Mom and Pop Store

[jfreels]

I have had two bad experiences with pet stores today. First comes a big chain...

I walked in intending to purchase large meal worms (to pupate) and small meal worms (for feeding). The guy handed me FROZEN meal worms...200 of them and when I said they would be all dead he came back with "it just takes a little time, they will get some life back in them". O'RLY! It's been several hours, dead. He gave them to me for $2 because he felt that "some" of them might not make it because of the freeze. You best believe I'll get my $2 back :main_laugh:

So knowing that they were already going to be dead I decided to visit a mom and pop place I saw advertised on craigslist. The store is awesome...huge, with lots of cool animals. They raise their own feeders (mice/rats/rabbits/piggies) and sell live and frozen. They also have crickets, superworms, roaches and other types of worms.

I ask "mom" if they have mealworms. She came back with "we don't carry those because they eat animals from the inside out." GAHHH! I just rolled my eyes. This store really seems to have potential. Maybe I'll try and see if I can have a serious discussion with her about this. Maybe it's happened to her :main_rolleyes:

They did have a sweet white striped gecko. Oddly, it was housed with the leopard geckos.

Just thought I'd share my story since people say mom&pops are better then chains or vise versa. I had problems with both in one day.

 

[Riyo]

What part of GA are you in? Just curious, I'd like to see the mom and pop store (myth aside ) It is a little perturbing that they are keeping a white lined gecko with leos, though.

As for the big box store, that sounds pretty typical.

 

[jfreels]

I live in Marietta. The shop is located in Woodstock. Called Animal Atlanta, they are a couple miles up Bells Ferry from 92.

 

[RampantReptiles]

at least they didnt sell you frozen mealworms lol...

 

[goReptiles]

I had the same discussion about mealworms with a guy at a large chain the other day. He was determined to convince me they'll eat and kill a reptile by eating it from the inside out. He was actually in a lecturing type of tone- you don't want to do that because yadayadayada. I was like um no. I wasn't going to be a butt so I was just like whatever, by. I had stopped in for a few crickets for some geckos that won't eat anything but crickets, and I didn't have any at the house at the time.

 

[jfreels]

Funny you bumped this thread, I went back to that same store and now "pop" wanted to lecture me on sugar glider breeding. He did not understand the laws, but he owned a pet store so whatever....he must also be a lawyer.

Thankfully my mealworm colony has taken off. I can finally now see baby mealworms. THEY ARE SOOOO TINY!!!

 

[goReptiles]

That is funny. If you own a pet store, know your laws. Sugar gliders are actually illegal in a few states.

That's good you've gotten your colony working. mealworms are fast to breed and fairly easy, but yea definitely small as babies.

 

[jfreels]

Well they are not illegal here...at least not anymore. The store advertises online that they carry sugar gliders. Having been there three times and only been given a promise that "they will be here any day", I decided to talk to him about what's going on with it.

The law, as I understand it, you can keep sugar gliders, buy them and sell them. If you breed four or more females, you must get a license and have your "breeding facility" inspected by the USDA. He said that "the man" has it out for him and he can't sell them in Georgia without getting the permit and having the inspection. I tried to tell him that he was wrong, and his wife was wrong about the meal worms and that they cohabit species that shouldn't be together, but I seriously think he might have pulled a gun on me.

He also told me, "If you want a sugar glider I can get you one....I can get you anything. There are just things I can't keep in the store because of the law." That's a nice offer, but I don't want to break any laws.

 

[Riyo]

I swung by that pet store not too long after I posted here and I must say I was severely disappointed with them...All the reptiles were kept in cramped, filthy tanks with no water and multiple tank mates. It was also in a filthy little room with scummy fish tanks and lots and lots of clutter. Safe to say that I won't be returning!

 

[jfreels]

lol, did you notice the automatic air fresheners?? True, not the best conditions, but they have a lot to look at compared to most stores. I doubt I will ever buy anything from there considering I just found out that Pet Supplies Plus has mice and rats at about half the price.