I know I shouldn't do it....

[Hail_Britannia]

...But damn it, I couldn't leave the poor thing there. Went to Petco to price tank upgrades for Cornwallis and couldn't resist taking a look in the reptile section, which was my first mistake. They had the usual, including a leopard gecko who was so thin I was concerned. I took at gander at the baby cornsnakes and asked the girl to open the tank so I could see them better, which was my second mistake. They had two, an anery who looked pretty good...and a normal who was so thin and delicate I was worried. The girl mentioned the snake hadn't been gaining weight very quickly and that it was eating CRICKETS because it wasn't big enough for pinks. I asked why they hadn't just tried small pieces of mice and she said that was a good suggestion. I just couldn't leave the poor thing there so I told her I'd take it, and that I wanted any feeding records that they had for it. Turns out they'd had it since the beginning of May and the snake weighs six grams (!!!!). They'd been feeding it about every ten days (there's your problem), and according to their records it had been eating pinks, but I kind of doubt it. I know I shouldn't support these stores but I took the snake home anyway and got it set up. A few quick shots here. I am concerned because the little head seems too big for the rest of him and his spine seems to stick out too much. I don't remember Cornwallis ever being this delicate but that was four years ago. I also don't know they sex, but here's the new little one. I hope he does okay. No name yet.

 

[BSLMichael]

Yeah... I went to petco and saw crickets in the corn tanks and asked about that. They claim it helps them. I tried to argue but obviously the petco associate knew better -.-"

 

[Hail_Britannia]

This girl was pretty nice, I think they just don't educate their employees well. No crickets in the tanks, thankfully....but still. I really hope I can pull him through. Seems so small and vulnerable- the pics make him look bigger than he is. Isn't hiding or anything, just hanging out in the tank, which I'm paranoid indicates a lack of energy. But I'm know to be a very anxious person.

 

[Jessica29]

Wow, that poor thing. I think I would start off feeding pink heads maybe every three days or so. Or half a pink. I don't know a whole pink, even new born just seems so big for him. He is deffinitly very skinny. Keep us updated and let us know if he eats for you. At least you're giving him a shot at life.

 

[Senusenu]

I was looking at corn snakes at Petco the day I got mine, and the associate told a customer that she could feed crickets as well. I was on my way to work, and I'm not very good at speaking up, but I mentioned it at my own job and everyone was pretty much "what the hell?" over it. I go there to look around now and then, and it always irritates me when I get into the store and look at their animals.

That snake is quite a pretty thing, though. I hope it fattens up quickly.

 

[Hail_Britannia]

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the snake is going to die. It hasn't moved hardly at all in hours and feels like a limp noodle. Barely moves its head. I know I shouldn't, but I offered a pink head earlier because I figured it looked like it was at death's door anyway. It didn't even move. I expect to wake up tomorrow and find it dead. It makes me very, very sad even though I know it's not my fault. I'll be going back to the store tomorrow. They do have a 15 day guarantee.

 

[Jessica29]

You did everything you could.

 

[Alicia P]

Poor bugger!

 

[Senusenu]

Poor little baby corn

 

[HVani]

Poor guy

 

[Chip]

It is admirable of you to care about animals, but in the big picture, buying that was a big mistake. You should have left him there to die. Sorry, but I can't give you a pat on the back for "buying a rescue." But now they have been compensated to do it to more poor snakes since it is profitable. And you'd better bet that they will.

 

[Hail_Britannia]

Well, it died anyway and I got my money back, so it doesn't matter now. Sorry, but I can only be myself.

 

[susang]

It is admirable of you to care about animals, but in the big picture, buying that was a big mistake. You should have left him there to die. Sorry, but I can't give you a pat on the back for "buying a rescue." But now they have been compensated to do it to more poor snakes since it is profitable. And you'd better bet that they will.

Sorry Chip the whole rep thing but you are so correct. It is hard lesson to learn. When we think we are doing a good thing, but it really is supporting their bad practices.

 

[BSLMichael]

Well, it died anyway and I got my money back, so it doesn't matter now. Sorry, but I can only be myself.

Sucks to hear that.

You have no reason to apologise!! Chip is wrong. Dosen't matter if you buy from them or not. If the corn you bought had died while they had it, they would of just gotten it replaced. So either way another corn was doomed. If you had saved that one you bought, atleast that would have been 1 less corn in a petco trash bag.

Atleast you *tried*.

Honestly pet stores make NO profit from animals they sell. What makes them the money is the supplies they sell for those animals.

