Petco sucks

[Michaeleos]

Thanks to a couple members on this website i will be able to nurse my gecko back to a healthy weight. But is it any coincidence that both the Leos i got from my local pet store (VI Pets) are healthy energetic geckos, but the one i got from Petco is having all the eating problems?

Why is it that i can raise 2 perfectly healthy Leos from VI pets but not one from Petco? I feel like i have to blame them for most of that. I've proven i can raise leopard geckos in a healthy environment. Plus there are a hundred other geckos that needed to be rescued from one of the BIGGEST PET STORE FRANCHISES in america. That's a problem.

Shout out to all of the owners of Sick or Injured Leos from petco. I know what your going through. I hope the best for all your pets. I love animals to death and i hate seeing one of mine like this after almost 2 months of owning it. Bananas getting better but it hasn't been easy.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

You said that the care you're providing for your other two geckos is better than the one you're giving to your PetCo gecko. As was already determined, your temps are way too low, your setup isn't right, and your supplements aren't proper. In contrast, you said the other ones have better temps and better setups. Is it possible that the PetCo geckos have more issues? Possibly, but many, many people have perfectly healthy PetCo geckos, and you can't entirely blame it on where the gecko came from when the care provided for the PetCo one isn't as good as the care provided to the others. That is more likely to cause issues than where it came from. 99% of issues with reptiles are husbandry-related.

~Maggot

 

[Michaeleos]

Well not exactly. I had Roxy in a 10 gallon until i got a 20 gallon. And since shes the biggest shes in there now. She has been healthy ever since i got her.

Cheddar is in the exact same type of setup as Banana (the "sick" one). 10 gallon with the 2 hides. One humid one dry.

The reason I'm upset is because for the duration of their stay in the 10 gallon tanks Roxy and Cheddar have been perfectly healthy. While Banana was given to me unhealthy and underweight and has stayed that way besides after random successful feedings.

I will have each of my geckos in ADVANCED 20 gal. tanks in the near future, just like how i promised to have Roxy in one when all i had was her.

Other than that i have 2 healthy geckos, and i will hopefully have 3 by March

 

[Embrace Calamity]

You said the other geckos' enclosures are warmer than this one's is. Even if they're both being kept too cold, just because one got sick and the other didn't, that doesn't mean it's PetCo's fault. Every gecko is different; some are more resistant to poor temps than others. Again, saying this is PetCo's fault because your gecko isn't doing well in an improper setup isn't very logically sound.

~Maggot

 

[Michaeleos]

They all have temps at 82-85 degrees. Im looking for heating pads right now to bump that up.

You could be right, it may just be my healthier geckos do better in the setup ive used. My problem is that they are both very healthy. both have the same temps. before Roxy was in the 20 gal. she had the same setup as Cheddar and Banana do now.

Cheddar and Roxanne have thrived. And Banana has not been so lucky.

Im always looking for ways to improve my leo cages. I dont mean to sound "unfit for leo care" but i dont have alot of money.

Once again i think you're right. i have "incomplete setups" although i have most the necessities.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

They all have temps at 82-85 degrees. Im looking for heating pads right now to bump that up.

Really? Because that's not at all what you said just a bit ago.

What is the temperature in the warm part of the cage? under the warm hide? 80

Ive got Roxanne in a 20 gal. with 3 hides and warmer temps. The other 2 smaller ones are in the 10 gals.

You could be right, it may just be my healthier geckos do better in the setup ive used. My problem is that they are both very healthy. both have the same temps. before Roxy was in the 20 gal. she had the same setup as Cheddar and Banana do now.

Cheddar and Roxanne have thrived. And Banana has not been so lucky.

Im always looking for ways to improve my leo cages. I dont mean to sound "unfit for leo care" but i dont have alot of money.

Once again i think you're right. i have "incomplete setups" although i have most the necessities.

Have you ever heard, "correlation does not equal causation"? Just because two things appear to correlate with each other, that doesn't necessarily one is the cause of the other. As an example, as global temperatures have increased, the numbers of pirates have decreased. Does that mean fewer pirates has caused global warming? Of course not. Of course, it's hard to say what's actually going on with your setups because you're contradicting yourself, but, again, the fact that one is from PetCo doesn't necessarily have anything to do with what's going on. Unless you know where the other place gets their geckos, they could be getting them from the same dealer for all you know. Is it possible? Sure. Is PetCo known for less than ideal care? Yeah. But it's much more likely that it's entirely due to the husbandry.

~Maggot

 

[Michaeleos]

Ok. Now i will accept full responsibility for my gecko being underweight.

Today i went to goodwill and salvation army to find new hides and lose the tupper ware dishes i had been using for the dry hides. I also bought the 3 tape thermometers. Fixed up and cleaned all the cages like i do every 2 weeks.

