PetSmart is the Guantanamo Bay of animals

[SikmT7]

Went to my local PetSmart for some crickets last week, typically they have Avicularia avicularia and sometimes B. hamorii. They never have proper husbandry for any of them and they let 27 crickets run around their enclosures to raise their hemoglyph pressure. I was approached by one of the employees that said a manager wanted to speak to someone that was knowledgeable in arachnids concerning a matter they had in regards to a customer complaint related to the poor conditions they keep their tarantulas in. Customer wrote how unsatisfactory and unacceptable their "husbandry" was for the avics. The customer even offered to come in on their free time to build proper husbandry for the avics. Manager read complaint to me and he asked if I agreed with the customer and I said "Absolutely, 100% I agree that PetSmart has absolutely no knowledge on these wonderful creatures and they are being neglected. (Manager looks at me in complete shock). His response; "Really, so you say that the way we keep them is improper?" They were keeping avics in a small critter keeper with log on the ground, dirty sponge in a bowl, over humidifying them with not enough cross ventilation, (obviously critter keepers don't offer great cross ventilation). So he asked for my advice, I gladly and politely advised him (without losing my crap). He then claims that he is going to put in a case to corporate and see if they would be allowed to step outside of corporate protocol for the sake of being humane to these T's. I go back a week later, avics are still in the same critter keepers, same improper husbandry, same poor conditions. Their excuse "Oh but it's so difficult to because technically we can't go against corporate protocol but we will try". So basically you wasted my time and did not take heed to my advice, so why did you bother to ask? I understand that they don't want to lose their jobs and that this manager actually was concerned for the avics, however, if PetSmart is supposed to be adamant for being humane towards all animals then why can't they just make a simple adjustment for these avics? These rich tyrannical tycoons can't spend a little more money for the sake of the well being of these T's?! It just pisses me off that a supposed pet franchise such as this could care less about the animals and care more about their pockets instead, a bunch of hypocrites is what they are honestly. This animal neglect needs to stop, every single animal from parakeet to chinchilla and especially the T's and other various reptiles are miserable because they don't know what it is to care for a living creature that God created, no instead they just want the sale and don't give a crap about any of those animals. SMH, I'm pissed, please share your thoughts people...

 

[cubbi1568]

I understand what you’re feeling. I got my brachypelma emillia from Petco if you’ve seen my post the store employees decided it was ok to have one hide, water dish and a fish decoration. No substrate, just that. I bought her and she then proceeded to open the enclosure they house a gbb and moves everything in in yo show me the tarantula. Poor thing god so scared it was jumping to get out. Then she tells me she also owns tarantulas. I’m still learning about the husbandry of my tarantulas, but you never do what she did.

 

[SikmT7]

I understand what you’re feeling. I got my brachypelma emillia from Petco if you’ve seen my post the store employees decided it was ok to have one hide, water dish and a fish decoration. No substrate, just that. I bought her and she then proceeded to open the enclosure they house a gbb and moves everything in in yo show me the tarantula. Poor thing god so scared it was jumping to get out. Then she tells me she also owns tarantulas. I’m still learning about the husbandry of my tarantulas, but you never do what she did.

Agreed my friend, they put about a half of an inch of substrate and it's actually pine bark mulch which is absolutely ridiculous. Husbandry isn't that complicated, all you have to do is do research on each genus and species of the tarantulas you own, to replicate their natural environment as close as you can to the wild.

 

[cubbi1568]

Agreed my friend, they put about a half of an inch of substrate and it's actually pine bark mulch which is absolutely ridiculous. Husbandry isn't that complicated, all you have to do is do research on each genus and species of the tarantulas you own, to replicate their natural environment as close as you can to the wild.

I have to agree with the substrate. I had bought a bag of creature soil and the bag was mulch. Had to temporarily remove my Emillia to clean out all the wood. She seemed to like it afterwards since she began exploring her enclosure

 

[octanejunkie]

Pine oil and resin is toxic to many animals and invertebrates, ever heard of Pinesol (cleaner)? It's a potential problem we can easily avoid.