PS I still do not reccomend buying from most pet stores to save your self from heartache like this...
I should also add, I mean the Large petstores that get their animals from sunpets!
i know for a fact petsmart sells their reptiles the same price that they buy them from sunpets for.

 

[susang]

Sucks to hear that.

You have no reason to apologise!! Chip is wrong. Dosen't matter if you buy from them or not. If the corn you bought had died while they had it, they would of just gotten it replaced. So either way another corn was doomed. If you had saved that one you bought, atleast that would have been 1 less corn in a petco trash bag.

Atleast you *tried*.

Honestly pet stores make NO profit from animals they sell. What makes them the money is the supplies they sell for those animals.

PS I still do not reccomend buying from most pet stores to save your self from heartache like this...
I should also add, I mean the Large petstores that get their animals from sunpets!
i know for a fact petsmart sells their reptiles the same price that they buy them from sunpets for.

I don't think Chip was wrong. Chip is saying by buying sick animals one is supporting the store. When they sell a sick animal they just replace it with another animal. Chip isn't saying OP did a bad thing, just not the best thing for pets in general. If money changes hands it isn't a rescue, it's a purchase.
You are recommending people don't buy from big stores, because big stores don't take adequate care of animal. If however their sales records show they sell, they then buy more to sell.

 

[Chip]

Sucks to hear that.

You have no reason to apologise!! Chip is wrong. Dosen't matter if you buy from them or not. If the corn you bought had died while they had it, they would of just gotten it replaced. So either way another corn was doomed. If you had saved that one you bought, atleast that would have been 1 less corn in a petco trash bag.

Atleast you *tried*.

Honestly pet stores make NO profit from animals they sell. What makes them the money is the supplies they sell for those animals.

PS I still do not reccomend buying from most pet stores to save your self from heartache like this...
I should also add, I mean the Large petstores that get their animals from sunpets!
i know for a fact petsmart sells their reptiles the same price that they buy them from sunpets for.

Micheal, I have owned a pet store for six years now, and worked at them for half as long as you have been alive. Including two chain stores. Understand something: when certain animals sell and turn a profit; that category of the retail product is replaced. When they either die or stay too long (and eat/labor up profits) that product is not replenished. Period. Snakes do not eat much, are low maintenance/overhead, and if they sell quickly, those $10 corns for $50 are most CERTAINLY profitable. Educate me about stores and the lack of profit they make off of animals they sell, please.

I don't feel like Britannia owed anyone an apology, her intentions were kind, just like everyone's who buys to rescue. But what she did supports us all seeing more corns in stores that look like that. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Every year, I WISH I could quickly find loving pet homes for super healthy babies that happen to be common mutations -like most every hobby breeder.

 

[Chip]

I'd like to add, sorry if I seem harsh, Micheal. I promise you I'm not talking out of my butt here. We all want to help by ending one animal's suffering, but it is always the greater good for the species as a whole to not let the store profiteer off of cruelty. And you are mistaken that animals make no money. Animals that stay too long make no money. Live animals in a retail store is a game of hot potato, and one I am happy to be getting out of.

I'm glad Britannia got her money back and not a store credit. That will keep from padding the reptile category.

 

[Christen]

To the OP, I am sorry that you went through that. I don't even bother to look anymore because most the time I end up arguing with them about proper care. Like stated I don't push supporting the large chains when you can get a much healthier baby for cheaper from a private breeder but at least that baby did die knowing that someone cared what happened to it.

I should also add, I mean the Large petstores that get their animals from sunpets!
i know for a fact petsmart sells their reptiles the same price that they buy them from sunpets for.

I would really highly recommend you do some more research. They do in fact make a profit of the animals they sell. I am not saying that a majority of the profit is in animals, that is in the pet supplies. The large chains typically don't pay more than $5 to $8 for babies no matter their morph. Then they will turn around and charge $40 to $70 for a normal baby. To me that is a profit.

 

[Chip]

Just saw the Sunpets thing! That is ONE distributor in Atlanta, and sure they might sell to YOUR PetSmart! A place called Blue Ridge Fish sells to the PetSmart in Asheville. And understand, your manager can request invoiced prices, then "VPL" prices. What you see on the invoice is not neccessarily what they are charged, not by any means. These invoices can be priced in such a way employees and even customers can see them, do you really think they would buy perishable live stock and sell it at cost? They would not. Please believe me these companies are in the business to make money. No live animals are bought then retailed for what they cost the store.

 

[AliCat37]

Buying an animal to rescue it may not make a difference to the many animals that will replace it, but at least it made a difference for that animal.