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Snakes and pet stores..

T

TheaN526

New member
I walked into a Petco the other day because someone told me about 29.99 Ball Python sale. I checked them out and they all looked "healthy". Of course I've heard and read many bad things about snakes from Petco as well. I didn't purchase one and I don't think I will.

Do you think for the most part snakes from pet stores are unhealthy because the associates don't know a lot about snakes or the store got them from bad breeders?

I would honestly NEVER buy from the store I work at. Our reptile room is awful. I've tried to make it better but it just seems we're ill equipped to have reptiles. The other animals seem fine compared to our reptiles..It's really sad and I don't know what I have to do. I've told the managers numerous times about different issues but they have yet to deal with it.

I haven't been to many other stores and looked at snakes.. I liked the display at Petco though. All the cages are clean and free of feces/urates/urine.

The Petco also had a baby corn snake that looked really skinny. The guy took it out and said he would talk to the girl in charge of the reptiles.

What's been your experience at pet stores with reptiles/snakes in general?
 
whenever I go into pet stores, the ball pythons almost always have stuck shed all over themselves. I think there's just not enough time for petstores to concentrate on the care of all the animals. The fish usually seem to get good attention (at least with most pet stores I go in to...they are always cleaning tanks). However, when I worked at petco there wasn't really a "reptile" person....just people that did worked on the whole store, and once in a while they'd feed/clean/ the essentials...but I don't think it goes above and beyond that. I'd just check over the snake before purchasing.

Of course your mom and pop stores could be better, or worse...depending on the situation.
 
I know PetCo purchases most of there snake stock from Gourmet Rodent. I don't know a whole lot about Gourmet Rodent, but I have yet to see something negative posted about them on the BOI.

I have purchased a couple of Corn snakes from my local PetCo. I don't go there with the intention of purchasing, but if I see something that is out of the ordinary, then I will. I realize that the associate I may have to speak with, will probably have no idea about the majority of the pets they sell. So I keep that in the back of my mind.

Regardless of who or where you purchase from, you are taking a chance. The snake you receive from PetCo, could be just as healthy and friendly as one you get from a reputable breeder. Then again, you could get a sick or infested one. I guess when you make a purchase, you need to be aware and know what to look for. Keep your eyes open and handle the animal, before you purchase.

Once you get it home, make sure you practice a strict quarantine policy. This will keep the rest of your collection safe. If something doesn't seem right, then return the snake. They give you a warranty. If you notice it before you purchase, then don't purchase.

You have to realize that everything depends on you and what you know.

Wayne
 
The petco they just recently opened by me has a Guy that is the "Fish Guy" I think... But when he is there, he also does reptile stuff. And he knows Reptiles. I go in there and talk to him a lot. He does what he can for all of the reptiles :) So, If I HAD TO.. I would get a snake there if it was somthing Unusual.. :) I'd prefer a breeder though!
 
When I went to the Petco I asked if I could handle the snake and he said "We do limited handlings of the snakes/animals." I understand that but he didn't want me to hold them at all. He also said the snake looked "Pissed off". I was looking at the Ball Python myself and didn't see why he/she would strike. I was kind of put off by the store because I really couldn't get any help with anything.

I just think the pet stores get overwhelmed with other aspects of the store and don't have the time to devote the energy to their reptiles. I know not all stores are like this.. Just a few I've been to.
 
TheaN526 said:
When I went to the Petco I asked if I could handle the snake and he said "We do limited handlings of the snakes/animals." I understand that but he didn't want me to hold them at all. He also said the snake looked "Pissed off". I was looking at the Ball Python myself and didn't see why he/she would strike. I was kind of put off by the store because I really couldn't get any help with anything.

