So sad I cried

[staylor]

I had to go pick up a new top for Piggy's viv. My daughter ran right to the baby dragons, so after I got what I needed I went to join her. They had 5 4week old babies in there. Then I saw something that upset me so bad I called the guy over. One of the babies was being aggressive to another. The poor little one was waving his hand. I begged the guy to please separate them and as I was explaining to him why the aggressive on ran over and jumped on the other one trying to bit it and knocking it off the basking site and chased it around the tank. I said, look right now!!! this is going to lead to someone getting very hurt or more likely dead. He said he is just doing what is being told but would talk to the manager. I asked if I could talk to the manager and was told they were on break, yeah right. At this point I was feeling the crying coming so I quickly walked out of the store. As soon as I got to the car I just cried and cried the whole way home. I am fighting the urge to go back and put it on my credit card just to save it. I keep telling myself that I can't save them all but I tried to tell them how to fix it and that is all I can do at this point.

 

[ladyknite]

awwww..........i'm sorry you witnessed that.

maybe a p/t reptile specialists job awaits you there?

 

[staylor]

It is not helping that my daughter saw it and is bugging, Mom we have to go get that baby before it is killed. It may cause a fight by I think I am going to go get the aggressive. If I take the one being attached the aggressive one is only going to find someone new to pick on. I am really struggling with this. Do I let it be or step in and remove the aggressive one to save the others? I am so torn on what to do!!!

 

[renich]

How awful! Can you call and talk to the manager. I have to look up a post. I think someone else (Corrine comes to mind) had a similar issue with her local pet store. She was taking measures to do something about it. Don't know what ever became of it.

 

[staylor]

This store is Petco. None of them in there care. I have said something many times and they just get annoyed and walk away.

 

[Justus85]

I've seen the same lack of care at my local Petco. Fortunately beardies are immensely popular and sell out super fast here. Unfortunately though some born during the height of the recession never sold and have lived their entire lives in the petco viewer tank. I've seen three such dragons at the two memphis petcos that i have been to. So what would you guess they do? They raise the price to 150$. Wow really good marlkting there, pay more for an overweight lethargic adult beardie. Really is sad. Another thing I notice is it seems these Petco tanks NEVER have proper lighting. *sigh

 

[Pogie]

ggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I hate petstores. I think pet stores should sell dogs and cats and budgies. Why doesn't anyone start a reptile / exotic pet store. That only sells rep stuff and has the proper training to deal with them and their special needs?

 

[renich]

We have specialized exotic pet stores over here. Some of them have the same issues as the chains.

 

[Pogie]

We have specialized exotic pet stores over here.

LOL, see what I mean by we cant get ANYTHING here . . . .
Just one more thing to add to my list.

It is a pity that some seem to be having the same issues as chain pet stores. Youd think if exotic is their speciality, theyd give proper care

 

[staylor]

I have emailed Petco Corporation about it and I am calling them today. I would love to see it so that exotics can not be sold in pet stores.

 

[Craiger]

We have a WONDERFUL exotic reptile store, here, in my area. It's The Tye Dyed Iguana....some of you may have just seen an article on them in the last Reptiles magazine.

 

[staylor]

I will look up the article. There is a reptile store in Jax that I LOVE going to but it is an hour away so I only get to go in there when doing something else in town.

 

[tinmantribe5]

I miss the lil Ma&Pa Corner pet store where the same Employees had worked there for years and really cared for and loved Customers&Pets A like! ;D

 

[Justus85]

i rescued my little boy rex from that situation. he was in there with like 9 or 10 other babies and all they had to eat was a bowl of veggies and small meal worms. they had no basking spot whatsoever and rex was just determined to get to me through the glass haha. he was one of the smallest guys in the tank but he has flourished and my attention and is now growing like a little weed haha. i can only hope the other beardies purchased go to a good household as well

 

[staylor]

I decided that it is just not a financially smart thing to go get him as much as I wanted to get the aggressive one out to give peace to the others.

 

[Justus85]

I stopped by another Petco in a town neighboring Memphis and OMG the beardies there were in even WORSE shape than the ones I saw at the Memphis Petco. Two of the beardies were a dark greyish black and sleeping during the day. I could see cricket corpses in the tank and of course the main food staple was meal worms which are practically the worst thing you can feed a beardie, especially a baby. There was no basking lamp and when I confronted one of the employees they responded that there was an undertank heater. That is not sufficient at all! They try to make excuses for the beardies in poor health by saying "oh he came in here kike that". Something has to be done to put pressure on this corporation to properly care for their exotic pets. Maybe I should contact PETA or something.

 

[beardie_love]

They try to make excuses for the beardies in poor health by saying "oh he came in here kike that".

YUP. I rescued a tiiiiiiiny beardie (about 4-5 inches long) from a chain pet store. They had no basking spot whatsoever. They had a fluorescent tube and a compact light. This little guy was barely moving, eyes pretty much closed. I have a thread on him. He was extremely emaciated, dehydrated.... I talked to the manager and he said "He came here like that. The owner dropped him off in that condition."

He said I can just have him, so I took him. Sadly, he died that night.

Why couldn't they DO anything to improve his health?

I know of this pet store (non-chain) who should just be closed down permanently. EVERY exotic pets' cage were FILTHY. I even saw 3 reptiles that were dead/dying. Their excuse was "that's how he came". Like REALLY. Not to mention, I had a friend who bought a puppy there, and the puppy was 'mentally challenged' ? I'm not sure what word to use. He died a month later. My friend went back to that pet store to do something about it, but they tried to pin HER on the death of the puppy.

But seriously, if pet stores can't handle and understand special requirements of ANY type of animal, they shouldn't be able to sell them. Especially reptiles.