Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok,
I was in a local petstore the other day to get a few new breeder mice because my colony was getting pretty thin. Everytime im there I always look at their reptiles because they usually have a pretty neat selection and I always enjoy looking, but i never buy because they are waaaaayyy over priced. Anyways, as i was checking out their snakes i noticed a baby ghost corn snake that looked just awful.

Now i have bred corn snakes in the past and I have never seen a hatchling this thin. You could actually see a small flap of skin on either side of the body about halfway down the snake. The snakes water bowl was completley dry, and the worst thing was that there were about 10 dead crickets with calcium dust on them in the cage. I watched this poor snake for about 15 minutes and it never moved. I thought it was dead so i blew on it through the screen top and I got a few small head movements.

I found the guy who was working that section, pulled him to the side and explained to him that crickets should never be fed to corn snakes and the reasons why. I also explained to him how animals should never have to live like this for any amount of time.He acted like he didnt care one bit.

There were more problems in the reptile section that I noticed like a few snakes that had very bad stuck sheds, green slime in alot of water bowls, and alot of dry water bowls.

I was so mad when I left that place, I wrote a very long letter to the main office of the petstore telling them the problems that I saw, how it was bad for business, and how myself and a whole bunch of other people I know will be boycotting that place until the conditions of the reptiles are made better. I also stated that if there was no improvement that I would contact the local humane society and I wouldnt let up until something was done.

ok sorry for the long rant....
here is a picture i took of the corn snake with my phone.

-----
0.1.0 albino burmese
1.0.0 normal burmese
1.0.0 redtail boa
1.0.0 albino corn
0.1.0 creamsicle corn
1.1.0 leopard geckos
2.0.4 copperheads
0.0.1 timber rattler
1.0.0 green iguana
0.0.1 veiled chameleon
2.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 mexican red knee tarantula
0.0.1 emperor scorpion

While I agree with your intentions unfortunately they will more than likely be for not. I chose to stop even making an effort to talk to the people at the larger chain stores because the fact is as you said they just plain don't care, They are there to make there minimum wage and that's it. They don't care nor do they know about the animals placed in there charge, My time these days is just better spent elsewhere in my opinion. I have tried and tried again but like I said it was all for not. They have care standards and so long as the employees stick to those standards "I never said they were good" the management will just tell us to get over it. I guess we could get PETA involved but remember because of them we can no longer buy mice at the large chain stores unless they are frozen. I for one have a couple snakes that have yet to take FT and I was outraged when one local large chain store refused to sell me live mice as feeders. The moral is getting an organization like that involved can do more harm to our hobby, I feel bad saying it but I honestly believe there is nothing for us to do about the care of animals in pet stores.
Foot Hill Reptiles

>>While I agree with your intentions unfortunately they will more than likely be for not. I chose to stop even making an effort to talk to the people at the larger chain stores because the fact is as you said they just plain don't care, They are there to make there minimum wage and that's it. They don't care nor do they know about the animals placed in there charge, My time these days is just better spent elsewhere in my opinion. I have tried and tried again but like I said it was all for not. They have care standards and so long as the employees stick to those standards "I never said they were good" the management will just tell us to get over it. I guess we could get PETA involved but remember because of them we can no longer buy mice at the large chain stores unless they are frozen. I for one have a couple snakes that have yet to take FT and I was outraged when one local large chain store refused to sell me live mice as feeders. The moral is getting an organization like that involved can do more harm to our hobby, I feel bad saying it but I honestly believe there is nothing for us to do about the care of animals in pet stores.
>>Foot Hill Reptiles
-----
0.1.0 albino burmese
1.0.0 normal burmese
1.0.0 redtail boa
1.0.0 albino corn
0.1.0 creamsicle corn
1.1.0 leopard geckos
2.0.4 copperheads
0.0.1 timber rattler
1.0.0 green iguana
0.0.1 veiled chameleon
2.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 mexican red knee tarantula
0.0.1 emperor scorpion

Well I had a long reply typed but all it did was quote the last post LOL. Not sure what happened there. I'm too tired to retype it again right now but I will tomorrow

