I hate pet stores!

[XoVictoryXo]

Every time I go to a pet store I get depressed on how the reptiles are treated. I just want to adopt and save them all. It is so upsetting seeing how they are in horrible condition.
I went to the pet store I actually bought both of my geckos from and there were so many unhealthy malnourished lizards there, it really broke my heart. I felt like I rescued Xena and Rex from an unhealthy demise.
There were 4 leopard geckos grouped together in a 20 gallon tank skinny and all of them had regenerated tails and housed on woodchips with only one hide. One of them was only a baby and already had a regenerated tail. They needed moisture so bad!
There was a large tank of chameleons and about 6 of them were in there with really bad tough looking stuck shed all over them.
Every time I go and see them housed on sand with empty water bowls and all malnourished lethargic and pale I want to start a riot! They just look miserable and it really hurts my heart. (way too sensitive lol)
I hate pet stores! I wish I never had to step foot in another one again. :-x
I want to write a letter to them on how terrible their conditions are, is there organizations that support this cause?

 

[arandombreeze]

I know exactly how you feel! At the petstore I got my gecko a few weeks ago, there are over 20 baby leos in one 12X12 tank. Two hides. No moisture hides, and on loose substrate. Oh, and overhead lamp. Their tails are so skinny. I was lucky and got mine right after their shipment, so damage hadn't been done at that point. I want to buy them all to give them a proper home. The leos have been in that condition since their shipment, about 3 weeks ago.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Oh man- thats upsetting- those poor babies!
Sometimes I do tell a worker there, but they just seem to shrug and shy away from me. I think I will leave a post it note on the tanks next time I go in! so frustrating!

 

[arandombreeze]

I've considered leaving multiple notes around the store, like on all the loose substrate that they recommend for the leos...and the starter kits...I would definitely rescue another one if I knew which gender mine is...
Unfortunately I always consider buying an animal at the petstore as a rescue now.
The conditions are disgusting. And I agree, there should, and hopefully is, somewhere's we can write to, or email. Something.

 

[NicKtheGreeK1997]

By rescuing these poor reptiles you give reasons for the sellers to keep getting and "torturing" reptiles. All they want is money. For one reptile you buy many others suffer and die so DON'T BUY REPTILES TO RESCUE THEM. Inform the shop assistants what the housing should be. If they don't change go to the court and tell us what pet shop was so we don't buy from it again. Just my thoughts!

 

[brooksylc]

I know a couple of informed individuals who go back into stores they saw the poor husbandry in, armed with care sheets and some basic suggestions to improve the animals environments. The key is that they are incredibly professional and factual instead of letting their emotions run wild (hard to do!) and they try to meet up with the manager to do this.
Occassionally it has worked, but not always. If things are incredibly bad I have heard of people calling local society's that deal with mistreatment of animals.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Nick -you totally have a valid point!! That is the mindset I need to have!
the 2 i "rescued" were healthy except for one had 4 missing toes and badly stuck shed on the foot- but I feel like i rescued them before they were neglected even worse!

 

[lisaowens]

when i decided to get a leopard gecko i went to the two pet stores that was around me because there was no breeder. i went to petsmart first we looked at them and their habitat which was small there was 4 babies in a 16x16 they did have water and reptile carpet they looked pretty good as far as a pet store goes. then i went to the other pet store. they had one gecko the enclosure was maybe 18 x 18 and 8 in tall the gecko was adult and sand was the substrate then i looked at what my son was showing me above the gecko was another enclosure same size with sand and a grown bearded dragon the dragon had no room to even move. i was very upset about this and decided to go back to petsmart to get a gecko because they had looked in better condition and was kept better. i chose Toby he was the oldest in the group the others did not even have spots yet. i was lucky to have a some what decent pet shop that did try to care for their reptiles. Toby is 6 months old now and growing great. i have not been in the other pet shop since.

