Why don't we do something about reptile products manufacturers lying?

[The Serpent Merchant]

So all the time people will blame pet store employees for spreading terrible information about reptile husbandry, especially when it comes to heat sources/temperature measurement... But I have never seen anyone talk about companies like Zoo-Med or Exo-Tera who's product packaging has the same misinformation printed on them that pet store employees spread?

For instance the Zoo-Med UTH packaging clearly states that a thermostat is not required unless the room temperature gets above 80 degrees.... which we all know is a bunch of crap, this UTH's can easily fry a snake if they are not regulated properly in a room below 80 degrees.

On the same packaging it said that you should use their stick on thermometers to monitor temperatures when using their UTH's... and once again we all know that UTH's do not change the air temperature in the cage rendering those stick on thermometers useless.

These are just 2 of countless examples that I could come up with when it comes to products that are marketed as designed for reptiles. Why don't we as the reptile community hold these companies accountable for things like this that inevitability will lead to numerous reptiles getting seriously injured, or even possibly killed.

I know that business is business and that there are far worse things happening in this world right now, but when it comes to the wellbeing of thousands of animals that are effected by these companies who claim to know what's best I can't stand by and let things like this happen.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

[AGoldReptiles]

I just don't purchase products from those company's.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I don't either, but it isn't experienced keepers that I am worried about, these companies are preying on inexperienced/new keepers that are easily convinced that they need things like Zoo-Med Repti Shedding Aid and other bogus crap... as well as potentially frying their new pet with an unregulated UTH...

Think of how many people come to this site because of misinformation like this...

[satomi325]

Personally, I don't buy their products and I agree 100% with you.
I doubt they will listen to a small group like us and change all their information. They need to hear from a larger group or bigger names for any kind of influence.

[rebelrachel13]

Yeah. I always am drawn to walk down Petsmart's reptile aisle, but usually I just end up seeing the same, overpriced, pointless items. In particular, I strongly dislike most of ZooMed's "husbandry" products. A lot of it is completely unnecessary, like the shedding aid stuff. And then some of their things can even be dangerous, like the non-regulated UTHs.

Why in the world are they still making this useless crap? Obviously because people are buying it, thinking it's well-made or necessary. So yes, I do think we need to spread some general awareness about the bad products marketed toward reptile owners.

However, what really peeves me is that these companies aren't selling their crap out of ignorance. Most of them have quite a few good products, and yet they continue selling the dumb ones. ZooMed and Exo Terra sell great-looking caves, bowls, and those neat display terrariums; however, both also sell things like: faulty dial thermometers, heat rocks, heat caves, water conditioner (lol), and giant snake hooks for "taming" your ball python. Two or three nearly identical companies seem to have a monopoly on Petco and Petsmart's reptile departments, and instead of using that to advocate and facilitate proper reptile husbandry, they use it to deceive and make a profit.

...And don't even get me started on Arctic Mice brand feeders.

[Soterios]

The world is made of compromises and half truths.

Pretty much EVERY product on the market has some 'misinformation' on the label.

It's up to the consumer to make intelligent decisions with anything they purchase.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Zoo-Med reccommends using a heat rock as a secondary heat source for snakes... Once again unregulated. I'm completely outraged by things like this.

[sleepygeckos]

The world is made of compromises and half truths.

Pretty much EVERY product on the market has some 'misinformation' on the label.

It's up to the consumer to make intelligent decisions with anything they purchase.

I have to agree - I think the OP might be a little overreacting when saying that the companies are "lying." It is really all about education... What kind of warnings are there on choke collars? None last time I checked, but they are still sold. (And make excellent keychains, BTW.)

And, at least for our geckos' needs without ZooMed and 'Zilla we wouldn't have access to what we need where we live! Not only do we have fake plants from the "big bad companies," we have a few hides, several UTHs(with no thermostats! Gasp! Because I'm a heat transfer engineer and do all the calcs and check with a heat gun) and not to forget we have a whole bottle of ReptiMist shed product... I don't understand the ire here. We know what we are doing, we hate supporting the petstores the products come from, but I've never seen anything on a package that was an out and out lie. Sure, I don't like that they have heat rocks and freeze dried crickets, but somebody is going to make them because somebody is going to buy them and that is just the way it works. Not really something to get worked up about IMHO.

Now, if my plants get some of those same chemicals they find in dog toys, I'll raise up and find an alternative... until then, next week I plan on buying two more sets of fake leaves because it is about time to replace the crested's as a sanitizing soak is just not going to be enough this time!

[WingedWolfPsion]

Well, someone certainly COULD start a petition, and go to the lengths necessary to advertise it to the pet community, in an effort to get these companies to remove their worst products from the market.

So, are you volunteering?

Just be sure the products you pick are universally reviled. (I think we can all agree heat rocks, and faulty dial thermometers, need to go away....on the other hand, I know some experienced reptile folks who swear by 'Shed-Ease' to get off stuck shed quickly, even if I think it's a waste of shelf space).

[JaGv]

the more people buy of course the more their going to sell. its true they should atleast label the proper way to use some of their products but their more to focused on selling their products. the other part of not using their products the correct way is all on the customer for not doing a little research before getting those products.

i at some point bought some of their products but since i joined this website i have learned alot more on how to care for my snakes and know to avoid such products or atleast use them the correct way.