Re: Pet Stores

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Posted by bexley on December 29, 2002 at 15:57:03:

In Reply to: Pet Stores posted by Nokinja on December 29, 2002 at 08:05:16:

Some pet stores are bad through ignorance, some are just plain bad, but some actually do the best they can in a tough industry. The place I buy my crix has an excellent reptile department, and at least two of the staff are die hard herpers. The cages are clean, lit properly, heated and a good size and environment for whatever reptile they have in them.

But... (you knew there had to be a catch)

Their fish department is disgusting. Dirty tanks, floaties, half nibbled corpses, sick fish, its horrible. Sad thing is, I know the guy that put the aquarium dept together, we were good friends throughout university. While he was at that store, the tanks were spotless and they were the best place in the area to go. He bred cichlids in his home, as well as many other fish, and it showed in the store how much he was into fish, both freshwater and marine. Then, inevitably, he moved. The store still has this huge area of aquaria, but no one good enough or caring enough to look after it in the same way.

All I can say, is I'm very selective about what I buy where. I went to an exotics dealer who is well known in the area to get Spike and also everything to set up Tempest, I try to support him as much as possible. I buy all my other pet food at a pet supply store that doesn't sell animals at all. I'm not going to take my anger out on some kid who's just working there to make money for school, I'd rather talk to the manager or the head of the department and then see if I can do anything to help out.

:First of all, I know many/most of you hate Pet Stores because a lot of people come on here and say X place was the worst store ever. Dirty, unfed animals in boxes type deal.

:Sure that true for some places, but not all places.

:I work in a Pet Store, in Halifax, NS. Pets Unlimited.
:I can seriously say that the staff of EVERY department of the store, Fish, Birds, Dogs and even reptiles are the most competent of people for the job. They know their stuff.

:Now, we DO have Iguanas, which I dont agree with because of overpopulation but that's not a decision I make.

:All of the reptiles are cared for properly, the tanks aren't over crowded, small or dangerous.

:I have Herps and have had them for years. I know proper husbandry, I know how to properly care for them.
:
:I just want to TRY and dispell the misconception that all petstores are bad. Eitherway, there's always room for improvement. Some more than others.

:Thanks for listening.

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