Other Turtle Discussion :: Defending Pet Store Clerks/Owners

[rockstar]

i only got it because i have a 10 gallon tank, and i regularly clean the tank anywhoot, but i needed something to just help keep the tank cleaner in between cleanings.

okay, that sentence didnt make a whole lot of sense, but do you get what im saying?!

i wouldnt recomend those filters to anyone really.

[kaimarion]

Heres a solution to your bad pet stores how about getting a part time job there?

I am too young to get a part time job or any job since I'am 15 but next year I will be legal to get a job so I might just get one in Prestwick and try to improve the conditions but that probably won't happen...

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Heres a solution to your bad pet stores how about getting a part time job there?

I am too young to get a part time job or any job since I'am 15 but next year I will be legal to get a job so I might just get one in and try to improve condition but that probably won't happen...

It might work. You never know...never hurts to try right?

You guys should read some melissa kaplan: http://www.anapsid.org/pettrade/index.html

[kaimarion]

Well thats Calafornia this is Scotland so thing over here are kinda different , if someone told you to miss inform customers they wouldn't have a job or business for long if they fired you for that.

[ptcake]

Thanks to all who responded...the comments and info are helpful and much appreciated. I guess I DID get lucky with pet store "people" and I am grateful. The light I use at night is a 75W "Night Glo" moonlight lamp by EXO TERRA. It's to keep the hatchlings warm at night and to be able to view them in the darkness. I get to watch their behaviors after "hours" and it's been fun. I do not have a heater in the tank. I am using a small aquarium now...I've had the hatchlings for 10 months. When they are 1 year old, I'll move them to a larger tank with a heater and a filter. This is the reason I asked about the filter. I love the ZooMed products and therefore, I am happy to learn that their turtle filter is good for my smaller turtles. The pet stores in my area carry everything for turtles except hatchling products....that's because New York State has the "4 inches in diameter" rule for the sale of turtles. Unfortunately, ZooMed does not allow catalog orders so if the pet shops don't sell it, I don't get it. That's ok....my babies are doing fine with the products available to me. I have used ZooMed Eye Drops and Sulfa Dip and I highly recommend both...the eye drops really worked when my male baby, Warren, suffered from puffy eyes and slight pneumonia back in February....I used both products nightly and there have been no more illnesses. I use the eye drops about every 10 days now just as a precaution. Great products and not expensive...and they last a long time. Thanks again for the interest and the info. It's rewarding talking to so many turtle fans. None of my friends or family members OR co-workers share my passion for turtles.

[kaimarion]

Well today I went to the (bad shop) and talked to the women and well This is a little embarrassing I completly miss judged them they were having filter problems in some of the tanks which is why some where unclean and the RES is now in a tank of its own now , the 2 baby's got a new tank (20g) and well she knew more about them than I did so now I feel like a complete ass-hat .

Next time I'll try not judge pet stores too quickly...

[rockstar]

i think that alot of stores just hire a bunch of teens who dont know what they are talking about, like people who have petstores for the mainly the money, and not to help animals and people with their animals.
{im not saying that teens dont know what they are talking about, just if they dont have any experience with the animals, it would be like me trying to give information on tarantula care!}
but there are always a grip of petstores that are owned and employed by people who are there to help the animals and the people, people who actually know what they are talking about, people with experience.
just have to be careful not to judge too quickly i guess, i think we have all done it once or twice.

[adam85491]

Well you really do need a heater..What do you mean happy to hear their filter is good? I'm pretty sure it was implied that they were junk lol. They don't sell turtles in New Jersey so I've never had a bad experience like that.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

If the water stays around 75 - 80 degrees without a water heater and only drops a degree or two at night, then it's okay to skip the water heater. But if it drops below that, then yes you need one.

I sometimes think about working in one of those places like petsmart or petco. But I think I'd get fired, i wouldnt take anyones crap, boss or not, i wont stand for fish being in an WAY overcrowded aquarium, or mixing species that shouldnt be mixed. Or using a "dr. turtle" for a fungus infection, putting in 6 turtles in a 10 gallon tank, nothing..I'd be darn b**tc#y But that's just me..

[megcornell]

I'm not sure which capital district petsmart store you've been to, if it was Latham or what, but the petsmart in saratoga is horrendous. If I have to shop at a store upstate I prefer the petco in clifton park, they at least keep their RES in a clean and non-crowded tank so I prefer to give them my business.
If you've found other stores to be decent then you're lucky. But do be aware that sometimes people give faulty advice.

[adam85491]

Most of the time I see people getting hermit crabs or lizards they get those stupid little glass containers that are about 1 gallon large..how could you expect any animal to live in such a small space? Especially when they could get a 20L terrarium for like $20 too..the employees just direct people to the cheapest option usually.

[Andrew7769]

there is 1 really knowlagable guy in our local pet store...he actully has a African spurred tourtuse(sp ) and i asked him if he knows how big they get and he actully planned to make him a pen when he moved to florida

[ptcake]

Some clarification: (1) A few comments suggested that the ZooMed turtle filters are good for smaller tanks...like tanks for hatchlings...that's good news for me since I plan to purchase this filter soon. (2) I shop in the Latham PetSmart...staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful....AND they have only two RES in one large tank. The local pet store, Eddie's Aquairum, is the best. They will take fish or turtles if no longer wanted by owners and find them a good home. They employ aquatic pet owners who really know and care about customers and their pets' needs. It must be frustrating for those of you who do not live near good pet shops. I can't imagine it. I am happy to read that some RES owners are finding some helpful staff at pet stores. There is hope! All I know is I plan to guide my babies to maturity no matter what! With this website and this forum, I know I have the tools as well as the support. Thanks!!

[sean rose]

i love my local reptile and fish pet store its huge and they know every thing and carry every thign i need

[ptcake]

That's great! Maybe those of us on the East Coast are lucky regarding good pet stores. I shopped a little tonight at PetSmart looking over the reptile filters. I like to plan ahead before I purchase. I noticed the TETRA filters appear more durable than the ZooMed filters. I will probably purchase that brand, although the ZooMed products I've purchased in the past were wonderful....the sulfa dip and the eye drops. I'll keep reading forum responses and information and then make a decision. Thanks, sean rose, for sharing your feelings about your local pet shop.