Petco Abuse

[CamrynTheCham22]

treat thier animals like absolute merchandise!

True that. Personally, I find that dubiaroaches.com has good supplies, way more than just dubias, though their dubia are great. Anyway, I agree with you in the sense that I wish I had found the forums before I bought my cham. I did plenty of research before, but I bought my cham from Petco because I didn't know where else I could buy one. Obvsiouly I know much much better than that now.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

I know all to well about the big box store Cham...the manager who read my first guys vet report (vet put the chameleon to sleep) just said, would you like another one, we will have two in Tuesday or Wednesday or just your money back! No emotion, no I’m sorry I sold you a sick animal with MBD already started, no we will try to do better, nothing! It was just $$$. My new guy from FLCHAMS is doing great. I wish I’d have found the forums first, several of you breed and it would’ve been cool to keep up with the breeder. But Harry’s doing great ( so far, so good) . I hate I haven’t sourced feeders from non-big box pet store. Any suggestions? Crickets and worms online people have ordered? I don’t want to support PetSmart and Petco. And I am supporting both. As one is on my way home, and one is beside the grocery store...convenient but treat thier animals like absolute merchandise!

You can find more bugs than you could ever use on EBay. I use them in the winter months when I can’t catch enough wild bugs to feed my chams. Never had a bad experience buying bugs on EBay.

 

[Tucklander]

True that. Personally, I find that dubiaroaches.com has good supplies, way more than just dubias, though their dubia are great. Anyway, I agree with you in the sense that I wish I had found the forums before I bought my cham. I did plenty of research before, but I bought my cham from Petco because I didn't know where else I could buy one. Obvsiouly I know much much better than that now.

Oh absolutely no condemnation, I fell for it, and I’m glad yours is good...it just was unsettling. I wanted an “I’m sorry” ... “ oh this is something we should talk to the staff about” ...it was just “ oh so the shirt faded when you washed it, would you like another?” WHAT? ...thanks for the supplier info. ...And we must choose our battles, but dang man...that was a living thing...urrrggghhh. His response still bugs me two months later.

 

[Tucklander]

You can find more bugs than you could ever use on EBay. I use them in the winter months when I can’t catch enough wild bugs to feed my chams. Never had a bad experience buying bugs on EBay.

Thanks...should’ve known EBay ! What don’t they have. HAHA!

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

Well my cham isn't entirely what one would call 'good' . . . she is quite the mystery. I got her on February 2, 2016, and she still hasn't shown any mature colors. She eats and drinks like a champ and is real active, so I know she is healthy, but she has always been a runt. Or rather, a cham with delayed growth. She didn't grow too fast when she was little, but in the past few months she has been growing like a weed. I think she might have some kind of syndrome where everything that happens in a female veiled chameleon's life just happens later in her life. I'm just glad she doesn't have MBD or something terrible like that. I can thank my lucky stars.

I love her so much though, no matter how little she is.

But still, curse Petco!

 

[Tucklander]

Well my cham isn't entirely what one would call 'good' . . . she is quite the mystery. I got her on February 2, 2016, and she still hasn't shown any mature colors. She eats and drinks like a champ and is real active, so I know she is healthy, but she has always been a runt. Or rather, a cham with delayed growth. She didn't grow too fast when she was little, but in the past few months she has been growing like a weed. I think she might have some kind of syndrome where everything that happens in a female veiled chameleon's life just happens later in her life. I'm just glad she doesn't have MBD or something terrible like that. I can thank my lucky stars.

I love her so much though, no matter how little she is.

But still, curse Petco!

Well she may be a “runt” or just from a small sized bloodline...glad to hear she’s growing well now...that’s a good sign she’s thriving, and good on you getting her to that point! ...well I gotta try and catch some zzzzs ...work will be calling way too soon ...take care.

 

[Remkon]

I wish I’d have found the forums first, several of you breed and it would’ve been cool to keep up with the breeder.

I think this is the core of the problem...
Most people starting in reptiles either buy as an impulse at petsotres or simply don't know where to obtain a reptile otherwise.
A lot of us will start to learn more about reptiles after purchasing and will also learn that breeders are a better alternative.
Some people, that are likely not passionate but just want something different than a hamster, don't feel the need to do more research and will continue to purchase at petsotres if their reptile dies (likely due to improper husbandry)...

I think the internet already does lots of good in educating people.
I remember when I started there was mainly dead tree literature and you were lucky to find a store that even sold reptiles, hence most people didn't even know where to find breeders unless it was trough a petstore ore by sheer luck...

 

[Tucklander]

I think this is the core of the problem...
Most people starting in reptiles either buy as an impulse at petsotres or simply don't know where to obtain a reptile otherwise.
A lot of us will start to learn more about reptiles after purchasing and will also learn that breeders are a better alternative.
Some people, that are likely not passionate but just want something different than a hamster, don't feel the need to do more research and will continue to purchase at petsotres if their reptile dies (likely due to improper husbandry)...

