Pet Smart

[snakelady]

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.

!!!!!!!

They should not sell reptiles at all. The Petsmart here sells them too. And surprise: They don't know what they are doing.

[NinaCaliente]

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.

That's odd, my local Petsmart has been carrying corns and BPs for at least the last several years. It must vary quite a bit by location.

[panthercz]

From what i've found, petSMART isnt supposed to carry snakes..

PetSmart has been selling snakes for years. Not all stores carry the same things. Just because one store says they don't carry snakes doesn't mean no other store does. A lot of it is based on region and suppliers.

[Jay_Bunny]

The petsmart near me just started carrying snakes. They only had two in the same cage but it was a small cage. Maybe 5g. I hope to get a job there so I can provide the reptiles with good care.

The last time I was in there, the girl working in the reptile section knew zip/nada about leopard geckos. My friend who likes reptiles and keeps lizards works there but she won't pick up any of the snakes. She says "They are too nippy." They need good knowledgable people working with the reptiles and fish.

[TheHabit]

I work in a pet store called Pet Supplies "Plus". Its a smaller local chain, with about 5 stores in WNY. We never have more than 2 small BP's in 1 eclosure (or any kind of snake for that matter) and we make sure not to cram too many animals into any 1 cage. I work the day shift so it's my duty to make sure all the animals are fed and watered each morning.

Myself and 1 other cashier are the only ones that willingly handle the reptiles. For this reason I make it a point spend extra time with them each day (recently been focusing on a very young green iguana). I make sure the snakes eat each week and that all the herps are taken care of to the best of our ability. I'm an animal lover, and being so I feel an obligation to care for all animals, whether they are my own or not.

I feel that's more than a PetSmart or Petco employee could say.

[reptile3]

Our Petco here in Cumming, GA Their BP's look good. I see them always cleaning the cages. I got my iguana from there, & he is growing great. Well cause of me.. LOL

I did notice, when I asked for the ig, the guy just picked it up & put in a box, & that was it. He didn't know I knew about Iguanas... sad.

[roosterman2173]

This store had 6 balls,3 corns and a califorina king all babys.

[the_Ryno]

I have two very good family owned pet stores near me that both have lots of snakes and other herps.

One has probably 10-15 baby balls in the same enclosure that would be suitable for maybe a 2ft long BP, and the also had two Burmese Pythons in another enclosure and one looked very dehydrated.

The other keeps no more then 2 Balls in the same tank, and has very knowledgeable employees. When I got mine from they told me everything I needed, for the most part. They also breed their own ball pythons at the store so they have a large selection to choose from. Their other herps are also very nice.

Petsmart and Petco, ill never by as much as a feeder from, their herps are low on quality and yet to see any of their snakes sell in the last 4 weeks or so.

[NinaCaliente]

I work in a pet store called Pet Supplies "Plus". Its a smaller local chain, with about 5 stores in WNY. We never have more than 2 small BP's in 1 eclosure (or any kind of snake for that matter) and we make sure not to cram too many animals into any 1 cage. I work the day shift so it's my duty to make sure all the animals are fed and watered each morning.

Myself and 1 other cashier are the only ones that willingly handle the reptiles. For this reason I make it a point spend extra time with them each day (recently been focusing on a very young green iguana). I make sure the snakes eat each week and that all the herps are taken care of to the best of our ability. I'm an animal lover, and being so I feel an obligation to care for all animals, whether they are my own or not.

I feel that's more than a PetSmart or Petco employee could say.

My previous post about the store employee giving such off-base info on snakes actually took place in a Pet Supplies "Plus", although not in your area. I will say, though, that I've never seen anything wrong with the actual care or condition of the animals in that store.

The reptiles and customers in your store are lucky to have you!