1 nice petco employee, the store is a black hole however.

[SunShine]

My significant other and i where in petco, and I have to see the beardies whenever I go in. There was this little tiny one who should NOT have been up for sale at all. He was skinny, I could see his hip bones, and every time another one walked by, he/she would get stepped on by the others who where at least twice his size. Everytime he got stepped on he would sink lower to the ground. He tried to run and we noticed he had a limp, it looked at if his front hand was crumpled and bent backwards on himself. It looked like his eyes where half closed too. I almost talked my bf into getting him on three different occasions (he doesn't want to pay $60 we don't really have for a little guy he thinks will die at the end of the week :roll: ), but anyways, I pointed this out to an employee and he was looking at the little guy then went to go get a bunch of small crickets. He dumped some on the other side of the tank and then some in front of the poor baby. He ate them right up, and the guy even stood and watched till he was done eating so he could keep the other beardies away. I went home happy knowing that the little guy has a full belly tonight at least. Hoping to see that employee again soon. I am curious as to what happens with the beardies when they get older, they only sell tiny ones.
Also gonna ask him if there is any way I could get him for cheaper. Like a, he is probably not gonna make it anyways so you can pocket him and go ninja status and meet me by my car :lol: or cheaper =) I just know if he is there in like, a week I can get him.
Have a spare little tank too.
(and this is why he doesn't want me looking either lol)

Everyone please wish the little guy luck =) he was literally a third the size as everyone else.

 

[Jess]

It doesn't hurt to ask if you could take him for free, or at least get a discount. I observe at a vet clinic, and Petco gave me a baby beardie for free since they were just going to have him put to sleep.

Just to warn you though, he could have more problems than you might initially think. Petco's beardies are from the reptiles equivalent of a puppy mill, so many of them are loaded with health problems.

 

[SunShine]

It doesn't hurt to ask if you could take him for free, or at least get a discount. I observe at a vet clinic, and Petco gave me a baby beardie for free since they were just going to have him put to sleep.

Just to warn you though, he could have more problems than you might initially think. Petco's beardies are from the reptiles equivalent of a puppy mill, so many of them are loaded with health problems.

Yeah I was thinking about that, but it breaks my heart to see the little guy like that. Maybe they will give him to me, that would be nice, and maybe after he gets healthy someone will want to adopt him =) or we'd get attached and keep him XD Either way works for me :lol: (both of the pets I have had since becoming an adult where rescues, I have a major soft spot.)

 

[Mt3]

I bought a young beardie from Petco last year because I didn't know better at the time. He had health problems from the very start. When I had taken him to the herp vet, she noted that it could be a number of things, even neurological defects caused by having such young babies stripped from their home as soon as they hatch and shipped off to retail stores to live in disgusting housing conditions. Since then, I decided I wouldn't give Petco any more of my money until they stop selling live animals.

It's good that you ran into an employee who at least tried to help that baby out.

 

[emilykay405]

It's my experience that most employees are willing to help as much as their story policies allow (which is sometimes not a lot). That being said if you ask you will probably get some kind of a discount (might only be $20...but it's still $20). I recently 'rescued' two bearded dragons from the same Petco. Both situations were caused by poor husbandry skills and when I gave the employees a mini lesson I'm confident that all of their bearded dragons (and the other reptiles I've given them advice on) will be much better cared for.

There seems to be a rash of extremely small beardies being shipped to the big chains though...our first beardie (not of the above mentioned) was probably only a week or two old when we got him.

 

[Atrax]

I hate what these pet stores do to these wonderful animals, and than they say "it's company policy", that ticks me off so bad I could strangle somebody
I'm glad you found an employee that was at least willing to try.

 

[SunShine]

I'm upset and need advise. I went back to petco and the most the manager (not previous helpful employee) said he could do was sell him for 48. But after tax it's still over 50. He was even worse than yesterday, his eyes just half closed and barely moving. I pointed out what was wrong with him, and he said he was fine , just the other ones where shipped in when they where older. This guy was not even four inches.
His hip bones are so noticeable I could see where and how they connected, his head was smaller than my thumb nail. He is way to young to be selling. Apparently it's illegal for them to sell one so sick and so young? I'm hoping in a worse case scenario I can bring that up and maybe get him. Twenty off would make him thirty, which is far more doable. I am just really frustrated.
I am going back tomorrow in hopes I can talk to the other guy (was not working today) and see if he will be compassionate.

