There is a store in my area called Kasch's Kritters and I almost cried after I left it today. They carry some of the more exotic reptiles for our area like tree pythons, larger monitors, huge boas, tegus, etc. My husband and I went in looking for a 55 gallon screen top and some clamps, but ended up pointing out problems in every habitat to eachother. There was a bearded dragon, maybe 10 inches long, who was so skinny that his skin was loose everywhere. I asked how much he was and the guy said $99, but that i probably wouldn't want him because he was about 8 years old and was probably going to die soon. This poor thing was in a 20 long with the UVA heat light over him and a water bowl about as big as his head. He was just laying there looking so sad...I want to buy him just to give him a good home for his last few years. He looked up at me and just looked so depressed.
They had another beardie about the same size but you could tell he was much younger, however he was very thin as well. Most of their water bowls were low or empty with poop and subrtate in them. and only about half of the lizards had any UVB.
THEN we went to another store called Pet Connection. !!! Thay had 6 large beardies in a decent sized habitat and they were on sand, which is okay I suppose, but when they feed their lizards, they just throw the veggies onto the ground. There was poop and grossness everywhere and they are eating off of it. The veggies were all limp and slimy looking, so sad... The only thing they seemed to have right was their temperatures.
I want to go back and get that old beardie, but I have no where to put him. If anyone lives in my area, go save him and punch the shop owners in the face while you are there.
