Petco

[Aria2999]

We got a Petco today. They have a Columbian Red-tail. Beautiful! Is Petco a good source for boas? I held him and he was warm, lively, and had a very active tounge. In addition, they had a heat rock. Aren't these bad? We ARE going to get another boa, but we were wondering if an OTH (like a fishtank, but with 2 bulbs) or a clamp lamp was better. We want to do everything right this time. ( the sales person frowned at the place we got our last one, I guess they have a well deserved bad rep).
Please respond quickly, we really want one, but we don't want to rush into it.

Aria2999

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[Boaguy]

I would never buy from petco,heard to many horror storys
and seen to many dead/sick animals there..
Yes heatrocks ARE bad
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[pincess_wy]

And welcome! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[rainbowlishiss]

Yes Yes Welcome..

Aria, Petco has a very very nasty reputation with most of us on RTB.

There animals are for the most part, usually under weight, under fed. They are not properly housed, or heated.

Too many horror stories of MITES..

IMHO I'd be very very careful of there animals. If you do purchase one and you want to be sure they are healthy, I'd take it to the vet. I realize not everyone can afford to take there animals to the vet. But if you want to make sure you have this baby for a very long time, they you are going to want to have it checked out. If its found to be sick you can go back to Petco and tell them this. And demand your money back.

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[pincess_wy]

OR, Aria could just NOT buy an animal from such said place, and get a boa from one of the fabulous breeders we have here! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] (Seems like a better deal to me, anyway.)


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[wendybird]

i wouldnt even buy feeder mice from petco. any business with that bad of a reputation for mistreating their animals does not deserve your business in any form!! and PLEASE if you see any pet store mistreating any of their animals DO NOT SHOP THERE it is that easy, dont give those people your business - instead support caring responsible breeders on this site, you will get a good quality healthy snake and probably even pay less - good luck, and you are right not to rush things. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[Woapalanne]

The Petco by us (Owings Mills MD) is good - they have two herps working there, so all the snakes are well cared for; as for the other pets, they look fine - maybe the different stores are different?
However, Petco does tend to be expensive - a dollar for a frozen adult mouse?? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Thus begins me quest to order cheaper rat pups online... (any suggestions on that, btw?)
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[kasper22]

Yeah Petco has a pretty bad rap. I havn't seen one around here so I don't know for sure. (plug for me) I have a few nice looking babys that i'm selling. they were all pick of the litter and I need to sell a few cause I don't have enough room for them. I'm selling them for $120 shipped if your interested (end plug)

kasper22@tampabay.rr.com
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[trinitywolf]

Welcome to RTB Aria!
Please don't buy your boa from Petco. There are several people here who either have, or will have shortly some babies. I know that Lori_Snakesrule, CB76, Ritchie, Kasper, and Morti all have available boas for sale. If you buy from them you will certainly get a better boa than the one at Petco. These people are not just in it for a buck (although they may accidentally make one or two [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]) the care about the animals. That is the difference.

On another note...if you can't afford to take your animal to the vet then you can't afford that animal. It is as simple as that. When you purchase an animal you make a commitment to that animal. Not only a physical and emotional commitment...but a FINANCIAL one. I know that we all have hard times and sometimes money is tight...but I would rather go hungry then let my boas die from a sickness I could have fixed. There is just no excuse for that!
Rainbow, I am not bashing you. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I realize you are right...some people can't afford it, but it does not make it right. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_evil.gif[/img]

Ted
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[Seany]

I do NOT reccomend getting a snake at PETCO... I get chills seeing the reptiles there... cold, underfed and mite infested... Maybe not all of them, but by supporting one of them you're supporting the rest.
just my 2 cents [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Woapalanne]

>>I do NOT reccomend getting a snake at PETCO... I get chills seeing the reptiles there... cold, underfed and mite infested... Maybe not all of them, but by supporting one of them you're supporting the rest.
>> just my 2 cents [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Not really - if one store's doing well while the others aren't, they'll ask why, and realize that the animals are in better condition - idealy [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] In actuallity, it won't make a terrible difference. However, two things come to mind: 1) rescue the Petco animals [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] 2) Buy a snake from here with reputable dealers!
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	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[Aria2999]

how expensive are the breeders? From what I've heard they are 200-300 dollars. I don't have that kind of money. My husband and I had a boa, for 2 months, and she died. Yes a pet store boa, but we didn't know better. We don't want to get one and lose it, but we want one and don't have hundreds of dollars to spend.

Aria2999
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[trinitywolf]

In actuallity, it won't make a terrible difference.

It DOES make a difference. If you buy animals that are in poor condition you are NOT rescuing them. You are simply propagating the behavior you are trying to stop. When you buy an animal from them you cause future animals to suffer b/c you have spent your money and they have it. If they think that they can sell the animals they will continue to do so. If their husbandry is bad and they sell the animals it will continue to be bad. Why change it if they are making money and selling the animals? That is business. It's not right, but that is the way it is.
The reality of this situation is that when you "rescue" one of these animals you only cause many others to suffer through the bad conditions that the one you bought was in. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

The people with boas on here are not that expensive. Some of their boas may be, however, you can pick one up much, much cheaper than that. Also consider this: IF you buy from someone like a chain and the animal has internal parasites or other medical problems and you have to go to the vet...it would not be out of the ordinary to come home with a $150 bill for fixing it.

Please write Morti@redtailboa.net or Lori_snakesrule@redtailboa.net and ask them about their boas. You will find that most are between $60-150.

Anyone who has snakes to sell please get in touch with Aria...
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[wendybird]

1) rescue the Petco animals [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

this makes it 4cents : buying an animal becaus you feel sorry for it is a bad idea, first of all because it could get very expensive, and mostly because it keeps "bad" petstores in business
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