Dumb woman at the reptile/aquarium

[Jchaspel]

I went to a local aquarium/reptile shop for the first time in a while today (usually order online) and the woman there told me superworms are just mealworms on steroids and that mealworms are perfectly fine for beardies! It's what they feed the ones they sell there, and I'm sure she's passing that bad info on to her customers.

 

[AZPumpMan]

If I didn't have to go to the pet store to keep my beardie healthy (lights), I would never walk through those doors. I use to want a job there, but I wouldn't be able to work with people that injure animals because its cheaper and finishes the job quickly. I also wouldn't spread misinformation to ANYBODY (experienced or not). I want to open a pet store that actually takes care of their animals and gives vet checks regularly (which big name brand stores normally refuse to do). Makes me sick :evil:

 

[MikesBeardies]

Mealworms are fine for a treat and is best fed in the morning because they take longer to digest. Beardies under 6inches should be fed mini meal worms which are really tiny. 7-10inches standard mealworms and adults
Super worms. They are only hazerdous if you feed them alot often.

My hatchlings, juveniles, and adults all get them atleast once a week for a breakfast treat.

 

[ScaleGripper]

You were correct in saying she gave you bad info!
Pet stores offer the cheapest, least beneficial, most abundant feeder they can,....the mealworm?? Many feed their dragons from a jar they carry on the shelves!! Fresh greens are unheard of??? Good luck establishing healthy eating habits for your dragon after PetSmart or PetCo involved their loving expertise?? Their inadequate UVB lighting and heat offered their dragons makes me angry! It baffles me that animals are allowed to be treated so inadequately and in plain sight??? Many people just don't know??......if they knew proper husbandry and care,....they'd never would have entered that pet store in the first place! I cannot support big box pet Stores!! I love small, family owned pet shops that care!
I have no idea what mealworms are for but they have no business near my dragons?? Since I must go through the same motions and efforts to feed my dragons,....why not hold a Dubia or Superworm to my dragon's mouth rather than a mealworm??? A treat is a hornworm!! I have dragons from 6 inches to 20 inches and all benefit from the appropriate sized, traditionally healthier live feeder insects for which the mealworm does not qualify!
Bless,
Bill

 

[rdoyle225]

I wounder if my Petsmart is different both of them. One in the town and one in the city . They gave me almost no bad misinformation told me what I need to get. Witch was all the right stuff they told crickets are good but not the best out there. They feed there babies nice good greens and cricket and have them on carpet they have repisun 5 on them I looked at them.

 

[CliffsMom]

Actually, I've been feeding my beardie young mealworms on a regular basis since he hit 8 months, and he hasn't had any issues with impaction or other complications. I keep them in the fridge to halt their development at the size I want.

That said, mealworms are a staple in my beardie's diet because he has an abnormally small liver and kidneys which cause him to have trouble acquiring fat and protein. Generally, they have a little much fat for beardies, but they've never had any negative impact as long as they don't get too old.

 

[PintoBeanDragon1000]

If its a chain store say petco or petsmart call corporate. Take in information and show her what she is doing is wrong. It makes me soooooooo mad when people dont care about the animals they sell.

 

[AllysonM]

If you go into a pet store (especially big box type) for any info regarding a certain animal, ask around to see if anyone there owns one and ask them all the same questions. I work at a big box store and am the only one there that owns many different reptiles and am known as the "reptile/snake whisperer". Most of my coworkers know that I know what I'm talking about when it comes to reptiles and they either come to me with questions or just send their customers to me.
The problem is that we aren't trained to know everything about everything. We have to learn it on our own. And MOST stores have some type of written (by experts) literature for us to use and/or sell to the customer. I for one have gone to the iguana and chameleon books in my store MANY times because I don't know jack about them (too busy researching the animals I already own lol) Some people just go by word of mouth. Others (the good ones) do their own research or ask their store "experts" for advice and actually listen.
Not everyone that works at the pet store is a clueless *****. Promise.