-----
0.1.0 albino burmese
1.0.0 normal burmese
1.0.0 redtail boa
1.0.0 albino corn
0.1.0 creamsicle corn
1.1.0 leopard geckos
2.0.4 copperheads
0.0.1 timber rattler
1.0.0 green iguana
0.0.1 veiled chameleon
2.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 mexican red knee tarantula
0.0.1 emperor scorpion

dont even waste your breath on PETA. They dont even believe animals should be pets. Not even seeing eyes dogs or special service dogs. So if you try to get them into it... they will tell you that you are just as bad b/c you keep animals as pets. so that part is pointless
~kin
-----
~Sober Serpents~
www.freewebs.com/soberserpents
Corns, Creamsicles, A Black Rat, A pair of Leucistic Black Rat X Leucistic Texas Rat Intergrades, Thayeri, Cal Kings, A Jungle Corn, Ball Pythons, Leopard Geckos, Green Anoles, 2 Snapping Turtles, a White Cheeked Mud Turtle, an Eastern Box Turtle, a Bearded Dragon, an Adult Rescue Iguana, and A Baby Iguana

Do not get PETA involved. That will only make matters worse. If you decide call anyone it needs to be your states fish and wildlife department. You may even try contacting PIJAC. Most of the industry respects their input.

Honestly, PETA is sort of like an "animal terrorism" group. Although their intentions are honourable, not everyone agree's with them, and some of their methods are.. less than legal.

Honestly, the best you can do is contact either the local SPCA or ASPCA and get them involved. In Canada, we call them "Animal Protection Officers". I'm not sure what they are called in the US, but they are the ones who yo'd need to lodge a complaint with. Usually they work with the SPCA's. I also saw someone mentioning to contact someone from Fish and Wildlife (sorry if that is slightly wrong, again, we call them something different here in Canada).

The only issue with calling these people is that normally, they do not deal with exotic animals. The majority of complaints and experience they have is with domestic animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits, ect. Hopefully they are lucky and have someone available who has a general knowledge of reptiles and their needs, if not, calmly explain to them what a reptile needs, and point out that basic care is being ignored (the lack of proper food and lack of water).

Other than that, I can't think of much else you can do.

(I didn't mean to insult anyone who may be a member of PETA, I am basing this on articles I have read, and my own personal experience)
-----
1.0 Normal Corn
1.0 Blizzard Corn
1.0 Lavendar Corn
1.1 Ghost Stripe Corns
0.1 Amel Stripe Corn
0.1 Anery Motely Corn
0.1 Pewter Corn
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Children's Python
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake

I just got a great idea, Well its for the most part the same as the others but check this out. Get the physical address of the pet store. No name or anything just the physical address. Call you local Animal Control office "as they are called in the US" File an after hours anonymous animal neglect complaint and just give the physical address where you witness the complaint, Again do not give the name of the store just the address. Within a few days an Animal Control Officer will go there to question the people at that address and investigate the complaint. Chances are they would not goto a store, that's why you don't give a business name. One he/she gets there and realizes its a store he/she will more than likely go in for the heck of it and see for him/her self. If the care truly is bad he/she is sure to say something and even maybe give an ultimatum such as "Get these animals in shape in 20 days" in 20 days he/she is sure to check back and levy some hefty fines if they don't comply. This is exactly how it would work in my area but results in other areas may carry.
Foot Hill Reptiles

Guys I wouldnt waste my breath with PETA. I have dogs that I show in obedience trials. There are 100s of dogs in crates at these trials and PETA in the past has sent people in to open crates and let the dogs run. I dont know about you but when I bought my puppies they were close to 1000.00 each and I would hate to be them if my dogs were released ... lol... Anyway in my state department of fish and game regulates pet stores that would be the best way to go. I have alos seen petsmart house cali kings together in the past it was just them not knowing better. One of the employees asked me to answer questions for him when I was in buying dog food.

I finally have a free minute to reply. I'm not even 100 percent sure that this is a chain store because I have never heard of another location for this store or seen another location. I'm gonna be stopping by there again tomorrow and see how things are since I was there last week. I would be very surprised if that little corn snake is still alive.

I know that it probably won't do any good no matter how much I complain but I figure it won't hurt to try. I have even thought of trying for a part time job on my days off to maybe make a difference in the condition of the animals.

Well I'm still waiting on a response on the letter I sent if and when I do get a response I'll let y'all know what happens.

Thanks for the responses and suggestions

Anthony

-----
0.1.0 albino burmese
1.0.0 normal burmese
1.0.0 redtail boa
1.0.0 albino corn
0.1.0 creamsicle corn
1.1.0 leopard geckos
2.0.4 copperheads
0.0.1 timber rattler
1.0.0 green iguana
0.0.1 veiled chameleon
2.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 mexican red knee tarantula
0.0.1 emperor scorpion

I would not even consider a job there. They will hold you to the same standards and training as the other employees, Go behind there back and care for the animals properly and you will likely find yourself back on the other side of the counter. I am not trying to be mean this is just how it works.
Foot Hill Reptiles