I figured the conditions would be aweful, as I had gone to a different petco before and can't get the images out of my head (ex: a 24" savanna monitor in an 18"x18"x18" cage with nothing but sand and dim light). I first walked in to see that they did have iguanas, but they were in a one of those nice tall terrariums they always seem to have, filled with nice branches. I did see one heat rock, but unlike other petcos I have been to, they also had two ceramic heat emiters, a couple spot bulbs, and what looked like 3 or 4 UV tubes. The iguanas were all between 12"-18", and looked to be in good health. I dared to tread further into the petco, back to the rest of the cages, and I wasn't dissapointed. They only had one ball python, but it was relatively fat and hiding under a habba hut, which is pretty normal unlike when I went to the other petco which had about 10 in a cage, all thin, pale, and slithering about as if to say "feed me". On further inspection, I came across the leopard geckos. To my great surprise, they even had humidity shelters (which is a rarety even in the better pet/reptile places). All the other habitats seemed to be decorated according to species,and they weren't over crowded. They didn't have any beardeds there, but the tank labeled "bearded dragons" looked very suitable. The only thing I didn't like was the use of calcium sand, but that seems more like they used it just because it's the only sand substrate they sell (I think they also have repti-sand, but I didn't see any there that time). Although the had ESU "lizard liner" which would have been better for the leo geckos.
I think I can shop at that petco and actually feel comfortable, but it would still bother me to be supporting a store that's known for having terrible living conditions for their animals, whether or not that one does. The price of the stuff they sell is a plus though. I could buy a setup for a baby leopard gecko there and leave having only spent around $40. The other local petshop around here that also takes care of their animals has a leopard gecko "kit", which is basically a 10 gallon aquarium with all the furnishings, that costs $105 (are they crazy?).
Well, I may have just felt like typing, but this is a petco experience that I HOPE never to forget.
later
P.S. I figured out how to get the employees at petco to help you. Just try opening something. i just wanted to see what that exo-terra magnetic hide rock looked like in person, and since there was no tape holding the box together, I figured I'd take a peek. Before I knew it, "can I help you out with something?". The fact that I sort of jumped a little when I heard that probably didn't help my case, so I quickly complimented them on the conditions of their animals and slowly eased into "so what exactly is this hide rock thing?".
All fat tails and leos have humid and dry hides.
