Critters at Petsmart??

[mishapip]

Is buying the smaller animals from Petsmart the same as buying them from a pet store? Where do they get there animals from? :confused:

[Abra]

petsmart like many pet stores gets there animals from Breeding mills.
With pet stores for small and exotic animals, it would make sense they get them from wholesalers, which basically has cheap animals in large amounts, so you may as well start looking for a good reputable breeder. Even if pet stores did buy there smaller animals from good breeders, the fact that they dont for larger would still be supporting them if you bought from smaller.
You may need to ask the management where there animals come from. Some do indeed buy from smaller breeders locally, but the majority dont.

[krazy4birds]

I agree here with you Abra. I have never bought from a chain store (an animal that is) I have been in too many pet stores and seen first hand that the people who work there usually do not know a Budgie and a Parakeet are the same bird. I went into a Petco when I had to go to see a doctor 3 hours away to a much much larger pet store than any around here. I was needing some more of the handfeeding powder for my cockatiel who was 5 weeks old. They were out of it but the lady who worked there informed me that she raises Cockatiels and they should be out of the nest by 3 weeks at the most and ready to go at 5 weeks. I told her I was raising my baby for good health not quick cash....needless to say she turned her back and stomped off hahahaha.....I got my Green Cheek Conure from a private breeder and this bird was the picture of health. His feathers felt like silk and he was very socialized. I highly highly recommend a good breeder any day to a chain pet store.

[Whiskers]

Ask your store if they seperate the rodent's genders, if they don't their animals may be inter-breeding (where they breed with brother and sister or mom or dad) and may be sick or have desieses. What I would sudgest is find a local breeder and get to know how they care for their animals. Animals from breeders may warm up to you better because they may be handled more and are used to human contact.

[ChihuahuaCat]

I live in Colorado, too. And I got 2 mouse from Petco (or Petsmart I can't remember) and they attacked each other the second day I had them. I don't know where in Colorado you live, but there is a store called Pet Ranch on Powers and Constitution in Colorado Springs. It is really good value. We got mice and a dog from there. Let me know if you decide to go. Good Luck, ChihuahuaCat :)

[Squawksx3]

Is buying the smaller animals from Petsmart the same as buying them from a pet store? Where do they get there animals from? :confused:

Yup... most the animals in pet stores are purchased from low grade breeders in order to keep the costs down. The difference with some... like Petsmart and Petco.. are they dont sell dogs and cats.. they invite rescues and animal services (shelter, humane societies, etc..) in for adoptions. I never buy pets from pet stores( I spend enough just in pet supplies LOL).. my animals come from rescues and word of mouth about animals needing homes. The vets office is also a good place to look.. they constantly have people wanting them to help find homes for unwanted pets.

My step daughter bought a $10.00 baby Iguana from a local pet store. She ended up spending over $1,000.00 on this $10.00 Iguana because it prolapsed twice and required surgery both times... so much for a cheap pet :rolleyes: . She went back to the pet store and let them know what had happened... they said "sorry... but its not our problem". Parasites were the cause of the prolapse and she was just worried the other Iguana's from this same batch may also suffer from this problem.. they didnt care.. they got their money. Always beware of buying pets from pet stores.. most are in it for money.

Good for you Judy!! hahahha

[luvmyfids]

I never buy animals from Petsmart except for the cats and dogs they bring in from the animal shelter on saturdays :) A while back I got a budgie from Petsmart and it was not trained at all... I might as well have gone out and caught a wild bird from the rainforest considering how tame it was. I tried every trick in the book and it just would NOT come near me... :(