Why NOT to support Petco.

[DeesBalls]

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Ditto.

I keep telling folks...there is nothing in a pet store you cannot get elsewhere.

let me know where to get crickets, aspen, cypress multch, and cheap water dishes at and i will no longer support them... i just cant find anything.

[Tango]

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

let me know where to get crickets, aspen, cypress multch, and cheap water dishes at and i will no longer support them... i just cant find anything.

I can get everything on your list at reptile shows. Ohio has some good shows - I dont know if any are near you, though.

[StudentoReptile]

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

let me know where to get crickets, aspen, cypress multch, and cheap water dishes at and i will no longer support them... i just cant find anything.

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

let me know where to get crickets, aspen, cypress multch, and cheap water dishes at and i will no longer support them... i just cant find anything.

Crickets = there are many online vendors you can order from. Set up a tub or box, and you can start have 1000s of crickets delivered right to your doorstep. This is what the petstores do! You think they breed crickets? You're basically cutting out the middle man and getting feeder insects in bulk, cheaper per insect, and you don't have to drive to the store and wonder if they're going to be out of the right size crickets. Or you can breed your own roaches or mealworms, or whatever suits your fancy and basically raise your own free insects.

Aspen = small bags can be had at Walmart. Large bag at Tractor Supply Co for $10. Of course, like most anything, you can order it from any number of places online.

Cypress Mulch = Lowe's or Home Depot....or again, online

Cheap Water dishes? = please. I like the little plastic crock bowls you get at walmart. I mean, I don't know exactly what animals you;re looking for, but seriously, nearly ANYTHING can be used for a water bowl. Now, if you want the decorative, rock-like bowls.....[wait for it]....you guessed it! Go online!

-----

True story...so the wife and I are preparing to get a beardie for our son, right? We're researching and price-comparing cages and tanks, and we both agreed we really like the Exo-Terra terrariums with front-door access. Amazon had it the cheapest, even with shipping. I had a 36x18x12 glass terrarium shipped straight to my door. I didn't have to blow my evening loading the wife and 2 babies into the car to drive 35 minutes to the nearest petstore and pay full retail price for the thing, and load it myself into the car (if it would even fit). My wife or I didn't have to lift a finger.

With Amazon Prime, I can have light bulbs, heat pads, temp guns, etc...shipped to my door in 2 days. Light fixtures can be had at the hardware or home supply store.

If you have internet access and a credit card, there is no reason for you to ever walk into a petstore ever again.

[MoreliAddict]

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Aspen = small bags can be had at Walmart. Large bag at Tractor Supply Co for $10. Of course, like most anything, you can order it from any number of places online.

I like to buy aspen from pet stores, so you know the stuff is manufactured for animals.

Some people complain about aspen being "too dusty", which makes me question where they are getting it...

[StudentoReptile]

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

I like to buy aspen from pet stores, so you know the stuff is manufactured for animals.

Some people complain about aspen being "too dusty", which makes me question where they are getting it...

What do you think the stuff from Tractor supply is for? I agree though...everyone has their own preferences. I like the stuff from Walmart; I just wish it came in bigger bags!

I hear ya, Wayne! I love rooting around at Salvation Army, Goodwills, etc. ...like I said, a LOT of stuff can be used for herps with a little imagination and creative.

I swear, one of these days I'm going to write a How-To sheet on setting up a beginner herp for less than $50. It can be done. People gotta learn that just because it doesn't have a picture of an iguana on the packaging doesn't mean it can't be used for a reptile!

[DeesBalls]

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Crickets = there are many online vendors you can order from. Set up a tub or box, and you can start have 1000s of crickets delivered right to your doorstep. This is what the petstores do! You think they breed crickets? You're basically cutting out the middle man and getting feeder insects in bulk, cheaper per insect, and you don't have to drive to the store and wonder if they're going to be out of the right size crickets. Or you can breed your own roaches or mealworms, or whatever suits your fancy and basically raise your own free insects.

Aspen = small bags can be had at Walmart. Large bag at Tractor Supply Co for $10. Of course, like most anything, you can order it from any number of places online.

Cypress Mulch = Lowe's or Home Depot....or again, online

Cheap Water dishes? = please. I like the little plastic crock bowls you get at walmart. I mean, I don't know exactly what animals you;re looking for, but seriously, nearly ANYTHING can be used for a water bowl. Now, if you want the decorative, rock-like bowls.....[wait for it]....you guessed it! Go online!

-----

True story...so the wife and I are preparing to get a beardie for our son, right? We're researching and price-comparing cages and tanks, and we both agreed we really like the Exo-Terra terrariums with front-door access. Amazon had it the cheapest, even with shipping. I had a 36x18x12 glass terrarium shipped straight to my door. I didn't have to blow my evening loading the wife and 2 babies into the car to drive 35 minutes to the nearest petstore and pay full retail price for the thing, and load it myself into the car (if it would even fit). My wife or I didn't have to lift a finger.

With Amazon Prime, I can have light bulbs, heat pads, temp guns, etc...shipped to my door in 2 days. Light fixtures can be had at the hardware or home supply store.

If you have internet access and a credit card, there is no reason for you to ever walk into a petstore ever again.

this is all helpfull, thanks!! 1st of all-

and i thought that cypress from those places were bad? or else i would of done that ALONG time ago....

Trust me, ive tried several times to keep 1000 crickets at one time.... they all always die, no matter what i do to keep them

trust me- i dont like pet stores in any way- like i said, i go there because its okay, and i can get crickets when i need them... if i could skip them, i would... take for example, frozen rats when i am in between shows and need some i run in there to get some, i am not going to pay rodent pro $75 JUST for shipping to get some mice/rats, ill wait to meet them at the show, so sometime i just have to go there....dont want to, but need to....

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

this is all helpfull, thanks!! 1st of all-

and i thought that cypress from those places were bad? or else i would of done that ALONG time ago....

Trust me, ive tried several times to keep 1000 crickets at one time.... they all always die, no matter what i do to keep them

trust me- i dont like pet stores in any way- like i said, i go there because its okay, and i can get crickets when i need them... if i could skip them, i would... take for example, frozen rats when i am in between shows and need some i run in there to get some, i am not going to pay rodent pro $75 JUST for shipping to get some mice/rats, ill wait to meet them at the show, so sometime i just have to go there....dont want to, but need to....

Buy a larger freezer and stock up more. They won't go bad...if they get freezer burn do you think your snakes care about the taste?

[DeesBalls]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Buy a larger freezer and stock up more. They won't go bad...if they get freezer burn do you think your snakes care about the taste?

lol i doubt it..... but yea, i have a freezer just for them. right now i have about 300 or so assorted, but i was just saying in general "if" it would happen... a hypothetical scenario if you will.