I just think the pet stores get overwhelmed with other aspects of the store and don't have the time to devote the energy to their reptiles. I know not all stores are like this.. Just a few I've been to.
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Like anything, it's going to depend on the store you go to and the person you deal with. Why they would tell you, as a potential buyer, that you cannot handle an animal, I will probably never understand. If I cannot inspect the animal, the viv it's housed in or anything of that matter, then I am out the door. So I just don't get it.
 
medusacoils said:
Like anything, it's going to depend on the store you go to and the person you deal with. Why they would tell you, as a potential buyer, that you cannot handle an animal, I will probably never understand. If I cannot inspect the animal, the viv it's housed in or anything of that matter, then I am out the door. So I just don't get it.
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I don't get it either. They all looked fine and when I finally did handle one he/she was calm and easily handled. I also didn't want to buy from the store because I didn't know the sex.I mean it didn't really matter all that much but I did want to know.. They said the girl in charge of the reptiles would know and I could come back the next day. When it comes time to get a Ball Python I can adopt one from the Pacific NW Herp Society. They have a lot of great Ball Pythons.
 
I got Chad (my corn) from Petsmart, and had a great experience there. I wasn't intending to buy, but I was so impressed by the guy I spoke to--he kept the reptiles and knew all about them. Nothing he said has been disproved yet, and I've done a -lot- of research.

That said I agree with medusacoils in that it probably depends on the store. This store was extremely clean and well-kept, but not all pet stores are like that.
 
I've gotten a couple of snakes from Petco, my first Corn Snake, and Ball Python. Both were very healthy, and the person who sold me the Ball Python let me handle him, and seemed to know quite a bit. But every situation is different, because now their snakes are all skinny, and the knowledgable people that used to work there are gone.
The last time I went in there they had a Jungle Carpet Python for sale, he was thin, wrinkled from a real bad shed that was still attached, and they had crickets in the cage with him. I was sickened, and unless they get better staff again, I won't purchase any more snakes from them. But when they had the good staff, the snakes were in great shape, and I would have highly recommended getting a snake from them.
Just understand that the staff that tries selling you a snake, and seems to know very little about their husbandry, is the same people that care for them, so be prepared for possible health problems. And being a Ball Python, they are more likely to have health problems due to poor care, so forget about the $29.99 sale if they look unhealthy, you will pay less for a healthy snake in the long run.
 
I have never bought any reptiles at a Petstore. I just rather get them direct from breeder and usually cheaper usually. But petstores for the most part iamb assuming get wholesale healthy snakes. but once they arrive at the store doesnt mean the people working/takeing care of them have to much idea and thats where things can go bad, That doesnt go for every petstore out there, theirs alot that specialize in reptiles and take very great care and breed them aswell. I wouldnt buy from petco but their are some good stores out there IMO check the animals very well before you buy.
 
I think when it comes to pet stores, each has to be judged on it's own merits. One of our local pet stores has knowledgeable people working with their reptiles, while another pet store that recently closed, kept their reptiles in deplorable conditions.
When I went to the Petco I asked if I could handle the snake and he said "We do limited handlings of the snakes/animals." I understand that but he didn't want me to hold them at all.
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I agree with this policy of not allowing people to handle the reptiles. Not only can it stress the animal, but the emplyeee really has no way to determine exactly what experience the person wanting to hold the snake has.
I think most people here would prefer to buy breeder direct, but the pet stores have introduced many people to the hobby as well.
 
I keep about 40 snakes in my shop at any given time. Under no circumstances will I pull out baby snakes for customers to handle. Not that once is going to cause undue stress, but if I let everyone hold a snake that wanted to, they would be pulled out of their cages a dozen times a day. And inevitably they would get dropped, bite someone who would make a big deal out of it, etc. I will open the cages to let the animals be seen and pull one out for inspection if someone seems serious, but you can turn into a petting zoo really quick if you let yourself.
 
When I was working for Petsmart, I became known as the reptile guy. We didn't have many, and there were no snakes, but I made sure they were well taken care of.

In general, it seems that most pet stores don't clean their repliles' habitats often enough. More than once, I have noticed and mentioned sheds or other refuse that should be removed and returned the next day to find it still there. A couple of times I found stuff not removed by a third visit. Some places are better that others but I find that it has more to do with the people in their employ than the name on the building.
 
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