Petco's chameleons and reptiles

[WildTosa]

So I went to Petco yesterday for some fake plants and noticed baby veiled chameleons (5 or more) with a much bigger Jackson's chameleon that had I think mouthrot(there was a red line around his mouth) and his horn seemed damaged, it seemed discolored at the tip compared to his other two. One of the baby veiled chameleons went after a small cricket and got a good amount of eco-earth in his mouth and I noticed that they had mealworms in a dish, most of them were black, shedded skins, and one of the mealworms had turned into a pupa. Not sure if they put them in there that way or it had been a few days


Most of the reptiles I looked at, each one had a dish of mealworms that were mostly dead I didn't see very many crickets in their cages (tarantulas had dead crickets in there)

I didn't say anything because my parents were there but I really regret not.

 

[kris150]

I just had the same issue at petco, I looked in the chameleon enclosure and there were two babies and a large female who had mbd in her front legs. I couldn't find any workers to tell so I called them today and asked for the manager and told him about it. They have a policy that they HAVE to take sick animals to the vet if something is not right. He assured me that they would have the reptile specialist check it out and If she needed vet care, they didn't have a problem giving her it. I really think you should call and tell them about what you saw. It could possibly save the poor thing.

 

[Tmmopar73]

I complained one time they send baby veiled would to the docs .I went back about a month later and asked what happened and the baby looked 100% better he was being housed in the back while he recouped.
most of the people are animal lovers or they would not work there.most of them have a heart but very little specific knowledge.

 

[xephyr17]

I hate the care that petco gives to their reptiles. Mainly chameleons... I wish I could just take them all home and save them myself--but I don't have the space or money for that

Complain and add poor reviews until they fix it

 

[Rango3d]

Don't buy Petco or petsmart chameleons.
I understand you wanna help them. But guess what, after you bought and saved them. They're just gonna do it again because some one bought them.

If no one ever bought another from those big chains they would never carry anymore.

Problem solved.

 

[leahkat]

I made the biggest mistake buying a petco cham. He was so ill and I got so attached. I wish the worst for the employee that gave me so much wrong information & a sick (even though amazing & kind & loving, wonderful) cham

 

[junglefries]

Since your young, I will say this to you. Talk to your parents. Explain to them how this upset you and why. Nothing may become of this, but it gives your parents an insight into a good quality of you. A side of you any parent would want to see. Take this opportunity to make them proud, and discuss the situation. See how they would handle the situation. Did you agree or disagree with them? These things will help shape your personna for the years to come. It is an opportunity not to be missed.

 

[WildTosa]

Since your young, I will say this to you. Talk to your parents. Explain to them how this upset you and why. Nothing may become of this, but it gives your parents an insight into a good quality of you. A side of you any parent would want to see. Take this opportunity to make them proud, and discuss the situation. See how they would handle the situation. Did you agree or disagree with them? These things will help shape your personna for the years to come. It is an opportunity not to be missed.

I'm actually 19 lol. I did talk to my mother and she does agree I should speak when I see something wrong like the care their reptiles were receiving, but I'm a very shy person and I was worried about getting an employee trying to be like OH NO THEY'RE HEALTHY or something like that. We're heading down to Pensacola Thursday again so I'll try to stop by Petco again and say something.

 

[ShaneXD45]

The Petco down the road from me has a nice enclosure for their chameleons, They have 3 babies in one enclosure but its pretty big. Its on the end of the isle. They have the proper lighting and they even have a misting system setup.

 

[Psychobunny]

I have said it before, and I will say it again; Petco/Petsmart have no business selling exotics which require speciel care.

I havent walked into one of those stores an a few years, and only for emergency supplies.
And I NEVER look at the animals. I stay far away from that half of the store.

Funny thing though, someone posted a standard chameleon care sheet from Petco which was actually pretty good.
To bad they never follow it.
I suppose they figure it's for the customer, not them.

 

[KarmaMama]

Our local petco has a mature panther who has been there forever. She is in a decent enclosure (for petco) and I always see people standing there pondering if they should buy her. Then they move on to birds or hamsters....clearly not Cham people. She is 50% off now and I'm afraid what will happen to her.

 

[spottea]

I have to say that I'm lucky with my local Petco. It's only a small one, but the guy who takes care of the reptiles does a really good job. All the critters innthe reptile area always look active, with good colours. Yes, there is substrate, but the chameleons do get misted, and I have taken young dubias to the store for all the lizards, which have been appreciated.
Of course, not all the stores are the same, so I understand what you're saying.