Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My family and I went into a pet store looking for a feeder rabbit for Moses. We've purchased from there before and felt the animals could be better housed but it never went beyond that. This eveing we were looking into the herp cages and found an aquarium with about 7 Long Tailed Grass Lizards (what was labeled on the tank). 5 of them were dehydrated to the point that they looked brittle. They had no eyes and their skin was sucked to their skeleton. Of course they were all dead but looked like they would turn to powder if you crushed them. Their water bowl was empty. I approached the owner of the store and he said they just started dropping like flies 2 days ago. I said "They have no water!" He replied "Now that shouldn't be!" I told him he would never see us again. Monday I'm calling the humane society in town and seeing if they even care enough to do anything about it. Anyone live near Waldorf MD. I'll tell you where not to go.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

It's a shame isn't it? The pet shop I get my feeder rodents, mealworms and crickets from had a nile monitor, young one bout 9 inches long, and a baby savana monitor that were so close to death that I took the owner back and showed them to him and mentioned trying to feed the critters they keep now and then, and that it might make for better business for them in the long run. I wasn't hostile about it, and the guy took care of them. About a month later they both looked so healthy I thought I saw a grin on their lil mugs. To some people a business, any business, is just about the money. Just a sad truth about humans in general I guess.

Quig

np

What is this shop called, I've only been impressed by ONE pet shop that I've visited in MD, but ofcourse they close down. I hate going to the other places.

Where near Waldorf? I live in Clinton by Andrews AFB. The store in Waldorf is RD pets. When we first started going there they seemed like a nice mom and pop store trying to make it. Things really went down hill. There's a store in Arundel Mills that's really nice but I'd bet they don't know much about snakes. At least they take care of what they do have.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

I also live near Waldorf and have noticed the samething with that store. Once I noticed some desert iguanas that were in terrible condition, one appeared dead. On a top shelf they ha a central american boa and a argentine boa for sale. There was a step ladder nearby, I used it to take a look and what I saw just shooked me. Both snakes appeared dehydrated, empty water bowls. Both were skinny as I have ever seen. Both tanks were full of waste that appeared to be months old. Worst I have ever seen. Just stopped to get feeders, but had to leave. Never been back. When they first opened seemed pretty well maintained. Won't go back.

I know which ones you're talking about. I never looked close at them though.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell