Re: Horrible conditions in a pet store.. long post sorry

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Posted by Stephen Barger on February 12, 2002 at 23:07:43:

In Reply to: Re: Horrible conditions in a pet store......... posted by Terry Parks on February 12, 2002 at 20:10:29:

I understand where you are comming from. Many petstores sell reptiles as commodities, and whether they live or die makes no difference. I breed and sell waxworms/superworms and mealworms, and sell them to local petstores here in VA.
One of my biggest customers, who for the longest time I thought actually cared about reptiles, and I have bought many a snake from him throughout the last few years, turns out to me another money hungry man. He makes no since, he has a contract with a local vet, so
no matter how many animals get sick, they can be treated all for one contracted yearly sum. Well, he has Green Iguanas with broken tails/legs (untreated), he just sold a albino burmese python with severe mouth rot (untreated), he has a ball python with Upper Respratory Infection,
and many other examples. He keeps his cages "clean" of feces, ect. But apparntly he doesn't care other than that. As long as it looks good so he can get it off the shelf for the 5 day gaurantee (which for reptiles isn't anything.) he is happy. He is a multi millionaire that has been in the business since the 70's.
What can you do??? I know this man, I talk to him all the time. He knows his animals are sick. I know it, but toooo many people don't. What happens?? Someone buys one of these unfortunate animals, and then brings it back months later (poor animal) and it is sick or dead, and he says they cared for it improperly, or if its alive suggests they take it to a vet.
This is awful for the animal, bad for the unsuspecting customer that waists money there, but probably tramatizing to the poor child who thought they were getting a pet. Unfortunately this probably turns people off to the reptile trade (as they believe all herps are impossible to keep) and we as an industry have lost another possible supporter, both public opinion, and a person that doesn't get to appreciate the true qualities of these would be great animals.

Also, in VA there are no special permits required to sell herps, with possible of certain CITES legal imports/cb individuals or certain mamals (sugar gliders), so there is nothing other than a business liscense to revoke.

Sorry for the long post... but I feel your frustrations.
Stephen Barger

: 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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: I understand where you are comming from. Many petstores sell reptiles as commodities, and whether they live or die makes no difference. I breed and sell waxworms/superworms and mealworms, and sell them to local petstores here in VA. : One of my biggest customers, who for the longest time I thought actually cared about reptiles, and I have bought many a snake from him throughout the last few years, turns out to me another money hungry man. He makes no since, he has a contract with a local vet, so : no matter how many animals get sick, they can be treated all for one contracted yearly sum. Well, he has Green Iguanas with broken tails/legs (untreated), he just sold a albino burmese python with severe mouth rot (untreated), he has a ball python with Upper Respratory Infection, : and many other examples. He keeps his cages "clean" of feces, ect. But apparntly he doesn't care other than that. As long as it looks good so he can get it off the shelf for the 5 day gaurantee (which for reptiles isn't anything.) he is happy. He is a multi millionaire that has been in the business since the 70's. : What can you do??? I know this man, I talk to him all the time. He knows his animals are sick. I know it, but toooo many people don't. What happens?? Someone buys one of these unfortunate animals, and then brings it back months later (poor animal) and it is sick or dead, and he says they cared for it improperly, or if its alive suggests they take it to a vet. : This is awful for the animal, bad for the unsuspecting customer that waists money there, but probably tramatizing to the poor child who thought they were getting a pet. Unfortunately this probably turns people off to the reptile trade (as they believe all herps are impossible to keep) and we as an industry have lost another possible supporter, both public opinion, and a person that doesn't get to appreciate the true qualities of these would be great animals. : Also, in VA there are no special permits required to sell herps, with possible of certain CITES legal imports/cb individuals or certain mamals (sugar gliders), so there is nothing other than a business liscense to revoke. : Sorry for the long post... but I feel your frustrations. : Stephen Barger : : 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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