end up with. In my book, a potential failed thermostat/burned snake up to several years down the line is far better than one that is being burned or that is a matter of days/weeks before it winds up burned by new owners with no thermostat at all.

If a $35 thermostat is enough cost to put someone off buying a snake, that's probably a good thing... I would bet that those are often the ones more likely to feed less often or not at all due to a tight budget, who may decide to stop replacing substrate, skip taking a sick snake to a vet or ignore snake mites on their animal, etc.

It would be amazing if everyone could get started with something like a Herpstat, but that's just not likely to happen.

Anyone who works at the pet stores, do you know what or if there is a specific portion of corporate we could try addressing to request new products be carried?

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[Bogertophis]

And hey, we could start an online petition, once we find out who to address...though someone would probably have to also put it on FB. I've seen such things
get results, especially when there's a LOT of signatures.

[Armiyana]

The customer service line is probably the best bet? I honestly wouldn't know that well. Regardless it's a trial to get things approved. There was an aquatic company nearby trying to make a deal with petsmart and that didn't go through. AquaTop. Great products, just Petsmart didn't bite.

It would have to be the Zoomed thermostat however for petsmart as that is the company that they are working with. I actually have been running one and it handled the first power outage with it very well.

I wish it was as simple as, "A customer recommended this!"