Do pet stores help or hurt the snake hobby?

[Daybreaker]

I hope to own my own reptile/exotic pet store one day so I hope that when that time comes it won't hurt the the snake hobby that I'm passionate about so much. I think if a store is clean, has knowledgeable staff, takes care of their animals, and has good customer service (among so many other factors) it can actually be a positive to the hobby by getting new people into it.

[Gerardo]

Being a PetsMart employee I'm on the front lines of introducing new people to the reptile trade. In the last 4 months I've assisted nearly a dozen people into the world of ball pythons. I make sure they have everything they'll need, offer tips and advice, and write down this website for them to learn more. I also include info on our local reptile shows. I've even found some of my customers at the shows and they thank me for all my help. I know my store is going great things for the trade. If it weren't for high profile stores like mine people would never know about the joys of keeping reptiles. They would just go get their dog food from Wal-Mart and zombie on . . .

I am glad there is some people who care but for the most part there are not alot of people like you at pet stores. Ive personally never met one.

[Gerardo]

I am glad there is some people who care but for the most part there are not alot of people like you at pet stores. Ive personally never met one.

Thats absolutely true. I hope you can do that someday. CORRECT information is a HUGE factor to this hobby continuing to grow.

[TheSnakeGuy]

Thanks for the write ups. My username here is straight from the nickname I was given at work.

Customer asks a question-
"I'm not sure, let me get my snake guy to answer it for you."
Radio call to me. . . .

[Ridinandreptiles]

We have 2 good pet stores one bad one. The good ones are whities and Taylor's reptiles. Both have awesome snakes in a clean rack. BUT whities sells savannah monitors which I hate

[Andrew21]

We have 2 good pet stores one bad one. The good ones are whities and Taylor's reptiles. Both have awesome snakes in a clean rack. BUT whities sells savannah monitors which I hate

Why does it matter if they sell monitors?

I think to answer the op's question, pet stores do help the industry. Whether or not they take care of their animals, they still spread the word. Most people would not know about this type of community with out specifically searching for it on the internet, or going to a pet store. I bought my first corn from a petsmart because I didn't even know you could buy online, let alone that there was such a thing as reptile shows.

[Gerardo]

Why does it matter if they sell monitors?

I think to answer the op's question, pet stores do help the industry. Whether or not they take care of their animals, they still spread the word. Most people would not know about this type of community with out specifically searching for it on the internet, or going to a pet store. I bought my first corn from a petsmart because I didn't even know you could buy online, let alone that there was such a thing as reptile shows.

You are right about that. Alot of people meet snakes for the first fime at pet stores. I just wish employees were better prepared to educate people.

[Ridinandreptiles]

I personally do t think that any person walking into a pet store is ready to care for a sav, I mean they have them in a barely okay setup.

[Gerardo]

I got my female almost breeding size bumblebee from a reptile specialty store. Yes, I made sure she's a female.

When I picked her up she was freezing. She's finally filling out. They had her eating 2 adult mice once every two weeks. I haven't weighed her lately, but last time I did she was only about 20g away from being 1500g.


What gets me laughing is how they're selling HET CLOWNS. I don't know, but I wouldn't buy a het off of a pet store.

Thats really great. I love watching them grow

[wilomn]

I personally do t think that any person walking into a pet store is ready to care for a sav, I mean they have them in a barely okay setup.

Mighty big hat you got on there bucko, you always worn em that size?