Here's a fun read with links, post #6, specifically:

Pine, and scorps vs tarantulas

So I was doing some research on using natural materials, and a lot of the wood where I'm at right now is Georgia pine. So I typed that into the search engine here, which brought up this thread: http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?211677-Georgia&highlight=georgia+pine Now... if a...

arachnoboards.com

 

[Arachnoclown]

I have to agree with the substrate. I had bought a bag of creature soil and the bag was mulch. Had to temporarily remove my Emillia to clean out all the wood. She seemed to like it afterwards since she began exploring her enclosure

Creature soil is made for tarantulas and scorpions by Zoomed. Its made of Peat Moss, Soil, Sand, and Carbon. Ive been using this mixture for over 10 years mixed with a little coco fiber. Nothing wrong with it.

 

[octanejunkie]

I have to agree with the substrate. I had bought a bag of creature soil and the bag was mulch. Had to temporarily remove my Emillia to clean out all the wood. She seemed to like it afterwards since she began exploring her enclosure

If I had a garden I would make it, but I just probably make my own, but I just purchased organic mulch (rotting wood soil) for my biometric enclosures as a topping for isopods, aka woodlice.

Creature soil is made for tarantulas and scorpions by Zoomed. Its made of Peat Moss, Soil, Sand, and Carbon. Ive been using this mixture for over 10 years mixed with a little coco fiber. Nothing wrong with it.

I don't use commercial substrate (zoomed, biodude, lugarti) due to cost, but I do make my own substrate mix, and ask other keepers what's their "go to" here:

What's your "best" substrate for tarantula keeping?

For what it's worth, here is what I do I dehydrate coco coir bricks, I purchase the two following one(s) from Amazon Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate, 8 Quarts - CHEAPER than same brand bricks by weight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00167VVP4/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20 Zilla Reptile...

www.tarantulaforum.com

 

[Arachnoclown]

If I had a garden I would make it, but I just probably make my own, but I just purchased organic mulch (rotting wood soil) for my biometric enclosures as a topping for isopods, aka woodlice.

I don't use commercial substrate (zoomed, biodude, lugarti) due to cost, but I do make my own substrate mix, and ask other keepers what's their "go to" here:

What's your "best" substrate for tarantula keeping?

For what it's worth, here is what I do I dehydrate coco coir bricks, I purchase the two following one(s) from Amazon Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate, 8 Quarts - CHEAPER than same brand bricks by weight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00167VVP4/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20 Zilla Reptile...

www.tarantulaforum.com

I dont buy it either per se...one free bag comes in each of the dozens and dozens of enclosures I've purchased.

 

[octanejunkie]

I dont buy it either per se...one free bag comes in each of the dozens and dozens of enclosures I've purchased.

freebie soils!

 

[cubbi1568]

Pine oil and resin is toxic to many animals and invertebrates, ever heard of Pinesol (cleaner)? It's a potential problem we can easily avoid.

Here's a fun read with links, post #6, specifically:

Pine, and scorps vs tarantulas

So I was doing some research on using natural materials, and a lot of the wood where I'm at right now is Georgia pine. So I typed that into the search engine here, which brought up this thread: http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?211677-Georgia&highlight=georgia+pine Now... if a...

arachnoboards.com

You just can’t trust every seller online to actually sell you the best products for your inverts. Much easier going to the store and picking up a bag of soil

 

[MBullock]

Petco, despite what you may believe, is nowhere near the worst of the worst.

the absolute shadiest thing ive heard of was Someone sending already-dead or dying mantids along with empty exuviae (molts) so they could claim the specimen molted in transit and therefore not covered by LAG- meaning no refund. However if you knew how mantids molt, you'd know they cannot successfully molt without hanging. if they fell during the molt they would be entombed in the molt rather than free from the molt.


The criminals running around screwing people over with similar behaviors are a much worse problem.

Then there are the people that Drop-ship and dont even own the livestock they advertise. And sadly, many big sites are accomplices. These people only care about money. they dont care. IMO, focusing on petco is focusing on the symptom rather than the problem.

We all know petco, like other corporate stores are bound by their corporate standard. The employees will be reprimanded or fired for disobeying this corporate standard.

I will say this though- Ive been going to petco since I was a child, and they actually take MUCH better care of their specimens now than they used to.

 

[Reptisect]

Man am I glad that petsmart doesn't exist in south africa and that the pet stores here keep tarantulas properly. I personally find the name "petSMART" ironic.

 

[octanejunkie]

Man am I glad that petsmart doesn't exist in south africa and that the pet stores here keep tarantulas properly. I personally find the name "petSMART" ironic.

