Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Their corporate # is listed herin. I know I posted this ferther down but wanted to re-fresh it. I know they are a great big company, but if enough people complain just maybe we can help these reptiles. As stated I know not all stores are bad but at least report the one's that are. Call there main office and report what condition these leos and any other reptiles for that mater are in. With everyones help maybe we can put a stop to the way they take care of there reptiles.

I was told by an employee that there adult male was brought in by a lady along with 5 others, sick and thin at the time. 5 employees took one home and this one stayed behind. They are now trying to sell it for $100.00. They have had it at this price for 6 months. They also had another one with a re-gen tail that they said they got from there distributer. I personally know and do not deal with who they get there reptiles from and I can tell you if that one did come in from there distributer it was included free with there other order and they are trying to get $100.00 for that one as well. These both are normals also. There babies were really thin and sick. The manager was not willing to adopt them out but was sticking to there $100.00 prices and there $29.99 for there sick leos. She stated I had no idea what I was talking about and was really rude. I think she knew she was caught. I am awaiting a call from there district manager to discuss this situation and waht else can be done to help stop these really bad conditions from continuing.

This is there main office # 1-888-583-6044.Please call and report there reptiles that are in need of help.

I understand people wanting to purchase these helpless leo's but in turn by doing this we are telling Pet Co. It is ok to sell sick reptiles.

I also do understand that all Pet Co's are not this way. There are the select few that have verry healthy reptiles and extreamly knowledgeabe staff. If you must go purchase from them and comend them for taking good and proper care of there reptiles at that store.
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Very Proud Owner:
2.0 Yellow giants, 0.4 Pastel Jungles, 1.0 Jungle, 1.0 High Yellow, 0.1 Blizzard, 0.2 Las Vegas Albino's, 0.1 Paternless, 0.1 Albino Tangerine, 0.2 Hypo het for Albino, 0.1 het for Albino, 0.0.1 Pastel het for Tremper albino, 0.0.1 High yellow het for tremper albino, 0.0.1 het for Blizzard
Plus 5 incredable Bearded dragons and Snakes too.

you can't really put a stop to their high prices since they can sell whatever they want for how much they want...animals are viewed alot like products...the store has a right to regulate the price it chooses to sell them at. and what is worse is that unexperienced people actually BUY animals like that; scrawney and sick but overly priced. don't ask me why but 90% simple common sense can tell you when an animal is ill. however, you may be able to get the SPCA on the case, saying they are selling sick animals to unsuspecting buyers and that they have refused to listen to advice. actually, i would take some pictures of the sickest animals in the store (don't forget birds and rodents too) and show them to the SPCA. if you show some pics to the SPCA they may be able to look into the main breeders and facilities that supply the big chains with their animals and close them down.
personally, i can't understand how even someone with little to no experience can look at a leo that is all skin and bones and think it is healthy....obviously a child wouldn't know but you would think an adult would know Disease when it looked them in the face!
Often, the way to go is to point out mistakes in their setups, and alot of times the people in charge of the reptile section ARE willing to learn even if their managers aren't.

Aside from my career full-time job, I was recently hired on as the part time reptile specialist at my local Petco. The condition of some of the leos, and just the leos, were as you had described and I made this aware to the staff. They simply stated that the former reptile "specialist" in the store claimed that they were healthy and should have thin tails. After addressing the situation, they immediately allowed me to take the animals to the local Vet and give them medical attention. The sick ones have been quarantined and are receiving supplimental care and are all returning to how they should be. They sell the adults for $69.99, which is reasonable, and the babies are in very good health. Aside from this, The broad variety of herps that they do carry are very well cared for and are very specific on their care and needs. It's just a matter of the main person in charge of these animals and how they decide to care for them. People can claim to know a lot about them, but what does management know if they aren't familiar themselves? I agree that it is very sad, which is part of the reason why I decided to take the position. Sometimes the best way to fix A problem is to stick your foot in the door and say hey, let me come in three times a week and assist in the care of your animals to avoid this kind of situation in the future. It isn't like leos are very difficult to care for. If nothing is done about this, and if someone in your area doesn't have the time to attempt to take a position there, I would honestly consider contacting the local aspca and let them handle things. Large corperation or not, they do not deserve to be treated unfairly and neglected.
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0.0.1 Rough Green Snake
1.5.0 Leopard Geckos
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0.0.1 Columbian Tegu
1.1.0 Collared Lizards
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1.0.0 Tokay Gecko

Please call in when you find a good store as well. The one in Peoria has made a vast improvement in the last year. One of the local herp club member is working there part time and doing a very good job. Jeff has a full time job besides Petco. He also has some teenage sons that keep his ahnds full as boys will do. However he has done a much better job of training the other staff members and carring for the herps.

You catch more flies with honey!!!!!

n/p
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chickabowwow