Other pets (pics and discussions)

[Kantar]

I was in a petland and they have a little reptile system going on but with way oversized heat lamps. 3 corn snakes were on the top level and the temperature gauge read 110 degrees. All 3 corn snakes were against the glass trying to get cool so I wrote a letter to the head office. When I went there all the times after the temperatures were all good and the snakes were happily not against the glass. I just feel so sorry for those corn snakes since they will live their whole lives at that pet store trying to be sold for $180-$210 while you can go to a breeder in the city that will sell them for $45-$70

[RedSidedSPR]

Makes me want to do something for the animals in the PetCo I mentioned. Almost everyone is being fed wrong, housed poorly (to death) or sick. The poor baby water dragons with this mouth disease makes me angry.

Would this qualify as animal abuse or something?!!

[drache]

definitely qualifies as abusive neglect

[guidofatherof5]

All you can do is make complaints to whatever authorities are available.
An animal with an illness that isn't being treated for said illness is abuse.
Whether or not it's a chargeable offense is a whole different story.
Keep a log of all the dates, times and names of people you talk with.

[Charis]

Also can depend on how knowledgeable the Animal Control rep or whoever else you might contact with jurisdiction is on exotic animal care. They probably know what to look for as abuse in a fair number of species but might not know how serious some of the non-ideal conditions are. But yes, I'd definitely report them and I would try to contact corporate as well. I doubt most of the people there care much but they don't like calls about their care (and the possible bad publicity) and if one person is persistent enough or they get enough calls from several people, occasionally I've heard of the conditions being improved from internal pressure, even if the local manager and employees are poops.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely contact them. Like you said, they may fix it just for the public image.

[d_virginiana]

Speaking of those awesome little pacman frogs, I'm considering one.. Do the require a heat lamp, or just a warm room temp?

Wow, this thread exploded overnight! They're actually surprisingly high maintenance little animals... Also, they are actually frogs, not toads. They survive long periods of drought by going into estivation.

Their temps should never get below 75, and a daytime temp of around 85 is ideal. Trevor has two lamps, his daytime lamp, and his night-time red bulb for winter. Also you need a hygrometer in the cage and humidity needs to stay between 70 and 90, so they have to be misted several times a day and their tank needs to be modified to hold in humidity (duct tape and seran wrap work just fine).

They're neat little animals, but they are a ton of trouble to really keep healthy.

[Hornets23]

I think it is equally likely that it is Petco corporate that is the problem. At my local Petco some of the employees are actually quite good but there is a lot of pressure to sell sell sell. I think that is way more important to petco than the animals. The motto that animals come first is a joke. I've known a few people who worked in the Petco salon. Getting dogs through fast was for more important to management than doing a good job. Also, even if the dogs were there all day, they weren't allowed to take them outside to go to the bathroom. I got the sense that the people who work there do care about animals but the larger company doesn't really care about animals or employees. The reason it seems like Petco has crappy employees is because they have massive employee turnover and dont really care to keep good ones. I used to shop there some but I avoid if at all possible now.

[RedSidedSPR]

Lora,

My room temp would keep it there, humidity is easy for me, cause the room is high, and i mist anyway...

From what I've read, while I like tanks better, plastic tubs/bins are better for these guys, cause it keeps the humidity much better, and people who use both say the frogs eat better and stuff in them anyway, so..

I could do this with SUBSTRATE, WATERBOWL. pretty temptime. I got the other stuff, including a 15 gallon plastic bin lying around in my room.

I think it is equally likely that it is Petco corporate that is the problem. At my local Petco some of the employees are actually quite good but there is a lot of pressure to sell sell sell. I think that is way
more important to petco than the animals. The motto that animals come first is a joke. I've known a few people who worked in the Petco salon. Getting dogs through fast was for more important to management than doing a good job. Also, even if the dogs were there all day, they weren't allowed to take them outside to go to the bathroom. I got the sense that the people who work there do care about animals but the larger company doesn't really care about animals or employees. The reason it seems like Petco has crappy employees is because they have massive employee turnover and dont really care to keep good ones. I used to shop there some but I avoid if at all possible now.

Hmm.. Yeah, makes sense. Probable the same with petsmart, why my local is like your local PetCo.

[frostyftw]

I bought a heat light at PetCo with some bulbs once.

I had to bring it back because it was broken...

I exchanged it...

It was broken again when I tried it...

Brought it back....

After three exchanges, they said to try the heat supplies in an outlet at the store.

Only one worked out of like 10.