They should call it 'petspot" because everything in one place, but they are using status elevation, a technique used by sales and marketing and social engineers (like cons and hackers), and implying YOU are 'smart' to shop there because you have a pet - hence the name lol

 

[Jeef]

My friend is a warehouse manager for Ibanez guitars. I joked "That is like sending the rats to guard the cheese." Then a light clicked on.

I asked if everyone there played or if it was just a warehouse job. He said it was about 50-50. I followed up with how I would talk to vendors at work all the time and you could tell the difference between people who knew the product or just had a job in sales, didn't care what it was.

This really isn't any different. You can also find the same kinds of comments on aquarium boards if you look.

I'm not saying any of it is right, but it is an unfortunate consequence of the hobby. And it is always going to be there. I've been at this a little over a year and I could be here all day listing off the stuff about just buying a tarantula I didn't know when I started. As far as I can figure, voting with your wallet and your conscience is the best you can do.

 

[SikmT7]

Petco, despite what you may believe, is nowhere near the worst of the worst.

the absolute shadiest thing ive heard of was Someone sending already-dead or dying mantids along with empty exuviae (molts) so they could claim the specimen molted in transit and therefore not covered by LAG- meaning no refund. However if you knew how mantids molt, you'd know they cannot successfully molt without hanging. if they fell during the molt they would be entombed in the molt rather than free from the molt.


The criminals running around screwing people over with similar behaviors are a much worse problem.

Then there are the people that Drop-ship and dont even own the livestock they advertise. And sadly, many big sites are accomplices. These people only care about money. they dont care. IMO, focusing on petco is focusing on the symptom rather than the problem.

We all know petco, like other corporate stores are bound by their corporate standard. The employees will be reprimanded or fired for disobeying this corporate standard.

I will say this though- Ive been going to petco since I was a child, and they actually take MUCH better care of their specimens now than they used to.

I’m with you there my friend, it’s all about money and these other sites participate in this atrocity for selfish gain. Didn’t matter that my professional opinion was spoken, they asked and I was honest, but it didn’t change a thing.

 

[SikmT7]

My friend is a warehouse manager for Ibanez guitars. I joked "That is like sending the rats to guard the cheese." Then a light clicked on.

I asked if everyone there played or if it was just a warehouse job. He said it was about 50-50. I followed up with how I would talk to vendors at work all the time and you could tell the difference between people who knew the product or just had a job in sales, didn't care what it was.

This really isn't any different. You can also find the same kinds of comments on aquarium boards if you look.

I'm not saying any of it is right, but it is an unfortunate consequence of the hobby. And it is always going to be there. I've been at this a little over a year and I could be here all day listing off the stuff about just buying a tarantula I didn't know when I started. As far as I can figure, voting with your wallet and your conscience is the best you can do.

Very true bro, it’s not about the animals or the “product” it’s about the paycheck, damn shame.

 

[SikmT7]

Creature soil is made for tarantulas and scorpions by Zoomed. Its made of Peat Moss, Soil, Sand, and Carbon. Ive been using this mixture for over 10 years mixed with a little coco fiber. Nothing wrong with it.

Yessir but these people had them on straight pine bark, that’s just wrong. It would be like putting a bunch of pine cones and jacks in a Casper mattress in our case. I use mixes of coco fiber, peat moss, vermiculite, isopods, and springtails. I bet even the springtails and isopods would break their lease if they had to live in pine bark lol. I see what you mean by freebie substrate from multiple enclosures @octanejunkie i never knew that about pine substrate good factoid.

 

[SikmT7]

The conclusion of the matter is, franchise conglomerates will always be about selfish gain and never about the well being of living creatures and most of all humanity. In their own little bubbles, they believe they know what’s best and implement their ideology as “the right thing to do”. Realistically, as angry and as frustrating as this is, employees of a franchise organization have to abide by the rules or their job is at stake. However, I still do not agree with this unacceptable and despicable system of tyranny and greed, you reap what you sow and that’s the bottom line. Thank you to all who participated in this thread, I appreciate your feedback. Love and blessings to all.

 

[arachbiodude]

I bought an adult Avic avic for $26 from Petsmart for Halloween sale.

 

[SikmT7]

Man am I glad that petsmart doesn't exist in south africa and that the pet stores here keep tarantulas properly. I personally find the name "petSMART" ironic.