Pet Store Feeders and Pet policy...yet another spinoff

[Eric Alan]

I don't know how many people actually keep mice as pets. Besides being really small, flighty, and smelling AWFUL; there are many other small mammals that make better pet animals like hamsters or gerbils.

If not for the fact that our pets eat each other, I would think rat and mice keepers would get along well with each other if only because both groups are very familiar with the "cringe" when you tell people what kinds of pets you have.

I think you just answered your own question. Especially being involved with this hobby, I'm not about to judge another group of people for their choice of pet.

[Running Elk]

I don't know how many people actually keep mice as pets. Besides being really small, flighty, and smelling AWFUL; there are many other small mammals that make better pet animals like hamsters or gerbils. Rats I can see being better pets, if for no other reason than they're sturdier and easier to find should they get out, but there are still a good many alternatives. Rats and mice are cheaper of course, but I think it can safely be said that the reasons behind that are the abundance of them in the trade (mostly due to the need for feeders) and the relatively low pet demand for them.

If not for the fact that our pets eat each other, I would think rat and mice keepers would get along well with each other if only because both groups are very familiar with the "cringe" when you tell people what kinds of pets you have.

I keep several species of mice as pets. Domestic (larger and longer show bodied mice, different from "fancy" pet store mice, not available in pet stores), spiny, ASF, and deer mice. In the case of domestic mice, I highly disagree; hamsters are bitey, and gerbils are too jumpy to really enjoy handling. Mice are smarter, and colonize well. They have probably the largest genetic variation of any of those rodents (think morphs), which is fascinating to work with. Their largest downfall is thier link with cancer. Rats have the same problem.

Rats are great rodent pets, besides the health concerns. Very smart.

Also, snake people would never get along with rat and mouse keepers. Rat and mouse keepers rarely get along with rat and mouse keepers. I know a lot of amazing rat and mouse people, but it's a largely unfriendly community in my experience, with intense politics (LOLitics), castes, cliques, shunning, and bullying. A lot of "don't give any mice to so-and-so because I don't like her, and if you give your mice to her you're banned from the shows and off of the forums and you'll be shunned". Current drama with the mouse people in the east coast involves on of the "top" people making a fake FB profile in order to spy and see who is talking to who, as some people aren't "supposed to talk to other people." Never seen things like this in the reptile community.

A lot of rat and mouse people secretly or openly have reptiles, and feed all of thier culls to them. That's where all of my culls go.

[Reinz]

I had the same issue with petsmart and mice. I was kind of pissed. I called the manager and told them that I could use the mouse I bought for whatever (the hell) I wanted, and it was none of their (damn) business. He felt bad that I was treated so rudely and gave me three for free.

You were mad because a PET STORE which sell live animals for PETS refused to sell you PETS for FOOD?

Pet stores have different policies in regards to that and I can respect that.

[MontyAndMelissa]

You were mad because a PET STORE which sell live animals for PETS refused to sell you PETS for FOOD?

Pet stores have different policies in regards to that and I can respect that.

I was mad that they made the assumption that it was for food. I never once said what the mouse was for. Unfortunately I live in a small town, and they knew me, they know I own a snake, but to ASSUME that I was going to use the mouse for food was rude (even though I was, it was besides the point). She should have never asked a customer that question. Even the manager was mad she handled it in that way. I didn't say "how much are your feeder mice?" I said "how much do your adult mice cost?" and she came at me snarky with something along the lines of "you better not be using it for snake food". I don't remember the exact words, but that's the tone she used for sure.

[Eric Alan]

I was mad that they made the assumption that it was for food. I never once said what the mouse was for. Unfortunately I live in a small town, and they knew me, they know I own a snake, but to ASSUME that I was going to use the mouse for food was rude (even though I was, it was besides the point). She should have never asked a customer that question.

I completely agree that she shouldn't have asked it in the way that she asked it. However, she most certainly should be asking that question at some point during the sale (and, no offense intended, especially when selling to someone who they know to be a "risk-factor", for better or worse).

[200xth]

I was mad that they made the assumption that it was for food. I never once said what the mouse was for. Unfortunately I live in a small town, and they knew me, they know I own a snake, but to ASSUME that I was going to use the mouse for food was rude (even though I was, it was besides the point). She should have never asked a customer that question. Even the manager was mad she handled it in that way. I didn't say "how much are your feeder mice?" I said "how much do your adult mice cost?" and she came at me snarky with something along the lines of "you better not be using it for snake food". I don't remember the exact words, but that's the tone she used for sure.

So you're mad that she figured you would use it for food, which you did?

[MontyAndMelissa]

I completely agree that she shouldn't have asked it in the way that she asked it. However, she most certainly should be asking that question at some point during the sale (and, no offense intended, especially when selling to someone who they know to be a "risk-factor", for better or worse).

And I would understand if I had monty wrapped round my shoulders and put the mouse on the counter, I knew this girl from high school and she held a grudge against me for one thing or another. I'm assuming my name came up on the caller ID? I don't know, my big thing was that I could have been anyone. Anyways, I started buying f/t to spare myself any more rude people. I understand they have a policy, but that doesn't mean you assume that everyone buying a mouse is using it for snake food. Spare yourself the trouble and stop selling mice! Lol.

[DVirginiana]

The most annoying thing for me is when I buy live from pet stores that sell live feeders and the employees are still rude or judgmental about it. I've had that happen several times.

[MontyAndMelissa]

So you're mad that she figured you would use it for food, which you did?

No, I was mad because she made an assumption about somebody. I would have been equally mad if she said it to anyone else in my presence. I very well could have been buying the mice to keep for pets. I know people who use live mice to scent dead ones more for their snakes (now that I think about it, that's pretty morbid).

[Daigga]

I keep several species of mice as pets. Domestic (larger and longer show bodied mice, different from "fancy" pet store mice, not available in pet stores), spiny, ASF, and deer mice. In the case of domestic mice, I highly disagree; hamsters are bitey, and gerbils are too jumpy to really enjoy handling. Mice are smarter, and colonize well. They have probably the largest genetic variation of any of those rodents (think morphs), which is fascinating to work with. Their largest downfall is thier link with cancer. Rats have the same problem.

Rats are great rodent pets, besides the health concerns. Very smart.

Also, snake people would never get along with rat and mouse keepers. Rat and mouse keepers rarely get along with rat and mouse keepers. I know a lot of amazing rat and mouse people, but it's a largely unfriendly community in my experience, with intense politics (LOLitics), castes, cliques, shunning, and bullying. A lot of "don't give any mice to so-and-so because I don't like her, and if you give your mice to her you're banned from the shows and off of the forums and you'll be shunned". Current drama with the mouse people in the east coast involves on of the "top" people making a fake FB profile in order to spy and see who is talking to who, as some people aren't "supposed to talk to other people." Never seen things like this in the reptile community.

A lot of rat and mouse people secretly or openly have reptiles, and feed all of thier culls to them. That's where all of my culls go.

Interesting, I would think it would be similar types of communities due to the specific animals being widely frowned at and the keepers wanting to be around like minded people. I've heard some in the reptile community are like this, but I haven't actually had much dealings in it besides buying (yet!) so I wouldn't know for sure.