Chameleons in Petsmart with eyes closed?

[Eggimations]

So I was at pet smart to buy a bunch of crickets for derpy, my 3 month old turquoise suburst veiled. I noticed two 4 month old chams in small cages on the wall. Both had their eyes closed, and I asked one of the store workers what was wrong with them. Apparently, they have no idea. I've done some digging and come up with nothing. Is there anything that can be done to help those poor guys? I don't want them to die because some large pet store can't afford to give them proper care. :'(

 

[MSon]

Only one thing can be done, adoption. There is a petco in my area that has approximatley 6-7 juvenille veilds in a 40 gallon breeder, with two exo-terra small bushes, moss on the floor, no basking bulb, a regular uv light, and emptiness. Seriously two small bushes and moss. No perches, guages, nothing. Just 6-7 dark brown chams. I spoke to the "reptile expert" and offered to help out / setup correctly for free after questioning the situation, but "its against policy." I even told him i would bring my own equipment in that they could keep but all i got was no, no, no. So its pretty much hope hes purchased and taken well care of.

 

[Kath44]

As sad as it is. Don't buy them. They'll only replace them with more as they think they're good sellers. If no one buys them they may not get any more to sell.
They're a business at end of day. Best thing to do is don't buy from them.
Kath.

 

[Eggimations]

Yeah. And sadly, I can't care for more than one chameleon right now. Stupid, stupid big companies like that. This is why I got my cham from a private breeder. Most of them actually care about their chams...

 

[Psychobunny]

I think the big chains; PetStupid and Petcrap, do this deliberately to make
people feel sorry for the animals and buy them just to get the poor things out of there!!!

The very rare times I go into one of those stores to pick up emergency supplies, I refuse
to even look at any of the animals, for fear of upsetting myself.

 

[PoshPenny]

I hate them. They are horrible people.

 

[melble68]

I think the big chains; PetStupid and Petcrap, do this deliberately to make
people feel sorry for the animals and buy them just to get the poor things out of there!!!

The very rare times I go into one of those stores to pick up emergency supplies, I refuse
to even look at any of the animals, for fear of upsetting myself.

I cringe anytime I see these posts show up. I too hate that this goes on and has been going on for quite sometime. I'm a optimist and generally give peeps the benefit of the doubt. I hope and pray they don't sit around their big cooperate conference table somewhere and actually discuss the "deliberate" mis-treatment of their reptiles. I think it the ignorance and belief that all reptiles are the same.

If someone around here only new some cooperate suit and tie freaks from these big retailers. Maybe we could finally talk some sense into them.

Dammit I also get upset and sad when these posts come up.

 

[Purpur]

..................

 

[Tyaeda]

My husband and I saw baby veileds in a similar situation at a Petsmart. What we did was grab one of the care sheets that Petsmart issues to customers and went through it with the store manager, checking off all of the things they are doing wrong - even by their own standards. They got pretty defensive, but I don't go there to make friends. Unfortunately, I will not buy a veiled from them. All they care about is selling the animal (and a series of incorrect husbandry supplies), they don't care if they only reason you adopted the animal was to save it. It's sad, but if they can't keep chams alive long enough for them to be purchased, they will stop carrying them at that specific location.

 

[Tyaeda]

I think this website should start an online petition asking Petsmart & Petco to stop carrying chameleons. I think everyone who's had a bad cham experience there should share their story and any pictures they have. I highly doubt petsmart would go under if they stopped selling these animals and the misinformation that usually comes with. What I hate most about them is that they try and make you think that you can buy a chameleon and all the stuff you need in the same visit. They downplay the amount of care these animals need in order to get a sale.

 

[Chiichan]

Whenever I go to buy crickets for our kids I can't help but look at the chams. Every time they're always sleeping, it's truly heartbreaking knowing their chances of surviving are slim. Now I feel kind of bad for getting ours from there only for them to restock after our purchase! I'll admit, just like me, many newbies won't do their research prior to purchase.

Thankfully I went straight to the computer and got in touch with this forum and its many wonderful and helpful members. I just want to tape a contact ad with my info at that store for anyone who purchases a cham from them so that I can give basic info(better than the pamphlets at least) as well as direct them here.

I feel guilty we got our kids from these cham factories, but at the same time relieved that they were one of the lucky ones to make it to a good home. They are happy and healthy thanks to all of you!

I'm all for a petition though!

 

[PoshPenny]

I went in christmas eve to buy my cham some wax worms for her xmas treat and told all the people waiting for crickets about ghans and premium crickets and how to store bulk feeders, to discourage them from buying their feeders @ 12 cents a cricket, @ 15 dollars for 120 crickets, seriously?

I told the lady I have 4000 crickets in my garage, and I bought 1.2 size and I raise them up. I only buy my wax worms there when I cant wait on the postal service.

The people acted like I had lobsters crawling out of my butt.
''wahhhh, buy them in bulk, huhhhhh??? wahhhhh, bulk feeders, buy online, you can?'''

... Ugh...I was so annoyed, I was like fine, if you want to keep paying for these dried out crappy crickets that DIE literally on the way home, you go right ahead, I got my wax worms and reptizoom bulb and high tailed it out of there, I hate that place.

 

[Eggimations]

Would have to agree. Keeping chameleons in cages where they aren't properly cared for is inhumane, and wrong. I'll see if I can start a petition.

 

[Eggimations]

Created a Petition. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-petco-from-killing-chameleons

 

[Tyaeda]

I signed

 

[pssh]

Honestly, I believe that if you do not agree with what the pet store is doing then you should not buy anything from the store at all. They make the majority of their money from dry goods, so even buying supplies for other pets is supporting them. Nearly everything can be purchased online anyways.

 

[Carlton]

Honestly, I believe that if you do not agree with what the pet store is doing then you should not buy anything from the store at all. They make the majority of their money from dry goods, so even buying supplies for other pets is supporting them. Nearly everything can be purchased online anyways.

And, when you do boycott the store TELL THEM WHY! Otherwise it has no effect and they can claim everyone is satisfied with their policies.