Pet Smart

[roosterman2173]

I went to Pet Smart today to look for a new UTH for my feeder tub. They had six small balls in a ten gallon tank. One was a nice reduced pattern so I asked to get it out.So I moved the hides to find a dirty tank and old dry sheds. Every snake in the tank was POOR. So asked the girl when and what do they feed. She didnt know when but they feed F/T mouse pinkys. That is awful small for 18" balls. By the way she was scared of them and wouldn't touch them. I'm not to sure about chain stores.

[Syka]

Thats horrible.
I don't know if it is different in Canada or just where I have lived. But I have never seen snakes being sold at Petsmart.. and I am there frequently enough.
The only pet store I have seen selling snakes where I live is a small little one. And they are well taken care of ... i know because im there all the time and always have to take the snakes out just have a look lol

[Argentra]

Ok, 90% or so of those chain stores hire people who know next to nothing about animals. They just hire people who can make the sale. They never train for anything, or encourage research, so the employees just have whatever they have heard to go on.

True, sometimes you get people there who actually know their stuff (like me and some of the folks here on BP.net), but they usually don't last long there because they can't stand the archaic policies and care sheets from the 50's they're forced to use.

The Petsmart I used to work at just started carrying snakes, and recently got in two CH Balls...of course they are both in the same tank. Doesn't matter that I've told them to separate them, they won't do it. The card with the 'basic care info' and price is so wrong it makes me cringe. True, I heard that they test employees before they can handle the snakes...but I shudder to think how simple and stupid the test probably is.

Mind you, not all of these stores are that bad... but most are.

[NinaCaliente]

DH and I overheard an employee at a chain store tell a customer that BPs are the only snakes they sell, because every other species is mean, WILL bite, and make poor pets. When the customer said, "What about cornsnakes?", the employee claimed that they are some of the worst biters. This employee was, nevertheless, extremely nervous about taking the little BP out.

My DH wanted to look at a baby RTB at Petco one time, but the sales kid was too afraid to take it out, so DH had to get it out himself. Poor animals, I can't imagine they get great care if the employees won't even put their hands in the cages.

[DSGB]

stupid arse petsmart

[nevohraalnavnoj]

Support your local breeders and quality breeders on the internet!

JonV

[bsd13]

Support your local breeders and quality breeders on the internet!

JonV

Agreed. I always drive up to NERD for my snakes and supplies (about 30 minutes away). Pass 3 petcos and 2 pet smarts along the way. Hell, I even drive up there to pay an extra 0.03 above what they cost at petco each for crickets for my gecko because I can't imagine paying the chain stores anything.

[NightLad]

I don't know if it is different in Canada or just where I have lived. But I have never seen snakes being sold at Petsmart.. and I am there frequently enough.

I know they sell reptiles, as well as some invertebrates, at a local PJs Pets. I don't buy anything from chain pet stores, although since this PJs happens to be in a mall I visit every other blue moon I drop in to see what they have. I had a bit of time to kill the last time I did so, so I asked one of the staffers some quiz questions on a few different animals. The guy actually knew his stuff. I even asked for some cleaning suggestions, and he was able to offer some good pointers that any noob would benefit from.

Of course, I might have been speaking to the one and only guy in the whole place who knew anything about the animals, so...

I agree that the best place to get an animal is from a private breeder. In my experience, they are the type of highly dedicated and knowledgeable folk who are committed to their hobby/passion. I have immense respect for them, and I know that they will be around to help out in the future.

I still speak with the breeder I got Salzedo from. When I picked him up I was even able to meet his daddy!

I got my crested gecko from a private breeder too. Great guy! Private breeders rule!

[cinderbird]

From what i've found, petSMART isnt supposed to carry snakes..but their policies have changed recently or something, or it could be the fact that it is hatchling season and they want to get in on the money.

when i was first looking for a place to get my girl from i ended up at petsmart and petco, and petsmart said bluntly that they did not, and would not, ever, stock snakes. ..guess that has changed since i was in there earlier in the week getting a tag for my kitten and they had two ,albeit, healthy looking bp hatchlings in an enclosure. petco's animals always look awful. these guys at least looked like they had the right humidity and hiding places..but still.

[Inknsteel]

I know if you do a search, you will find MANY MANY MANY MANY backposts on PetCo and PetSmart and how bad they suck. What you will also find is that people make generalizations regarding the major chain stores, but there are exceptions to the rule. I know for fact that my local Petco's reptiles are all in good health. The herp specialist at that store is a good friend of mine, and a regular poster on this board. I visit the store frequently and always look to see what new animals they have in and on display. I know he provides the best environment and care that he can, while still staying (for the most part) within corporate guidelines. You will find that the majority of the people working at the chain pet stores are people working a job in "retail", and have no background or knowledge when it comes to animals. But again, there are exceptions. The only way to know is to go to the store and talk to the herp specialist, ask questions, kind of quiz their knowledge without making them feel like you're grilling them. You can pretty quickly tell which stores employ knowledgeable associates and which ones just take help where they can get it...

As for Petsmart not selling snakes, I know that our local Petsmarts have recently started carrying BPs as well as some other smaller species. Maybe it's a recent policy change, I dunno.