But tomorrow i need to go spend more money (probably over $200) on two 20 gallon tanks, more hides, heat pads, better thermometers, screen lids and more tile substrate. Then set them up with one warm side and a cool side. have a humid hide for shedding and dry warm and dry cool hides. Because my geckos wont last another day in those 10 gallon tanks with 82 degree temps in the middle of winter in Michigan.

I dont mean to be rude but i simply dont have the time or money for a quick fix on that kind of scale. Im sorry.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Ok. Now i will accept full responsibility for my gecko being underweight.

You should. We all make mistakes, but what defines us as people and as good pet owners is whether or not we're willing to accept our mistakes and make the necessary changes.

But tomorrow i need to go spend more money (probably over $200) on two 20 gallon tanks, more hides, heat pads, better thermometers, screen lids and more tile substrate. Then set them up with one warm side and a cool side. have a humid hide for shedding and dry warm and dry cool hides. Because my geckos wont last another day in those 10 gallon tanks with 82 degree temps in the middle of winter in Michigan.

Now you're just being childish. No one said your geckos are going to die tomorrow - or anytime soon. You're the one who posted asking why your gecko wasn't eating, and you're the one who tried to put all the blame on PetCo when you're the one who openly admitted the geckos aren't receiving all they need.

Futhermore, there are much easier ways to get what you need. There's nothing wrong with the plastic containers, so there's no need to spend more on new ones. Or you could make your own naturalistic ones for dirt cheap. There's money saved.

The digital thermometers are only about $10; not a fortune, even for three of them.

There are many other substrates to use than tile. Hell, you could go dig up dirt from outside and use that (and many people do). And guess how much that costs? Free. Or you could use paper towel or carpet, if only temporarily, which is much cheaper than slate.

Also, there are plenty of places to get tanks other than a pet store (and even then, two of them aren't that expensive, and the screen lids are only about $7 each). You can check yard sales, Craigslist, eBay classifieds, thrift stores, online yard sale groups, etc., etc., etc. And probably get them for about $20 each.

I dont mean to be rude but i simply dont have the time or money for a quick fix on that kind of scale. Im sorry.

These are your pets. They're your responsibility. You chose to take on that responsibility when you bought them, so honor it. If you have to sell some stuff to get the money, then do it. Just stop acting like a child by trying to blame PetCo and being rude and making excuses.

~Maggot

 

[Michaeleos]

Dig up dirt? In winter? Put my suffering gecko on loose substrate? Sounds good. But I prefer tile thats about $5 at lowes to cover the bottom of my 20g. But since you know everything i will get rid of all my stuff i have now. ill sell my families tv so i can put my geckos in a cozy 20 gallon tank with varying temps.

Youve made it very clear that your an expert on leopard geckos and that im an immature and unfit leopard gecko owner. *clap *clap *clap

Ive done my research and i know what im doing. I will take to mind your suggestions on improving my setups. But im going to make my improvements where and when I can. I am a proud owner of 3 leopard geckos. Their the most beautiful creatures on the planet and i do everything in my power to provide for them. When im not at school, work, social events, playing sports, or talking my girlfriend out of suicide, im sleeping and caring for my geckos.

Quote that one. Go ahead. Make me feel like shit AGAIN. cuz God knows i deserve it.

I respect your advice on a proffesional level. but personally you come off as a know-it-all.

 

[Amuna1225]

Everyone needs to take a chill pill real quick.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I'm sorry, but I see no point in continuing to argue with a child. You go ahead and do whatever you want. I am done with you.

~Maggot

 

[Michaeleos]

hah im fine. Honestly i appreciate the advice! This website and its members are good to me. Ive been stressed and maybe this young woman and i dont see eye to eye but who said raising geckos was easy?

Sorry for losing my cool errybody

 

[brooksylc]

Just thought I'd point out some ways to save money. For now get Rubbermaid/ Sterilite type tubs (the under bed style ones give lots of floor space for the geckos). These are super cheap & you can use them for storage once you have the money to buy tanks & lids. You'll need to drill or solder holes for ventilation in the sides & top of the tub. And a temperature controlled UTH will not melt this. You can use paper towel or get tiles that you will switch into the tanks once you purchase them. You can take margarine tubs to make dry & humid hides (free!yay). Its more important to spend the money you have to get ideal temps over a pretty set up. You'll have time to slowly buy prettier stuff as you get future paychecks. I would also recommend putting $ aside for potential vet bills before beautify-king the tanks. I'm sure you'll be able to get this all set up sooner than you think if you follow some money saving tips right now. I have 3 gorgeous set ups & 9 functional but not pretty leo tanks. And my geckos dont notice the difference in the slightest.

 

[Melanie_Linn]

What should of been an ok discussion turned into a childish argument until the most recent bit. Any more fighting and I'm going to tell you two to take a literal chill pill. It sounds mean but anymore arguing and I'm going to tell you guys to take an Ativan and calm down. Thankfully I don't think that will happen and I'm not a mod but that won't stop me from saying it if it happens again.