On a different note, the petsmart here has their beardies on repti carpet not sand =)

 

[saleen89559]

Heres what makes me mad about them..

You say your local Petco houses Beardies on repti-carpet, but the one local to me says they checked into it and its company policy to house them on the white vita-sand. Want to know the exact reason for the vita-sand policy?

"Petco requires Bearded dragons to be housed on Vita-Sand because most Bearded dragons are dark in color and white Vita-Sand makes them more visible to prospective buyers."

I wish I had a reliable small time pet/reptile store locally, but I don't. I will have to continue to purchase things at Petco that I need in a moments notice, otherwise all my purchases are done online.

 

[randommonks]

Just wanted to warn you, if the manager was not cooperative with you, it's unlikely that a regular sales associate would be able to help you if he wants to keep his job

It's generally what's wrong with dealing with a corporate company, although my local Petsmart is far superior (most of the time) to the Petco here. I know that Petsmart has a quarantine/vet visit for animals that look sick, you can find out if Petco does as well and ask that the beardie be put into quarantine so it can get an adequate amount of food so it can be sold at normal price when it's healthy.

 

[SunShine]

Heres what makes me mad about them..

You say your local Petco houses Beardies on repti-carpet, but the one local to me says they checked into it and its company policy to house them on the white vita-sand. Want to know the exact reason for the vita-sand policy?

"Petco requires Bearded dragons to be housed on Vita-Sand because most Bearded dragons are dark in color and white Vita-Sand makes them more visible to prospective buyers."

I wish I had a reliable small time pet/reptile store locally, but I don't. I will have to continue to purchase things at Petco that I need in a moments notice, otherwise all my purchases are done online.

The local 'petsmart' we have a mart and a co like, two miles from each other. Petco is on sand =(

 

[SunShine]

Just wanted to warn you, if the manager was not cooperative with you, it's unlikely that a regular sales associate would be able to help you if he wants to keep his job

It's generally what's wrong with dealing with a corporate company, although my local Petsmart is far superior (most of the time) to the Petco here. I know that Petsmart has a quarantine/vet visit for animals that look sick, you can find out if Petco does as well and ask that the beardie be put into quarantine so it can get an adequate amount of food so it can be sold at normal price when it's healthy.

I think they took him in back to feed him, but I don't think he is quarantined, think he went back in after feeding him.

 

[sheri85]

this is so sad. i got my Archer from Petco (before I knew better) and i'm very glad that i got him because he's such a joy, but the way Petco is with their animals is just heartbreaking and i will likely not buy a beardie from there again.

that poor beardie is going to die if he's not cared for soon; why wouldn't the manager be cooperative in letting him go to a nice home?? this makes me so angry!

 

[crevalle]

It doesn't hurt to ask if you could take him for free, or at least get a discount. I observe at a vet clinic, and Petco gave me a baby beardie for free since they were just going to have him put to sleep.

Just to warn you though, he could have more problems than you might initially think. Petco's beardies are from the reptiles equivalent of a puppy mill, so many of them are loaded with health problems.

That's great to hear. I had the opposite experience--I offered to take a weakling Savannah monitor off their hands, and try to save it, but they said they can't write it off if they do that. So, it died. But, then I thought, yes, you would still get to write it off as a donation I believe. Anyways, glad it worked for you.

 

[SunShine]

Poor little guy had a yellow fungus on his back. I told an employee and she brought him to the manager, but he was stupid and said it was just poop. But it was bright yellow and fluffy. Was trying to get him quarantined at least so the other guys wouldn't get it but he put him back in. So the others probably have it by now.

 

[FoothillBeardie]

Picket the store... Only thing I can think of. Maybe he'll get pissed and give you the weakling so you will leave... Might be worth a shot.