Bad Petstores...

[dross9615]

Okay so a post on another forum I was looking at got me thinking. We see all these bad pet stores keeping snakes and other animals for that matter in terrible conditions. But the problem I have here is how do we know what will happen to these animals once they're reported and 9 times out of 10 the report isn't really looked into and reptiles especially in cases of neglect are really not cared about by a lot of agencies.

I mean from what I see conditions have to be deplorable for any one to step in and then what... The animals are put down?? Reptile/snake keepers in general look even worse and them the government just has another reason to step in and say we're not responsible enough to keep these large animals.

I would gladly take a lot of these snakes in a heartbeat. But it seems like the stores with the worst conditions have the biggest price tags. If you were to report them and claim you would be willing to take a few in I feel like you would be looked at as just trying to get these animals out of their hands for your own personal gain. There's just so many things to think about.

Like theres a pet shop thats right up the road from me that keeps retics, anacondas, and other large snakes in tiny aquariums. Like this gorgeous motley female that I looked at was in her own filth dirty water and all. She's about 3.5 feet long in a 29 gallon tank and was $300 (are you kidding me I could see if you actually properly cared for the animal).

Anyway sorry for the rant but it really just upsets me to see these guys make so much profit off of animals they're not capable of properly caring for when someone out there would love to give animals good homes. Honestly I have no idea what to do... Sadly the petshop I'm referring to doesn't allow pictures or I would have plenty to show

[dross9615]

*Cricket* *cricket*

[Aaron_S]

Many times agencies have rescues or qualified individuals to take in animals in if they were to make a seizure of them.

[Albert Clark]

I'm with you dross on this up to a point. I purchased two ball pythons from Petsmart and Petco respectively. Both were hatchlings back in 2014 and were in very good health. I went into both places with a scrutinizing eye and picked out healthy individuals. They both are heathy and over 1900 gms. Never missed a meal and have never been sick. One is a normal female from Petsmart. The other is a pastel female that came from Petco. Would I buy from them again? Definitely not. Too many expos and private breeders.

[Zelg]

Every ball in my local pet stores looks thin, stuck shed, 4-5 balls in one small cage, even their cheap stick on humidity gauge says like 35%. I'd NEVER buy from them. Their other animals look decent. The corns generally look good but they're so small its often hard to get a good look.

[pitontheprowl]

I still don't understand the continual posts like this on reptile forums......
It doesn't open eyes to those that need to see.

[sirtalis]

@pithontheprowel I've noticed that too, there's only a few decent pet stores near where I live, reptilepetsdirect is okay but most others are filthy :p

[RAD House]

I think the problem is that the general public has no idea about reptile husbandry. This included me when I purchased my first snake. I listened to what the guys at the shop had to say. For one of the few times in my life being entirely too skeptical paid off and after doing my own research I found that most of what they told me was incorrect. Most people would most likely take what they said as truth and never realize how terrible the shop kept most of its animals. In fact I have not been to one shop in Denver that I was impressed with their enclosures. One shop has what I would consider basic care down, but that is it.

[pitontheprowl]

@pithontheprowel I've noticed that too, there's only a few decent pet stores near where I live, reptilepetsdirect is okay but most others are filthy :p

There are no good reptile stores in San Antonio and most people wont shop them because prices to cover the overhead cant compete with the big box stores. I have seen several great mom and pop shops go under because many wont shop them.
I don't mind spending more to the smaller people.

[sirtalis]

There are no good reptile stores in San Antonio and most people wont shop them because prices to cover the overhead cant compete with the big box stores. I have seen several great mom and pop shops go under because many wont shop them.
I don't mind spending more to the smaller people.

I live about 30 min away from San Antonio and Reptilepetsdirect is okay I get mice and crickets but I'd never buy an animal from them, if you haven't been there you should check them out, they have a few exotics that aren't in a typical store but most of their animals are dehydrated or improperly set up :P

[sirtalis]

There are no good reptile stores in San Antonio and most people wont shop them because prices to cover the overhead cant compete with the big box stores. I have seen several great mom and pop shops go under because many wont shop them.
I don't mind spending more to the smaller people.

While we're ranting San Antonio pet stores, have you been to the fish store, I think its papa jims or something like that, I just remember a rancid smell and a lot of reptiles in 10 gallon aquariums on cypress mulch with a red light :sad:

[Aaron_S]

I still don't understand the continual posts like this on reptile forums......
It doesn't open eyes to those that need to see.

I think it is just frustration release.

[pitontheprowl]

While we're ranting San Antonio pet stores, have you been to the fish store, I think its papa jims or something like that, I just remember a rancid smell and a lot of reptiles in 10 gallon aquariums on cypress mulch with a red light :sad:

I have been to Pets Direct but have not been to Jims.

[reptiledude987]

Im not sure it may be different in the states but at least here in Ontario the SPCA does regular inspections of pet stores to make sure of several things. First and foremost that the store isnt selling any restricted animals IE protected species venomous ect. They also ensure that the animals are being cared for and that the animals have water and arent being kept in their own filth. I would suggest for you to contact the local humane society and have the store inspected and find out what their standards of inspection are. At the same time Im sure you could inquire what would be involved in being one of the people confinscated animals could be relocated to. Where I live I have a friend who works at the humane society and they have reptiles turned in from time to time. They arent facilitated there to care for them and they have local people who they contact to care for them.