I think the internet already does lots of good in educating people.
I remember when I started there was mainly dead tree literature and you were lucky to find a store that even sold reptiles, hence most people didn't even know where to find breeders unless it was trough a petstore ore by sheer luck...

I agree, however it took two years to talk my wife into getting a Cham (or a miniature snake that doesn’t slither...as she first called it...now she admits he’s interesting to watch and I’ve caught her twice saying good morning boo boo...LOL!!!! But it is very much a shame that a delicate animal can be purchased on a whim with no research or prep done...

 

[DavidL]

I'm not a fan of either petco or petsmart and don't buy much from either store. I find it interesting that petco did not drive the quality of liveaquaria/drsfostersmith into the ground when they were aquired in 2015. Though, it looks like drsfostersmith is putting an end to their reptile section and only have a few supplies left in their clearance section.

 

[JoshD49]

I went to another PetSmart while I was killing time before a meeting just to see what I would fine and sure enough.....

They are cleaning the cages supposedly but poor little guy.

 

[JacksJill]

The stuff of chameleon nightmares.

 

[Chameleomom]

I do walk into Petsmart to buy my dogs food ,but I have learned to walk on the other side of the store not to see the reptiles in such bad conditions

 

[Kat_72]

I actually yelled at a manager when he shrugged me off about a dying panther! I tried talking to the employee first and asked if he was awre the chameleon was sick. He looked at me funny and said how do you know you an expert or something. Wow! I responded loud enough for others to hear that the chameleon was limp dusky and eyes sunken and the large watery stool that resembled pudding with no urate was a more obvious sign if he needed to ask an expert or a vet later why it died. The manager walked over and asked if he could help me I asked if they had reptile care training and he said they have a amazing vet that was in yesterday and all the animals were fine. I asked the name of the vet since I am familiar with the only two reptile vets in my area and he gave me a bogus name. From there the conversation on proper care escalated with none of them really hearing me. We went back the next week and the tank was empty they told me they sold it last week. Sure they did! I also reached out to corporate but I doubt it made any difference. It’s so sad. I don’t go anymore for feeders or dog supplies. There’s no helping those who just want money at all costs.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

I went to another PetSmart while I was killing time before a meeting just to see what I would fine and sure enough.....

They are cleaning the cages supposedly but poor little guy.

That is horrifying! And to think, people are actually buying these and taking them home. That poor cham, with nothing to hold onto. When I clean my cham's cage, I keep her in the cage because it makes her feel safer than being outside. Either way, if I were to take her out, she has 2 free range plants to pick from! And then you look at that picture with a little juvenile chameleon curled up on the floor in a corner because it doesn't know what to do with itself.

We can all see why we call Petco chameleons 'rescues'. And definitely not in a good way.

 

[Mendez]

Thanks for all the responses, and damn! Some of your horror stories are insane... To further show these horrors, I decided to share the rest of my pictures.

Here is the poor set up that allows no darkness/hiding spot for the nocturnal leopard geckos (these guys are supposed to sleep during the day):
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jGZXNg5aGqXKNvGH7

Poor little leopard found the only place with some darkness:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JgvSpEEAvVithPLu6

Here's a poor arboreal lizard of some type that has no branches to rest on so he/she clings on to the ceiling:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BKs1Vg6QWAKYZgk3A

P.S--I still haven't gone back to the store yet to have a little chat. Been doing summer homework 12 hours a day smh

 

[Remkon]

If I were Petco I wouldn't focus in having animals in stock but more behave like a store that sells kitchens or w/e...
Just have a few show models that look really good in awesome enclosures then make deals with suppliers (breeders) to stock animals on request.
You can show someone interested the catalog of what's available with pictures and basic husbandry needs (like enclosure sizes).
If someone then wants an animal you can send em home with a booklet on their chosen animal (Caresheet) and tell em to come back in a week or so when you'll have it ready.
Customer has more time to prepare his setup (bought at your store), your store and reputation look better, you sell a better product and your customers are happier.

Damn I should be CEO at Petco.

 

[jamest0o0]

They took errrr jobsss

 

[Brodybreaux25]

If I were Petco I wouldn't focus in having animals in stock but more behave like a store that sells kitchens or w/e...
Just have a few show models that look really good in awesome enclosures then make deals with suppliers (breeders) to stock animals on request.
You can show someone interested the catalog of what's available with pictures and basic husbandry needs (like enclosure sizes).
If someone then wants an animal you can send em home with a booklet on their chosen animal (Caresheet) and tell em to come back in a week or so when you'll have it ready.
Customer has more time to prepare his setup (bought at your store), your store and reputation look better, you sell a better product and your customers are happier.

Damn I should be CEO at Petco.

They will never do that, it makes too much sense!