Pet stores make me sad :'(

[TrebleClef]

Seriously, every single time I go into a pet store and see their little tiny beardies I'm overwhelmed with sadness...and the need to buy all of them. Unfortunately I can't, but the feeling is still there. They look up at you with those sad sad eyes, like "someone please get me out of here and give me a good home and take care of me!" My heart breaks for them each time. And to make matters worse the pet stores almost NEVER take care of them correctly. I usually always see sand as the substrate, food that looks extremely old just molding away in dishes, insufficient lighting etc. They look so extremely skinny too.

 

[CooperDragon]

It's definitely an issue, especially at the box stores. I know how you feel. I try to avoid the pet stores and put it out of my mind to an extent because there isn't anything I can do about it. I duck in now and then to get my baby beardie fix but it's REALLY hard not to just adopt them all as you said. Saw this guy all alone in a tank at Petco a few weeks back. Nice little leatherback. I hope he found a good home.

 

[TrebleClef]

Aww, so cute! I got my Loki at a pet store. When I took her to the vet recently I found out that she was actually quite a bit older than I thought. The pet store told me that she was 2 1/2 months old when I bought her (six months ago), so that would make her around 8 1/2 months old now. The vet said that she was definitely at least a year old if not a few months more than that. I'm sure the pet store didn't know the exact hatch date, even though they claimed they did. The vet did say that I got extremely lucky with Loki because she looks very healthy now, except her fecal did come back with pin worms, which we treated her for. Otherwise, her physical examination was wonderful.

 

[CooperDragon]

I'm glad Loki is healthy =). In the last photo I saw of her (the one with her head held up high letting me know she's better than me) I'd put her out around 8 months to a year because her head still looks kind of rounded. Since they grow at different rates it's difficult for me to tell with much accuracy how old they are. I can usually tell if they're a juvenile vs hatchling vs sub-adult vs adult but not with more detail than that. Some of the more experienced folks like AHBD may be able to guess more accurately though. I never put too much stock in their hatch date. As long as they're healthy and I have an idea of which phase they're in so I can give them an appropriate environment that's the key thing.

 

[illuminis]

My son and I went to a chain pet store just yesterday to get some water crystals for cricket and we walked by the beardies and they had a dish full of mealworms. I went to the clerk and said "you know your selling BD's that will ultimately get sick on a new owner?" She looked at me like I was crazy, I continued "those poor little beardies are going to get impacted." She scoffed at me and said "we feed them the best that is out there. We even feed them differently and better than home office suggests. It's the owners who don't listen and feed them improperly!"
Wow...what happened to customer service? What happened even in giving a blanket answer like "I will bring your concern to our manager."

 

[TrebleClef]

I totally agree illuminis. I always see them feeding extremely tiny beardies meal worms, and salad that looks like it's 3 days old. Maybe they should be handed a printed out copy of this site's care sheet

 

[illuminis]

It would have to go to the home offices of these places. I work retail and know there isn't much leeway they give in care for animals. They go with what's the cheapest option. That's why I could never work in a pet store. I would be rescuing every animal in the place. My house isn't big enough.

 

[CooperDragon]

There have been discussions about that in the past. It probably couldn't hurt to diplomatically offer care information (be prepared with reasons for changes) to store managers but don't be surprised if their hands are tied by corporate guidelines.

 

[neilkd21]

Yeah the big chain stores are pretty rubbish and all about profit these days. They may have at one point when started out been about the animals but now it's all corporate. Luckily I have two great independent reptile shops within 10 minutes drive so don't need to go to them.

 

[TheTechimals]

One time, I went into a Petco and went over to the beardies. I looked into the tank, and saw one belly up in the water bowl . I rushed to get help, but I think it was too late. The pet store guy took it out of the tank, and walked away with it. The good thing is though, when I went back to the same store and looked at the beardies, the water bowl had steps in it so the beardies could actually GET OUT OF THE WATER!! I got Copper from that same store, too. She started running on the glass at me when I came close to the tank. She looked suprisingly healthy, So my twin brother and I picked her. I still have the little box she came in <3. Ahhh, memories. I got her about six months ago. I kind of want to own a pet store when I grow up so I can keep better care of the animals.

 

[CooperDragon]

That's horrible =(. I'm glad they at least learned from the mistake. I'm glad you still have the box Copper came in. I still have the little box Cooper came home in too. Still have a photo of him in it the day he came home (7/23/11)

 

[illuminis]

well, this is interesting.....a little while ago I got a "will you survey our store" email. So I gave a bad review in relation to the way they take care of their reptiles. I just got a follow-up survey with a request to leave my first name and a # where someone from the corporate office can reach me at. One step at a time to make changes with chain stores, right?

 

[Toddzilla1108]

I do agree with this most of the time. What I found with my local store with beardies (CountryMax) are actually very good with keeping their beardies healthy. Next time I go I'll take a pic of the two hypo juveniles they have. Both super active and excited when someone comes by, and both a good size. I got my little girl from there, in slightly rougher shape (got nipped on her tail it appears, and she was very very tiny so a bit young).

The employees that take care of the reptiles are younger (probably 18-25) years and from what I've seen reptile owners at some point. They always mention how much they love their two hypos and don't want them to go

 

[illuminis]

I can be very diplomatic when need be but does anyone have suggestions or ideas on what I should say or recommend to them?

 

[CooperDragon]

I would stick to the basics and limit the number of suggestions you make. Having a solid substrate (probably non adhesive shelf liner) that is easy to keep sanitary using some F10SC or Wipe Out 1 is a good idea. I hate seeing them crawling around on poop filled sand. That just harbors bacteria and invites infections. Especially if they nip eachother and cause open wounds.

I'd also suggest using digital thermometers to monitor temps and suggest the proper range of 100-110 basking and 75-80 cool side to give them a gradient and temps adequate for digestion. The basking area should also be large enough for all of the dragons in the enclosure to fit into easily. If they are competing for basking resources then it will cause some of them to lose out and get sick. The more dragons they keep healthy, the more they can sell and the more money they can make (I hate putting it that way, but that's how it is).

If you have time I'd also mention that proper UVB should be used. A T8 UVB tube should be at 6-8'' over the basking area to provide sunlight levels of UVB. No plastic or screen in the way. In a larger enclosure, a T5 tube should be used and mounted 12-14'' above the basking area to provide sunlight levels of UVB. This is based on UVI readings from UVB lights and comparing them to the UVI levels during basking times (mid morning and late afternoon) in their natural habitat (3-5 UVI).

The combination of proper temperatures, proper UVB output, and sanitary living conditions should go a long way in keeping their dragons healthy.