Re: Horrible conditions in a pet store.........

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Posted by Terry Parks on February 12, 2002 at 20:10:29:

In Reply to: Horrible conditions in a pet store......... posted by Brian Baker on February 12, 2002 at 16:51:20:

Welcome to the world of pet stores selling and carrying reptiles. I don't go to pet stores that carry reptiles myself and this is one of the many reasons. There are definately some pet stores that deal in reptiles that are excellent keepers and sellers. Most in my opinion carry them because of the rising interest in reptiles and for profit they carry. Remember a reptile in a pet store may stay there for quite along time before selling it. Reptiles require, as you know Brian, alot of husbandry. The pet stores that carry reptiles usually started carrying rodents for people with reptiles and some trade rodents for snakes. A snake that stays in a pet store for awhile requires rodents for feeding which cuts into profits. What about cleaning, etc. There's a pet store here that would rather the snake die then sell it for what it paid for it. Remember, they can write it off as a lose. Pet stores in California operate on a business liscence and anyone inspecting it wouldn't know a sick snake anyway. Go to the manager of the pet store. Introduce yourself as an avid snake hobbyist and discuss these things with him/her. They probably won't be agreeing, but will get them hopefully thinking about the issues. Is there a local herp society in your area? Over the years on these forums, these issues have come up and we all try to do our part ( a very positive point for reptiles I might add; seems we get alot of negative news). Every breeding season and off and on, the pet stores here ask Del and I if we have any snakes they can get. I was tempted last year because of a trio of blotched king hachlings we couldn't seem to sell and we had sold the breeders because we were cutting them out of our collection. Well, the females went to a couple kids whose parent had stopped by and these kids were sooo enthused over them. I gave one to each kid's parent for them complete with cage, substrate,etc. Could be future herpetologists in the makeing. I still have the male and he gets fed just like all my other snakes and cared for. He's actually becoming quite the screamer looking Goini I might say. I think one of the local schools is interested in having him in their science class. I'll probably donte him. I want to make sure he's well established before putting him in a classroom environment. They currently have a California Kingsnake that's about 11 years old so I know he'll be in good hands.

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Re: Horrible conditions in a pet store.. long post sorry Stephen Barger 02/12/02 (0)

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: Welcome to the world of pet stores selling and carrying reptiles. I don't go to pet stores that carry reptiles myself and this is one of the many reasons. There are definately some pet stores that deal in reptiles that are excellent keepers and sellers. Most in my opinion carry them because of the rising interest in reptiles and for profit they carry. Remember a reptile in a pet store may stay there for quite along time before selling it. Reptiles require, as you know Brian, alot of husbandry. The pet stores that carry reptiles usually started carrying rodents for people with reptiles and some trade rodents for snakes. A snake that stays in a pet store for awhile requires rodents for feeding which cuts into profits. What about cleaning, etc. There's a pet store here that would rather the snake die then sell it for what it paid for it. Remember, they can write it off as a lose. Pet stores in California operate on a business liscence and anyone inspecting it wouldn't know a sick snake anyway. Go to the manager of the pet store. Introduce yourself as an avid snake hobbyist and discuss these things with him/her. They probably won't be agreeing, but will get them hopefully thinking about the issues. Is there a local herp society in your area? Over the years on these forums, these issues have come up and we all try to do our part ( a very positive point for reptiles I might add; seems we get alot of negative news). Every breeding season and off and on, the pet stores here ask Del and I if we have any snakes they can get. I was tempted last year because of a trio of blotched king hachlings we couldn't seem to sell and we had sold the breeders because we were cutting them out of our collection. Well, the females went to a couple kids whose parent had stopped by and these kids were sooo enthused over them. I gave one to each kid's parent for them complete with cage, substrate,etc. Could be future herpetologists in the makeing. I still have the male and he gets fed just like all my other snakes and cared for. He's actually becoming quite the screamer looking Goini I might say. I think one of the local schools is interested in having him in their science class. I'll probably donte him. I want to make sure he's well established before putting him in a classroom environment. They currently have a California Kingsnake that's about 11 years old so I know he'll be in good hands.

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