 

[ajb28221]

Surprisingly the petsmart by me does a very good job in keeping their animals in good condition, they have a jacksons chameleon with all the right requirements there and he looks great. BUT the petco... OMG terrible... tiny malnourished dead looking leopard geckos with their feces all over. It is sad but it all depends on the store and the managers. Even the local family owned petstore does a bad job, possibly worse, they had 2 uromastyx in a 10 gallon with no hide and a water bowl :yikes: ridiculous... I even informed them of the bad conditions and they never changed it up. Like I said it all depends on the managers/ owners.

 

[Eilidh]

The problem is that most of the chain pet shops (for the UK: petsathome and etc) don't give a monkies unless they get their money and have poorly trained staff. Even if the staff are knowlageable on animal husbandry they may not have the guts to question their superiors.
Local pet shops on the other hand, generally have such a large amount of animals they don't know more than the bare minimum, or have been misinformed.
The pet shop I go to which specialises in herps, ornamental fish and birds. I very much like the two guys that run it as one is an ex-vet assistant and the other a retired zoo reptile keeper, but on a few things they have been missinformed. The issue is they have an absolute loathing for the college I'm at, they stock the animals there and check the vivariums there but think the course (and I agree with them on some points) is a joke and teaches all the wrong things. The problem is, they house the geckos in both the college and their store on woodchippings, when I mentioned that pets at home were housing their geckos on sand, I said the only thing they should be housing on them is kitchen role and tile, to which one of the guys butted in "and wood chips.". They wouldnt listen to me if I tried to tell them, as theyd think it was just something I learnt at the college.
Mostly, the rest of their husbandry is good. better than the other petshops anyway. Especially the herp and ornamental fish only shop near me, who I refuse to buy from.


Anyway, animal husbandry flaws here and there, mention it to your pet shop owners. just be warned, most people who work with animals think they're the bees knees at it, very "im right you're wrong" insustry (the students are worse!), so don't get angry.

BUT I will say on the topic of malnourishment and obvious neglect, inform your local animal welfare authority. Most likely they have been reported before, the more reports; the more likely the petshop will get a boot up the bum,

 

[cricketsnieceandrepsitter]

I have walked in any reptile stores and they rarely have the correct temps and humidity. When I told an employee he looked at me like I was dumb. He just said he would tell the manager. I once went to a Petco who had a frilled dragon that was laying there with his eyes closed, skinny and lethargic. I knew that if I told someone in the store it would get ignored, so I called a number that was on the website to their main offices. They apologized and said they would contact the store manager to inform their vet to examine him. Two days later my brother went by the store to take a peek and he was no longer in the cage. So I a hoping that helped.

 

[cricketsnieceandrepsitter]

By rescuing these poor reptiles you give reasons for the sellers to keep getting and "torturing" reptiles. All they want is money. For one reptile you buy many others suffer and die so DON'T BUY REPTILES TO RESCUE THEM. Inform the shop assistants what the housing should be. If they don't change go to the court and tell us what pet shop was so we don't buy from it again. Just my thoughts!

That's what I was taught ever since I was younger. You can't rescue them all and the only thing that will do is clear the cage so that the vicious cycle continues.

 

[Schmidty]

Geez, this is so sad, all of these stories about terrible pet shops and the conditions these herps are in
I feel the only herps you should buy that need to be saved or rescued are the ones in rescue centers, not pet shops (although its tempting i will admit, you want to be the savior)
At my local Petco, they take care of their herps VERY well. The leopard geckos have 4 separate cages, each with 2-3 hides, etc. The bearded dragons are kept well as well, with carpet, something to bask on, and for the larger ones they have a waterfall system! Im surprised with how well they are. The only problem is (and its not even a problem really) they just received a shipment of baby leos, and 2 blizzards are VERY skinny. Skinny tails, skinny bodies.. They've isolated these ones and put them in the back for the rescue centers to pick them up. Thanks to my friend who is in rescue, I am taking one of these blizzards to a great home; mine.

