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Of course, reputable breeders are probably the best source for beardies (and animals in general). However, I live within walking distance of a seemingly amazing pet store. They have beardies and equipment for them, so I was considering buying my dragon form the store in question. I just want a second opinion on it. Here's some things you should know about this pet store:
1. It is not a massive chain store like Petsmart or Petco. I think they only have two or three locations
2. It is family owned.
3. The employees know what they are doing.
4. Unlike Petsmart, they keep their small animals in adequate space. For example, they only carry guinea pigs sometimes, and when they do, there are only two in a cage at a time. The store REQUIRES that you buy both at once, which I, as a piggy parent, think is awesome.
5. Often when I walk into the store, I'll see the employees cuddling with some of the animals and giving them attention.
6. The juvenile bearded dragons are housed in glass tanks in groups of 3-5.
7. They feed the animals correct amounts of food.
8. I'm not sure where the animals come from (I should probably ask), but based on how most come and go as adults, I think a lot of them come from shelters or owners who can't care for them. I have seen them stock chinchillas, hedgehogs, and more animals that they don't usually carry. There are usually just one or two of them, and they come complete with cage and supplies.
9. The prices are low. Almost suspiciously low, but the brands they sell are decent quality.
10. Some of their animals are kept in tanks that are the bare minimum (or occasionally slightly smaller).
11. There are sometimes escaped crickets hopping around all over the floor.
12. I haven't seen them feeding beardies, so I have no idea if they supplement or not.
13. All animals are given proper heating and lighting.
14. None of the animals show any signs of visible stress.
15. None of the animals seem skittish, and many come right up to the glass to see who's there.
16. The employees are helpful and know their way around the shop
17. When corona came along, all the higher-maintenance pets disappeared, and only the "easy" pets or feeder pets (mice, rats, hamsters, geckos, and anoles) were left behind. I'm assuming this is because it's less work and expenses for the shop, because they limited their hours. I have no clue where all the animals ended up.
18. Employees are nice and they let you hold any animal upon request. (They enjoy going around asking people if they'd like to hold the resident tarantula a bit too much).
19. Not everything they stock is ideal or safe for some animals (such as guinea pig leashes in the guinea pig aisle).
Sorry if that was too much info, that's pretty much everything I used to evaluate the store. Overall, there seems to be more pros than cons, and it looks like a quality store. I have only had good experiences with the store. What are your opinions?
1. It is not a massive chain store like Petsmart or Petco. I think they only have two or three locations
2. It is family owned.
3. The employees know what they are doing.
4. Unlike Petsmart, they keep their small animals in adequate space. For example, they only carry guinea pigs sometimes, and when they do, there are only two in a cage at a time. The store REQUIRES that you buy both at once, which I, as a piggy parent, think is awesome.
5. Often when I walk into the store, I'll see the employees cuddling with some of the animals and giving them attention.
6. The juvenile bearded dragons are housed in glass tanks in groups of 3-5.
7. They feed the animals correct amounts of food.
8. I'm not sure where the animals come from (I should probably ask), but based on how most come and go as adults, I think a lot of them come from shelters or owners who can't care for them. I have seen them stock chinchillas, hedgehogs, and more animals that they don't usually carry. There are usually just one or two of them, and they come complete with cage and supplies.
9. The prices are low. Almost suspiciously low, but the brands they sell are decent quality.
10. Some of their animals are kept in tanks that are the bare minimum (or occasionally slightly smaller).
11. There are sometimes escaped crickets hopping around all over the floor.
12. I haven't seen them feeding beardies, so I have no idea if they supplement or not.
13. All animals are given proper heating and lighting.
14. None of the animals show any signs of visible stress.
15. None of the animals seem skittish, and many come right up to the glass to see who's there.
16. The employees are helpful and know their way around the shop
17. When corona came along, all the higher-maintenance pets disappeared, and only the "easy" pets or feeder pets (mice, rats, hamsters, geckos, and anoles) were left behind. I'm assuming this is because it's less work and expenses for the shop, because they limited their hours. I have no clue where all the animals ended up.
18. Employees are nice and they let you hold any animal upon request. (They enjoy going around asking people if they'd like to hold the resident tarantula a bit too much).
19. Not everything they stock is ideal or safe for some animals (such as guinea pig leashes in the guinea pig aisle).
Sorry if that was too much info, that's pretty much everything I used to evaluate the store. Overall, there seems to be more pros than cons, and it looks like a quality store. I have only had good experiences with the store. What are your opinions?
Anyway, owner said she noticed that one of the beardies wasn't eating well. Watched him while she was feeding them and realized that the slightly bigger one was getting the majority of the crickets as the smaller one just wasn't quick enough. She moved the smaller one to another tank and (this sounds gross) pulled the back legs off crickets so he/she could get them. They still moved, but weren't quick so lil one could snatch them up. I checked on on them while they were getting my bugs ready and the lil one doesn't look unhealthy. Yay! She also gave me a discount on my last purchase as I brought all the crickets and roaches that got too big for Dex to eat back to her. I buy quantity and they grow fast (especially the roaches) so she said she'd take any that got to big back and give me a discount off my next purchase. Woot!