Petco Balls

[I-KandyReptiles]

I'm not getting a ball from petco but I just want to hear your guys opinions about balls that come from petco

It all depends on the store.

Keep in mind that pet store employees aren't typically trained in pet care, but given a care sheet to regurge to customers.

If the employee has knowledge, and cares, it's more likely that the animals will be cared for and healthy.

[TheSnakeGeek]

i actually have two friends that work at the petco in my town. they're halfway knowledgable.. but i would still be cautious and aware of wherever i bought my pet, regardless of whether it be a mainstream pet store or a very reputable breeder. just do your research. knowledge is a beautiful thing.

[Yaaeee]

That's so unfortunate hearing everyone's responses. I work at a local PetSmart & I can honestly say we have one girl in our pet care department who dedicates her life to learning proper husbandry and care for all of our animals. Customers come in specifically requesting her for knowledge & she properly sets up our customers for lifetime care. Our petcare manager, as well as our other petcare employees, also care a great deal about the animals. The animals in our new arrival room have perfect set ups. Proper UVB, temps, humidity, & husbandry for all of our reptiles. We share information in our spare time to better assist our customers. Of course we aren't perfect, but we honestly do try! We also understand that other stores don't have the knowledge or care that we do. Unfortunately that's how big businesses are. Independent management is what makes the difference once cooperate decides on their policy's. each store is individually managed & there are good stores out there. Just my $0.02.

& FYI - not every store will let snakes die if they refuse f/t

[Alexiel03]

back when i had my first bp, which i bought from a breeder rather than the only dang petstore in my small town (Petco) i went there to get a couple rats cuz i used to buy them from there before i found out about ordering the food online. i know the manager there is pretty smart about reptiles but omg most of the employees are dumb as rocks -_- especially with snakes/reptiles. i asked one lady if a certain size rat would be too big for my bp, i showed her how big around my snake was and told her his length. and i swear she gave me the most redicuals answer ever, she said the rat is too large for him and if i feed a snake too big of a meal it could choke and that i shouldnt feed them food bigger than their head........seriously!??? i tried so hard not to laugh at her for that response and bought the rat anyway, it was the perfect size too. shes been there for years too, the least she could do is educate herself about the animals they sell....i never buy my snakes from there or any store. breeders are the way to go

[zach_24_90]

I worked at petco in college for a few months. Lets just say the reptiles had never looked better. When I got there the balls were way underfed, and pacman frogs were drying out, and a whole mess of other dumb obvious things. I actually force fed 3 of the baby balls for two months because they wouldn't eat (and shhhh yes i snuck in live feeders to try lol) I honestly didnt give a crap about petco policy because I figured nobody cares enough to look up proper care so why should I care enough to follow their rules. Not like I would h w anyways though haha but yeah I even left a protégé and have gone back a couple times to check. And on topic. Every now and then a few good snakes come through. I got a really nice Dinker female from there.

[crepers86]

That's so unfortunate hearing everyone's responses. I work at a local PetSmart & I can honestly say we have one girl in our pet care department who dedicates her life to learning proper husbandry and care for all of our animals. Customers come in specifically requesting her for knowledge & she properly sets up our customers for lifetime care. Our petcare manager, as well as our other petcare employees, also care a great deal about the animals. The animals in our new arrival room have perfect set ups. Proper UVB, temps, humidity, & husbandry for all of our reptiles. We share information in our spare time to better assist our customers. Of course we aren't perfect, but we honestly do try! We also understand that other stores don't have the knowledge or care that we do. Unfortunately that's how big businesses are. Independent management is what makes the difference once cooperate decides on their policy's. each store is individually managed & there are good stores out there. Just my $0.02.

& FYI - not every store will let snakes die if they refuse f/t

I think most of the bashing went to petco. I seen videos on youtube where petco has thrown away live animals. The main thing I don't care about petsmart is that everyone I have seen there BPs are captive hatched and not captive bred...

[CaitJaye]

Ultimately I think it comes down to whos working at what store. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like theres much training going on at every store or department. The PetsMarts around my way are pretty decent and the reptile care actually isn't that bad. I've seen so much worse at other pet stores. The one down the street from my house had crickets in the BP enclosure. She didn't know that they ate mice....so she had been trying to feed them crickets. And she wondered why they weren't eating.....to top this off the babies were covered in mites. Which of course when I tried to tell them that's why all the babies were constantly soaking she said that she didn't know what mites were and that the babies didn't get them at the pet store. Horrible pet care there if it's anything besides dogs.

[Mrl249]

Hey Mrl, clean out your inbox.

Just did sorry bout that

[MsMissy]

That's so unfortunate hearing everyone's responses. I work at a local PetSmart & I can honestly say we have one girl in our pet care department who dedicates her life to learning proper husbandry and care for all of our animals. Customers come in specifically requesting her for knowledge & she properly sets up our customers for lifetime care. Our petcare manager, as well as our other petcare employees, also care a great deal about the animals. The animals in our new arrival room have perfect set ups. Proper UVB, temps, humidity, & husbandry for all of our reptiles. We share information in our spare time to better assist our customers. Of course we aren't perfect, but we honestly do try! We also understand that other stores don't have the knowledge or care that we do. Unfortunately that's how big businesses are. Independent management is what makes the difference once cooperate decides on their policy's. each store is individually managed & there are good stores out there. Just my $0.02.

& FYI - not every store will let snakes die if they refuse f/t

Which Petsmart do you work at? I frequent the one in Palmdale <its right down the street from my shop so its an easy in and out.> and there is a girl who works there that owns Bp's and I've spent a bit of time talking to her. She knows something's but lacks a LOT concerning their care in regards to thermostats which in my opinion, is the most important thing for them. <of course short of proper prey.> I also think she enjoyed lecturing me about feeding my hatchling live prey as apposed to f/t which irritated the hell out of me.

[Diamond Serpents]

chain pet stores shouldnt be allowed to sell reptiles .. none of the people there have any idea what they are doing

This is only half true and shouldn't be stated about all chain stores.

My local Petco is awesome due to the person who use to work with the reptiles. Alex was working there for 2-3 years very knowledgable about all reptiles.

He's a hobbyist him self and I see him at all the local reptile shows. He also breeds his own RTBs and Balls he actually turned the reptile department around at this petco.

Now my petsmart on the other hand Lmfao, they ain't nothing but bumbs and tree huggers. I got into a arguement with 3 people at petsmart over a mouse. 2 employees and a manager... I was buying a mouse as a feeder then at the last second they told me that there mice wasn't for feeding but for pets. They told me I was cruel and that they have frozen mice to feed. I said he doesn't eat frozen they said to bad I said ok. So I guess I just starve my snake ha?

Went outside, my wife was waiting in the car had her go in and buy it they hassled her any how she got it. She Was walking to my car they chased her when they seen her trying to get to my car...she got in we drive off.