Pet Store Sexing Unbelievable!

[mainbutter]

I'm glad I have Twin Cities Reptiles, and it's a close drive too!

Bruce knows his stuff, has at least one of his incubators on display so you can see what projects he has going on, and is an all-around professional. I've seen him sex snakes for a number of people, and I've seen him both probe and pop everything from every day ball pythons to 7 foot carpet pythons.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Welcome to the friendliest online community for All your herping needs.

Once one of my snakes is in my house, they dont leave.
We dont even go into the snake room till everyone has showered after an expo.
I am not worried about too many things BUT mites can be a real pain............. I have been there once because of my stupidity and I will do everything I can to not have to do that all over again.

[Kaorte]

I think it is interesting that you tested the knowledge of the pet store employees this way, but I also think that data could have been received without bringing your snakes along for the ride.

I personally don't bring my snakes anywhere there are other "unknown" reptiles. I see people bring their snakes and lizards to reptile expos and I just don't want to expose mine to all of these animals that I have not personally checked out. It really just isn't worth the risk in my opinion. But there is obviously a large group of people who are willing to take this risk. I don't frown upon them though. Ultimately it is your choice what you do with your animals and where you take them. We all choose to keep our snakes different ways. Bringing your snake with you somewhere isn't "wrong" and it isn't automatically going to make your snake or your whole collection ill. What you should realize is that it could happen.

Should we not ever drive in cars since the national auto related deaths is 560 this year? No, of course not! There are risks we take everyday. Some are more dangerous than others. Bringing a snake to a pet store isn't a death sentence, but it is putting your snake in a vulnerable position that it never needs to be in. If you have a good reason to bring it somewhere, then go fot it. If it isn't really necessary then I would skip on that risk.

As an alternative, you could have went into the pet stores and asked them to sex their own snakes. Im sure those who don't know what they are doing wouldn't even bother popping or probing. A knowledgeable employee would know that you can't sex a snake by looking at it.

The results are not unbelievable. Commercial pet store employees don't know what they are talking aout 99% of the time. I've seen it first hand. I correct them on their misinformation when I can and that is really all I can do.

In the future, save your snakes the stress and let the employees use their own animals to demonstrate their proficiency.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Welcome to the friendliest online community for All your herping needs.

I guess a praise for something risky that can jeopardize someone entire collection would be better and more friendly?

Sorry but if questioning someone is unfriendly than be it.

I believe that new owners are entitle to know the risks involved with such a behavior and this is why I questioned the OP. (Nothing more nothing less)

Disclaimer: This is MY personal opinion as a snake owner and member of this forum.

[Mrl249]

I love all you guys! Ha thanks for all the feed back bad or good !

P.S. Snakes wont be leaving anywhere anymore, except to the vet!

[PitOnTheProwl]

BTW............... this thread and all the bickering is WORTHLESS without names
In your area you probably hit PetsMart, Petco, Pet Plus and may be Pet Land out on 1604? or maybe the store on Tezzel Rd that I can never remember the name of owned by Mike?

I try to spread the name of people I can trust to help others out should the need come, first is LSRS The Syndicate and then there is The friendliest online community for All your herping needs

LSRS get top line because we are local and can meet face to face

[Mrl249]

I think it is interesting that you tested the knowledge of the pet store employees this way, but I also think that data could have been received without bringing your snakes along for the ride.

I personally don't bring my snakes anywhere there are other "unknown" reptiles. I see people bring their snakes and lizards to reptile expos and I just don't want to expose mine to all of these animals that I have not personally checked out. It really just isn't worth the risk in my opinion. But there is obviously a large group of people who are willing to take this risk. I don't frown upon them though. Ultimately it is your choice what you do with your animals and where you take them. We all choose to keep our snakes different ways. Bringing your snake with you somewhere isn't "wrong" and it isn't automatically going to make your snake or your whole collection ill. What you should realize is that it could happen.

Should we not ever drive in cars since the national auto related deaths is 560 this year? No, of course not! There are risks we take everyday. Some are more dangerous than others. Bringing a snake to a pet store isn't a death sentence, but it is putting your snake in a vulnerable position that it never needs to be in. If you have a good reason to bring it somewhere, then go fot it. If it isn't really necessary then I would skip on that risk.

As an alternative, you could have went into the pet stores and asked them to sex their own snakes. Im sure those who don't know what they are doing wouldn't even bother popping or probing. A knowledgeable employee would know that you can't sex a snake by looking at it.

The results are not unbelievable. Commercial pet store employees don't know what they are talking aout 99% of the time. I've seen it first hand. I correct them on their misinformation when I can and that is really all I can do.

In the future, save your snakes the stress and let the employees use their own animals to demonstrate their proficiency.

Great read kaorte!!! Thanks

[Mrl249]

BTW............... this thread and all the bickering is WORTHLESS without names
In your area you probably hit PetsMart, Petco, Pet Plus and may be Pet Land out on 1604? or maybe the store on Tezzel Rd that I can never remember the name of owned by Mike?

I try to spread the name of people I can trust to help others out should the need come, first is LSRS The Syndicate and then there is The friendliest online community for All your herping needs

LSRS get top line because we are local and can meet face to face

I agree pit, and River city exotics (owned by mike) is the one guy that got it correct. I went to Alamo aquatics,fail.
Petsmart (fail). And I went to petco for the last one.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I agree pit, and River city exotics (owned by mike) is the one guy that got it correct. I went to Alamo aquatics,fail.
Petsmart (fail). And I went to petco for the last one.

Its all about knowing your area

[Anatopism]

petsmart and petco never know how to sex.

Just throwing this out there, and I apologize if it's been said later on in the thread, but petco and petsmart employees are not allowed to sex a snake.


Considering lots of people on this forum don't know how to sex, even when they've been told and shown how, I don't think it's shocking or even bad that somebody at a pet store is unable to sex a snake. Now I don't think they should make a guess, but how many people do we see on this forum every so often still believing that only pythons with spurs must be male? Many pet store employees can end up out of a job, if they attempt to sex a snake, particularly if they accidentally injure it in the process.