So this shows not ALL pet stores are terrible, but many out there are, and we can't let them get away with it. Call your local rescue team, whether it be the ASPCA, the police, the court, etc.
If you not only want to save them from these conditions, but kick the company in the butt as well, then CALL YOUR LOCAL RESCUE TEAM!

I really hope and pray we don't see this kind of mistreatment any longer.

 

[woodar]

I totally agree XoVictoryXo!!!
My bf gets on my case bc I've "rescued" 2 leos from Petco near my hometown...

There was one incident where I went over to look at their leos and the hide was set ON TOP OF A GECKOS HEAD!!!! Obviously, this poor little guy didn't survive and I berated the "reptile expert" on his lack of care in re-arranging the terrarium (if you can even call it that)...

I ended up leaving with the other 2 geckos that were in the terrarium that day b/c I was heartbroken and didn't want to leave them in that idiot's incapable hands......

ugh!

 

[brooksylc]

I know it is so hard to see these things happen but we have to remember that even if you save those 2 that the money from the purchase goes towards buying another dozen more which will unfortunately meet the same fate/poor husbandry.
I have fallen in love with an adult leo at a chain pet store that is being kept in poor conditions (his only hide is half of his size, on sand with no cover from the lights all day). I gave the manager tips but she felt she knows best since she has "kept him alive all these years". And she labelled him a RAPTOR ("based on the research the staff did online") but I advised her that he is not, as he doesnt have the "R" in raptor. Oh and the best part is that she suggested I breed him with my adult female. I told her that breeding shouldnt be taken lightly and can take a serious toll on the animals.
After all this (I tried numerous times and have checked to see if anything changed but it sadly hasnt), I realized that I cannot set foot in her location ever again or I for sure will take him home and as much as it is helping him, it is also helping her and encourages the company to keep bringing in more pets to keep poorly.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Woodar. :*(
That is so sad and it hurts my heart. how disgusting.
I just cant look anymore, I have to go straight to the register and get the crickets and leave. I just cant look anymore, it hurts me too much.

 

[woodar]

I know but I couldn't leave them in an environment where they could be smashed! I spoke with the manager of that PETCO and haven't seen the person who was responsible for the reptiles since that day...i'm hoping he either quit or got fired for that mistreatment and lack of care. The other critters seem in fairly good condition since then and the new gal seems VERY knowledgeable. She was able to tell me the gender of the geckos I had purchased from them the week before b/c I had pictures on my cell phone.

I know it is so hard to see these things happen but we have to remember that even if you save those 2 that the money from the purchase goes towards buying another dozen more which will unfortunately meet the same fate/poor husbandry.
I have fallen in love with an adult leo at a chain pet store that is being kept in poor conditions (his only hide is half of his size, on sand with no cover from the lights all day). I gave the manager tips but she felt she knows best since she has "kept him alive all these years". And she labelled him a RAPTOR ("based on the research the staff did online") but I advised her that he is not, as he doesnt have the "R" in raptor. Oh and the best part is that she suggested I breed him with my adult female. I told her that breeding shouldnt be taken lightly and can take a serious toll on the animals.
After all this (I tried numerous times and have checked to see if anything changed but it sadly hasnt), I realized that I cannot set foot in her location ever again or I for sure will take him home and as much as it is helping him, it is also helping her and encourages the company to keep bringing in more pets to keep poorly.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Woodar Im glad the conditions improved! speaking up does help!

 

[XoVictoryXo]

today i saw the most horrible horrible conditions at a fleamarket, there were tons of babies in a tiny cage with a sorry looking hide, they were skeletal and one of them had eggs. :*(

 

[brooksylc]

today i saw the most horrible horrible conditions at a fleamarket, there were tons of babies in a tiny cage with a sorry looking hide, they were skeletal and one of them had eggs. :*(

A fleamarket????? I wouldn't expect to see any reptiles at a fleamarket. Thinking about oh so many issues with this. And their condition and one in that condition with eggs. Poor geckos