Pet Shop Geckos

[Lala]

I know alot of you here dont agree with buying geckos from a pet shop. Just out of pure curiosity i wonder why?

i live in northern ireland, and i know our big leading pet shops will have 2/3 experts in this area. when i went looking about a gecko, i looked at the pet shop, and the girl i was talking to about them was saying that the stores are not allowed to buy in geckos until they have went on a course that teaches them all they need to know!

 

[Srt14292]

Generally in America people go to places like P*tco or P*tsm*rt to buy their geckos, this is bad as the employees know absolutely nothing about the animals they are selling, this is for big chain stores, places around the UK and that where we are the shops are more local shops and people know what they are doing when looking after the geckos, also use your own judgement if they are on sand skinny and a little tail don't buy it, if they look like they are being kept well, nice and healthy, ask to hold one, the usual stuff, don't be discouraged, if you can find a good store to go to and you know what their procedures are then support that store. Its the big chain stores that are just in it for pure profit that mistreat the animals the most.

 

[Lala]

well for instance i went into pets at home, i bought some supplies there, UTH feeder dishes etc. and they are the ones that have to have taken a course before they are allowed to even take the animals into the store! i just thought the idea of them having to take a course was pretty good, as i just read a topic there and they always seem to give off about pet shops, but it seems some do go the whole way to make sure they know what they are doing

 

[ILoveGeckos14]

Like Sean said, most of the people are referring to corporate chain pet stores that flippantly practice improper husbandry. There is a pet shop here in central Florida that sells and knows about the herps they sell, and I have heard others mention that they have local pet shops that have the knowledge as well so it can happen! For me personally, I buy from the guys that know what they are doing because it is a small business ,you see the owner when you walk in, they recognize you and they appreciate your business. Same reason I would prefer a famer's market over a super market, and a family owned eatery over a olive garden. There's that face to face value and it feels like you are supporting the community.

That is a great idea to have the stores take a course on proper husbandry!

 

[RocksMama77]

I have mixed feelings about our local chain pet stores. On one hand I have two pet store geckos and they are healthy happy little critters that eat well and have never had any issues at all. On the other hand the care sheets that were given with them told me to get them a light and put them on sand or bark.

I have come to the realization that I feel the same way about geckos in a store as I do cats and dogs in a kill shelter. They need homes and regardless of what I do the store will continue to buy geckos and snakes and other poor lizards and the shelter will continue to receive animals and kill them when they get no home.

I think its awesome that the stores in your area require courses to be taken and it may be worth the fight to get those same policies installed into the pet trade here in the U.S.

I love my pet store leos and consider them rescues. I will buy from our chain pet store again but will always inform the clerk that the care sheet is wrong and hope they do something about it. And if I see animals in bad shape I will call the corporate office and inform them that something needs to be done.

 

[Doubelminttwin]

I know the two stores mentioned above always have the sadest little geckos in them. Two of three leos bought from petstores by my friends all died within months. On the other hand we just bought an extremely skinny girl from one to try to save her and shes doing wonderful. It appears they weren't feeding her at all because she has had no problems gaining weight. Put I have to say one of the big places near us has really made strides, they switched to paper towels and feeding them more often. But its only because they got a reptile guy that actuallky tries to research things.

 

[Tony C]

I know alot of you here dont agree with buying geckos from a pet shop. Just out of pure curiosity i wonder why?

Most of the complaints seem to be directed toward the two major American chain stores. We do not have the strict animal welfare laws that many European countries have, so the big stores tend to focus purely on profit instead of the well-being of the animals that they sell. Basically, it's cheaper for them to get new animals when the old ones die instead of taking proper care of them.

That being said, my personal experience with pet store geckos has been good. I have three and they have never had any health issues, mainly because I have a fair amount of reptile experience and know the signs of good or bad health, unlike the average first-time buyer.

 

[ketz]

The idea that they have to take classes before hand is just that, a good idea. I bet a lot of the pet stores here in the United States at least require the manager to know about the pets, and I know some of them have "certified" reptile experts that are supposed to be knowledgeable. The thing a lot of people don't remember is that pet stores are in this for the money above all else, so if they can make money by giving little care and selling a lot of pets, they'll keep doing that.

 

[Lala]

The idea that they have to take classes before hand is just that, a good idea. I bet a lot of the pet stores here in the United States at least require the manager to know about the pets, and I know some of them have "certified" reptile experts that are supposed to be knowledgeable. The thing a lot of people don't remember is that pet stores are in this for the money above all else, so if they can make money by giving little care and selling a lot of pets, they'll keep doing that.

Thats very well true!! i only posted this topic as i have read many times of people not being advised to buy pet shop geckos, when not all are bad! i guess the whole point of this topic is to try show people that are first time buyers that yes pet shops do have the downsides however it is worth lookin into it! i for one, after talkin with one of the girls in the pet shop, would consider buying one from their store now! the fact that she has been on a course and now keeps her own, persuades me to think she is helpin the instore animals all she can

i guess some workers love their job and will do anything for the animals which was obvious in this case :main_thumbsup:

 

[Khrysty]

You guys are luckier over in Europe, when it comes to pet shops. Like it's been said earlier, most of the "don't buy from pet stores" warnings come from people in the United States. Here, the big chain stores tend to ignore advice from experienced pet owners. They don't properly train their employees, and often don't hire specialists. In the US, it's pure luck if we find healthy geckos, well taken care of, in a chain pet stores. A lot of family owned, or small business pet stores in the US are still good. Some aren't, but you get to know the ones that are reliably consistent when it comes to good husbandry.

 

[STUTFL]

Over on Reptile Forums UK I see complaints about certain pet stores as well ... guess it just depends on the area no matter where you are. Though I've yet to see a US pet store with healthy, well-kept geckos in it. There are two small pet stores in town, they're absolutely terrible. I wouldn't buy any animal from them except to rescue it.