Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey, i work at the petsmart in columbia, we just a little bit ago got 2 jackson's chams in, as usual one of the idiots set up the tank so yea, they are really small and they are currently really really dark grey, umm they are in half of a twenty long (each in one half) if sum1 could give me any suggestions on how to improve their situation that would be gretaly appreciated, thanks a lot cya later
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1.1 leopard gecko (goliath, gebco)
0.0.1 hypo red bearded dragon (puff the magic dragon)
0.0.1 schnieder's skink (ghandi)
1.0 white's dumpy treefrog (buddha)
0.0.1 house gecko (geico) (currently missing)
1.0 rabbit (oreo)
0.1 dogs (kristy)
1.2 cats (joey, megahertz, tinkerbell)
2.0 goulian finchs (billy and bobby)

First of....go to your management and ask to open up a reptarium or 2 and put the little fellas in there. That in itself is a HUGE improvement and more what the buyers shold expect to have to buy. I believe Petsmart still sells the reptariums. Maybe you can "bundle" the used reptariums and the chams as a set for those that dont have any items ready at home. Secondly..get them separated.....Thirdly...get them hydrated..frequent sprays with a regular spray bottle and hot water (not warm..HOT...it will reach the cham warm when you spray them). Be sure they at least have vines in the cages so they can climb...they will unstress soon. Place the reptariums in Aquarium stands if possible. Keep them in an area where there is a diminished traffic pattern (I know it's a pet store and lots of people walk by, but dont put them in an aisle where there is more traffic).

I know these are ideal suggestions...at the very least..get them in a screen cage and not an aquarium. And get them hydrated quickly...
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, R.I.P. 11/17/2003)
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Veiled - No Names Yet
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
0.0.1 3 toed box turtle - No Name Yet
0.0.1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle - No Name Yet
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

You could make a case to your management to show a correct setup...and offer the whole setup for sale. The customer would have to buy all the parts of it anyway (or should, so have a list of "needs" and prices to make your point), and you may impress someone so much with how great it looks that they buy EVERYTHING. I had that happen at a shop I worked at. A cham came in from a private owner. I set up a Reptarium with live plants from a nursery nearby, correct lighting, climbing branches, dripper, fogger etc. out of my own pocket for a display (and to help the cham). I wasn't even finished with it when a woman who had been watching offered to buy the entire setup cash down to the pot saucers. It was really gratifying and she has a lovely little female veiled who has done great.

In addition to the set up combo pack to attract your management to provide correct care, you can appeal on grounds of the health of the animal. I know management/corporate at some of the chain pet stores and they have a strict planogram that they have to follow. I don't know who draws up the planos(probably a marketting team) but many times I see animals in an incorrect set ups or overcrowded simply because the plano dictates the set up and not the actual needs of the animal. BUT...as I just spoke with a friend(who is the GM of one of the major chains)she said that if I(as a customer)see animals in stress, I could call the District manager and make a complaint. They will send out reps to investigate and if the actual store is over their limit of animals, for instance, they'll face a consequence and correction follows. So in your case, a complaint could be made on the current health condition of the animal and they would have to respond even though it may mess up their plano. I'll talk with my friend and see if she can give me more suggestions. Good Luck-Maggie