[sirtalis]

I wish I could... All confiscated animals get turned over to this ridiculous "zoo" its worse than any pet store, they have one cage with a 5 foot water monitor 3 caimans 2 iguanas and at least 4 turtles living together :( biggest problem is that the humane society uses the zoo's reptiles for education, the idiot animal control officer told me that all reptiles are illegal where I live and that all reptiles feel no pain past their shoulders, and that a snakes tail tip is like its "big toe"

[shrek71]

Personally.. I can not stand pet stores ! Pet stores should only sell supplies..ie/dog / cat food. How can any pet store tell me that some little 14 year old high school kid has the proper know how and info to sell any animal in that store. I feel sad for all and any kind of animal that is in a pet store.

[Aaron_S]

Personally.. I can not stand pet stores ! Pet stores should only sell supplies..ie/dog / cat food. How can any pet store tell me that some little 14 year old high school kid has the proper know how and info to sell any animal in that store. I feel sad for all and any kind of animal that is in a pet store.

I think this is a blanket statement and it isn't true when you dig down to an individual level.

I personally worked in pet stores, in the reptile departments, from age 16-19. I know I wasn't hired unless I could properly give animal care and I had great managers who knew more then me that ensured I never was in over my head.

I personally had the knowledge as my passion is for reptiles and I took the time to learn what I know. I don't see what age really has to do with much with how there's so much proper knowledge available. Are you telling me 14 year olds can't read and understand what is being said to them?

My last point, which usually irritates at least one person, is that pet stores have their good points. They do more to bring new hobbiest in than does anyone else. They are vital to the continuation of the hobby. We as a community just need to be ready to help along those that may have been misinformed and push the good stores and try to push the bad ones out.

[RAD House]

I totally agree Aaron.

[pitontheprowl]

How can any pet store tell me that some little 14 year old high school kid has the proper know how and info to sell any animal in that store.

LMAO!!!!!
How many people give advise that you have taken online without knowing anything more about them?
You should remember that there are some of us that have children that have taken an interest in our hobby and I for one would hope that my child would obtain more knowledge than I could give.

[Andy_G]

Personally.. I can not stand pet stores ! Pet stores should only sell supplies..ie/dog / cat food. How can any pet store tell me that some little 14 year old high school kid has the proper know how and info to sell any animal in that store. I feel sad for all and any kind of animal that is in a pet store.

I bred a couple different species successfully when I was 14 and I absolutely hated how I was sometimes treated solely because of my age during the early years of online forums when people much older and"wiser" were throwing out misinformation that I personally knew better than to follow as "some little 14 year old kid"...so I am sure you could understand why this post irritates the hell out of me. Please never judge one's level of intellect or comprehension solely by their age. Some kids can be extremely self motivated to learn everything that they possibly can and actually use their head and process the information being communicated to them, believe it or not. Ditto on what Aaron and pitontheprowl said.

[Minkness]

Also, without pet stores, I may have never gotten into reptiles at all. I had to take my mom to one and show her the leopard geckos before ai could convince her to let me get one. So I got 2 pet store geckos before getting into specialty breeders. If I didn't have that introduction to them, I wouldn't have spent the money on a $150 gecko, plus shipping.

Also, I actually adore my local chain pet stores. Petco and petsmart. They are always clean, have diverse stock, and pretty nice caging over all. Sometimes they have bad habbits, like having 5 ball pythons in something equal to a 20 gallon long. Buuuut...they usually sell them within a month if not sooner. So, while not ideal for long term stays, they are cared for pretty well and find new homes quickly. And, if they have an animal that's been around for a while, they discount it so that it can get into a home that is better suited to it.

I also just like gling into them with my dog to walk around and look at the newer stuff like toys, decore, caging, ect. It's a nice place to socialize.

On the other spectrum, we have a privately owned store that makes me cringe. It's cluttered, over stuffed, they SELL puppies and kittens (pisses me off), and even though they specialize in birds, most of the cages are too small for them, they aren't handled regularly, and it's just always a mess. Then they have a reptile section. It's clean, but everything is so small for the animals. Fish tanks are always dirty and over crowded, and they have a down stairs area that is more open than upstairs, and has all of the small animals and feeder rats. It's not too bad down there actually. It would be a better store if they got rid of the puppies and kittens amd moved the birds doenstairs and the mice and stuff upstairs, and of course, better caging! They are also SO expensive! It's not very cost efficient for most pet owners. =/

Then the other privately owned store Ilike is an hour away, near where I work. They are always clean, spacious, proper caging and set ups for their reptiles and fish. My only complaint is that they don't have as much decor and supplies as I'd like. That store is definitely all about the animals though. I love going there!

I know that this about bad pet stores, I just hate it when threads like this make all stores look bad. We need them as beginers, and hobbyists.

Also, age has nothing to do with knowledge and passion. The only thing it lacks in is experience, and thatvis just something no one gets quickly. But I was like that with horses when I was young. I knew everything about horses including different breeds, colors, generics, different feeds, care products, tack, EVERYTHING. But...I didn't really have any real experience. This led to some good things as I helped others who hadn't done all the research, but it also led to me getting my back broken because of one mistake I wouldn't have made if I had the experience.

K...rant over...