Interesting Story!
- Thread starter vlad
- Start date
Allee Toler
Member
Interesting Story? Petco usually hires anyone to run a department. They only read the little 1 page booklet as "training", once they do they're a "specialist". If you have any questions about a gecko ask a breeder or a hobbyist. They can tell you way more than some "petco specialist".
Allee Toler
Member
Aliza, it may be true that he breeds them. I have a friend (sadly- but true, I try to inform her) who says she's a great breeder. Anyone can put a male and a female together, stick it in a closet around 85F and hatch a baby, then sell it to a chain store. Unfortunately she bred a bunch of rescues, and now she's stuck with quite a few deformed babies (hunch backs, horrible over bites, missing eyes, missing tails, etc). She housed all of the babies together, eventually they reaches sexual maturity and started fighting, even killing a few. She hatched all males, and swore they were females.
I just wish chain stores were more informed. I've seen quite a few petco/petsmart's that have totally redone their reptile area, and actually have some great care sheets out. It only takes a pebble to make a wave...
I just wish chain stores were more informed. I've seen quite a few petco/petsmart's that have totally redone their reptile area, and actually have some great care sheets out. It only takes a pebble to make a wave...
critternerd
New member
I agree fully. There are too many times when you go into a pet shop, expecting to have experts, and only find out after something happens that those people you trusted were far from right. I am lucky in that the pet shop I usually go to (Petland) has some well trained staff who know what they are talking about. I agree with Allee. Only deal with the 'trained specialists' if you have to, otherwise, talk to people who aren't only out there to make a buck off of the misinformed buyer (NO OFFENCE TO ANYONE) 
isisandthor
New member
I agree with Allee but ironically, in my town, we have a Petland and a Petsmart and I've had terrible experiences with Petland and wonderful experiences with petsmart so I'm starting to think with the chain stores, it's just the luck of the draw. I guess just try to educate yourself really well before going into buy? That's what my bf and I have done and we usually end up knowing more about the gecko's then the people in the store do.
IslaReina
New member
In my experience, PetSmart is wayyy better than Petco and *gasp* petland. I feel so sorry for every child-poked rabbit, hamster, and bird that sits in those open glass tanks. And people wonder why their animals aren't nice after being in there. And Petland seems a whole lot more expensive. Too bad the PetSmart is farthest from my house... :/
Momto3boys
New member
And these are just a few reasons but I don't shop at petstores but rather online from independent suppliers!
I will shop at a few pet stores but ONLY pet stores that sell product, I will not shop at one that sells animals.
I will shop at a few pet stores but ONLY pet stores that sell product, I will not shop at one that sells animals.
lindsaydo
Newbie
I got to an actual Reptile Shop. Over in England reptiles aren't really available at chain pet stores. They sell the products, and if you ask them will even say calci sand is good for leopard gecko's, so they aren't really in the know. My reptile shops breeds and sell reptiles. All kinds, including snakes, skinks, chameleons, monitors, water dragons, tortoise etc.
Even then, I back up their advice by checking with people on the forum. All I can say Vlad, is don't house the males together.
I was sold a "female" leopard gecko a while back. It was a sympathy buy from another pet shop that specialised in rodents and birds and aquatics. He was on calci sand, had no water, no heat mat, and was fed a cricket a week. He died of impaction after I became bonded with him. It was terrible. I will never step foot in that shop again. More disturbing was the reply from the local animal warden, who didn't want to do anything saying "there is no proof calci sand causes impaction".
I felt I had to do the right thing for the animals in the "care" of the pet shop, but no one would help me.
Even then, I back up their advice by checking with people on the forum. All I can say Vlad, is don't house the males together.
I was sold a "female" leopard gecko a while back. It was a sympathy buy from another pet shop that specialised in rodents and birds and aquatics. He was on calci sand, had no water, no heat mat, and was fed a cricket a week. He died of impaction after I became bonded with him. It was terrible. I will never step foot in that shop again. More disturbing was the reply from the local animal warden, who didn't want to do anything saying "there is no proof calci sand causes impaction".
I felt I had to do the right thing for the animals in the "care" of the pet shop, but no one would help me.
shadowdragon619
New member
i have a petland, pet supplies plus, petco and petsmart available to me.
out of all of them...i have had the best experience from petsmart.
the leo i bought from petco died in two days of me buying it.
both petland has reptiles, but i dont like the way they keep them...too much sand.
pet supplies plus only has reptile supplies, no reptiles, so i wouldnt ask them thier opinions on reptiles.
i trust forums like these more than the petstore "specialists"
out of all of them...i have had the best experience from petsmart.
the leo i bought from petco died in two days of me buying it.
both petland has reptiles, but i dont like the way they keep them...too much sand.
pet supplies plus only has reptile supplies, no reptiles, so i wouldnt ask them thier opinions on reptiles.
i trust forums like these more than the petstore "specialists"