My heart hurt a bit today

[etanainen]

I've been visiting some pet stores for supplies for my other pets, and now and then will come across bearded dragons. I don't have any of my own yet.

Today in one pet store, there were 7 baby bearded dragons in one tank. Without the tail they were about the size of my finger (I have large hands and obviously I didn't hold anyone so it's a bit of a crude approximation). They were running around, making little dragony piles, and being all kinds of wonderful and sweet little creatures.

Their tank was full of poop. The newspaper they lived on looked like it'd been wet and dried up many times.
There was a big sign about a "sale" of these "lovechildren" of two beardies of the pet store owner. Very tempting for an impulse purchase.

I found myself counting their fingers and toes and checking the tail tips - every single little thing seemed intact, every little beardie so perfect and pretty, but I wonder how long that'll last.

:|

They did have a basking light, but it was placed really low inside the tank, and a long lamp across the top that I hope was a proper UVB as they sold those in the store. There also were pretty big live worms and some greens in a food dish.

My heart hurt, because I have no practical experience, but even I know that they should have at least kept their tank more clean. I kind of regret not pointing it out to the person who was behind the counter, who wasn't the owner.

Just wanted to share this, I hope it's okay.

 

[DaisyDragon123]

That's pretty much the fate of pet store dragons. It would have made no difference telling the clerk about the improper environment.

 

[DragonWayOutWest]

I find myself doing the same thing in every pet store. It's so sad and I wish I could bring them all home.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Yes, the classic sad tale, which is a huge reason I cannot find myself visiting the stores very often. I would most likely buy one every time, even though I know that they would just bring more in.
They are so sweet & precious & do deserve so much nicer & cleaner surroundings in the stores.

Tracie

 

[etanainen]

Thanks for the replies, all.

Poor little babies, I keep thinking of them. I've also been thinking of this huge and quite plump beardie in a different store, who was living on sand. His/her tank was clean and nice, but... sand.

Sometimes I wish I worked in a pet store so I could find out about the proper care of all the sweet creatures, and make sure that they get the care they deserve on my shift at least.

 

[kingofnobbys]

You really need people to have to have a permit system to buy and keep reptiles as pets over there.

And - I'm firmly opposed to pet shops carrying reptiles as stock under any circumstances for the reasons above and others (all related the husbandry and reptile health and welfare shortcomings when the pet trade gets involved).

There's no way the staff in that shop would be giving proper care and adequate quanities of high quality live insects to those poor little hatchling .... I'd bet they just toss a hand full of cat or dog food or mealworms in once a day if at all .

 

[etanainen]

Yes, a permit system would be a good idea. It sickens me that animals are sold as "great gifts" or are "on sale", for gawd's sake, they are not toys.

The hatchlings I saw did have some live worms in there that weren't mealworms, unfortunately I didn't recognise what they were but at least it wasn't cat food. They also had some greens. All the poop on the mucky newspaper was awful though. It also looked like the babies had some things to climb over, but not much to hide under. Must be stressful, of course the tank also was placed at a height convenient for little children to go poke at the glass.

There also was a turtle half the size of my head living together with a huge iguana. I don't know the first thing about either, but it didn't feel entirely right to me.

I wish there was a good way to help those animals without supporting the mistreatment of them at the same time. :dontknow: It's such a joy to buy both supplies and animals from a store where the staff actually cares AND does the right things, but those are much too rare.