Beating a seemingly dead horse

[AKA Dave]

That was a real person. I contacted them and have been working with the regional manager on care in the local stores here. Conditions were not bad, but things have improved none the less. There's always room.

Dave

[LanceM]

That's sad I work at a pet store and I take care of the reptiles and the sand boa and pastel BP both eat every week.

[dkatz4]

TERRIBLE! I really have no idea how Petco structures its communication and accountability between regions and stores, but i would like to mention that my local Petco (Rt 9, Manalapan NJ, if anyone is local) always seems to be very adept with herp husbandry. I always notice the tanksare clean, have several thermo and hydrometers, and the BP's always live on coconut, which i have seen the employees change while i was there (and i don't even go all that often). When i talk to them about my boa, specifically the one or two guys who tend to stay in the reptile and fish section, they always have tips and information beyond the corporate spiel, like they actually know snakes. I'm not trying to advocate for big pet chains or anything, just thought that among the (well deserved) lambasting, this one Petco deserved a little credit.

[shelpen]

Yes, of course, I understand about big chain pet store...
But we are talking about the animal here. Will you let him die?
Independently of the "supply-demand" issue. Because he will. And rather sooner than later.

[Hannahshissyfix]

Yes, of course, I understand about big chain pet store...
But we are talking about the animal here. Will you let him die?
Independently of the "supply-demand" issue. Because he will. And rather sooner than later.

No, I won't be guilted into feeling personally responsible for this animals life and pay $90 for it. The fact that so many other people and employees have seen and walked past it in this condition is disturbing to me. I've sent several emails and finally went through Facebook to get a pretty quick response. I've offered to try to save the snake myself if they don't have the time or knowledge to do so and even offered to help correct their husbandry for future animals so we'll see. The last Facebook message I received claims they were escalating the case to someone local and would be calling me soon. Even if I can save this snake, it shouldn't have come to this point. They need a whole system change in their habitat standards.

[Eric Alan]

They need a whole system change in their habitat standards.

When it comes to retail stores like this, their habitat standards are perfectly fine for their intended purpose - short-term display housing. It's not the husbandry that needs changing - it's the employee training that is the opportunity here.

I know there are plenty of knowledgeable, caring individuals within the big retail chains, so I'm sure it will get the help it needs. It's just a shame that it had to get to this point for that to happen.

[the_rotten1]

I saw a hatchling in a local pet store a couple weeks ago in similarly awful conditions. Thin as a rail and having a horrible shed. I told the guy in the store to increase the humidity. I was tempted to buy the poor thing, but I wouldn't be able to house it once it got bigger.

[Hannahshissyfix]

When it comes to retail stores like this, their habitat standards are perfectly fine for their intended purpose - short-term display housing. It's not the husbandry that needs changing - it's the employee training that is the opportunity here.

I know there are plenty of knowledgeable, caring individuals within the big retail chains, so I'm sure it will get the help it needs. It's just a shame that it had to get to this point for that to happen.

I can understand their setups being more exposing for the intent to sell but the lack of humidity and heat are never ok. It's not like at a show where the animals are only in a display case for the day and then if not sold go back into a comfy rack. It seems like they frequently take weeks to sell or in the case of this guy, months of stress and not eating. I'm not saying all Petcos or shops are horrible but this guy is beyond just a little thin and nothing was changed to help him out.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I can understand their setups being more exposing for the intent to sell but the lack of humidity and heat are never ok.

You do know that the temperature gauge you are looking at is ambient temperatures AND there are regulated heat mats under the enclosures right?

[Hannahshissyfix]

You do know that the temperature gauge you are looking at is ambient temperatures AND there are regulated heat mats under the enclosures right?

Yes, I didn't think they had no source of heat. Again, it's just the disgust that this animal is in such horrible shape and still out on the sales floor being housed with multiple snakes like nothing is wrong instead of alone in a smaller, quiet place where it has a better chance at starting to eat again. Maybe it has nothing to due with poor husbandry and has a parasite or genetic problem causing it's decline but either way it shouldn't be on the sales floor and it didn't get that bad in just a few days or weeks.