farkasjk14
New Member
I just wanted to post a mini-rant about petsmart.
I purchased a veiled chameleon last week at petsmart. I've been wanting a chameleon for the past 2 years, and I finally committed. There is a local petstore called Preuss Pets, and they are SO knowledgeable and helpful and answer any questions that you have. Unfortunately, they do not have chameleons for sale that frequently when they do.
So I saw this chameleon at petsmart. His cage was not nearly as tall as it should have been, and there was not enough foliage inside the cage. There was no sign outside of the cage indicating that this animal gets stressed easily, so you should not poke the cage, get close to the cage, etc. Plus, petsmart has a lot of traffic, whether it be people or loud barking dogs.
I was in the store, debated with myself for 45 minutes pacing up and down the reptile accessory aisle before I decided if I wanted to commit to a petsmart chameleon. I asked an employee for help to pick out bulbs, and ask her any last minute questions that I had (after reading numerous articles about chameleons). She handed me a pamphlet, had me read what vague and lacking information was on it, and pretty much agreed with whatever I asked. I was so fed up that I asked her if anyone else in the store would be more knowledgeable (in a polite way of course). She went to go grab the store manager.
The store manager seemed slightly more knowledgeable, portraying confidence when he answered my questions. Unfortunately, much of the information he told me was wrong. He stated that if the chameleon was cold in the winter, to put a heating rock in the cage with the pet. He said the chameleons needed to be misted (not just their cage) because reptiles breathe through their skin. I knew the cage needed to be misted to maintain humidity, but geez! He had me get a mulch like substrate for my chameleon, and told me to let the crickets be free range. He also said that they don't get chameleons that frequently, and when they do, it normally takes awhile to sell.
I know that everyone raises their chameleons differently, but I felt as a first time owner, that I really needed correct information. So I had everything in my cart, and as the manager is getting the chameleon out of its cage, he says "get in there sweetheart". I proceeded to ask if it was a male or a female, and he stated female. I called earlier that afternoon and I must have talked to someone else, because they said it was a male. I didn't want a female because I didn't want to deal with the eggs, and my heart dropped. The manager went to ask a different manager, and said that he was 85% confident that it was a male, but his store is suppose to only carry females. I attempted to buy everything the chameleon needed, but due to the lack of a dripper, general sticks, and a sprayer, I needed to go to the other petstore the next day.
I went to Preuss and they told me that half the things I purchased for the chameleon (substrate, light-wattage, gutload , etc.) was incorrect. I was very frustrated, but purchased the necessary items for the chameleon.
Today, I went to petsmart to buy fishfood. As I walk by, low and behold there are TWO VEILED CHAMELEONS IN ONE TANK. I practically erupted. They were both a dark hunter green with some black and I knew they must have been terribly stressed. I immediately addressed the manager, which come to fins out was the animal manager, and she stated she was unaware they were in the same cage and she didn't know that they were not suppose to be.
My chameleon is luckily doing well, but I am going to write a letter to petsmart. If a store is going to sell an animal, the least they can do is provide adequate care. OR COMMON SENSE CARE. I guess the main reason as to why I'm posting this is to tell others not to purchase from commercialized pet stores. My next chameleon will be purchased by a knowledgeable breeder.
Thank you ALL for being knowledgeable/willing to answer questions to your best ability. I appreciate all the members and this forum!!!
I purchased a veiled chameleon last week at petsmart. I've been wanting a chameleon for the past 2 years, and I finally committed. There is a local petstore called Preuss Pets, and they are SO knowledgeable and helpful and answer any questions that you have. Unfortunately, they do not have chameleons for sale that frequently when they do.
So I saw this chameleon at petsmart. His cage was not nearly as tall as it should have been, and there was not enough foliage inside the cage. There was no sign outside of the cage indicating that this animal gets stressed easily, so you should not poke the cage, get close to the cage, etc. Plus, petsmart has a lot of traffic, whether it be people or loud barking dogs.
I was in the store, debated with myself for 45 minutes pacing up and down the reptile accessory aisle before I decided if I wanted to commit to a petsmart chameleon. I asked an employee for help to pick out bulbs, and ask her any last minute questions that I had (after reading numerous articles about chameleons). She handed me a pamphlet, had me read what vague and lacking information was on it, and pretty much agreed with whatever I asked. I was so fed up that I asked her if anyone else in the store would be more knowledgeable (in a polite way of course). She went to go grab the store manager.
The store manager seemed slightly more knowledgeable, portraying confidence when he answered my questions. Unfortunately, much of the information he told me was wrong. He stated that if the chameleon was cold in the winter, to put a heating rock in the cage with the pet. He said the chameleons needed to be misted (not just their cage) because reptiles breathe through their skin. I knew the cage needed to be misted to maintain humidity, but geez! He had me get a mulch like substrate for my chameleon, and told me to let the crickets be free range. He also said that they don't get chameleons that frequently, and when they do, it normally takes awhile to sell.
I know that everyone raises their chameleons differently, but I felt as a first time owner, that I really needed correct information. So I had everything in my cart, and as the manager is getting the chameleon out of its cage, he says "get in there sweetheart". I proceeded to ask if it was a male or a female, and he stated female. I called earlier that afternoon and I must have talked to someone else, because they said it was a male. I didn't want a female because I didn't want to deal with the eggs, and my heart dropped. The manager went to ask a different manager, and said that he was 85% confident that it was a male, but his store is suppose to only carry females. I attempted to buy everything the chameleon needed, but due to the lack of a dripper, general sticks, and a sprayer, I needed to go to the other petstore the next day.
I went to Preuss and they told me that half the things I purchased for the chameleon (substrate, light-wattage, gutload , etc.) was incorrect. I was very frustrated, but purchased the necessary items for the chameleon.
Today, I went to petsmart to buy fishfood. As I walk by, low and behold there are TWO VEILED CHAMELEONS IN ONE TANK. I practically erupted. They were both a dark hunter green with some black and I knew they must have been terribly stressed. I immediately addressed the manager, which come to fins out was the animal manager, and she stated she was unaware they were in the same cage and she didn't know that they were not suppose to be.
My chameleon is luckily doing well, but I am going to write a letter to petsmart. If a store is going to sell an animal, the least they can do is provide adequate care. OR COMMON SENSE CARE. I guess the main reason as to why I'm posting this is to tell others not to purchase from commercialized pet stores. My next chameleon will be purchased by a knowledgeable breeder.
Thank you ALL for being knowledgeable/willing to answer questions to your best ability. I appreciate all the members and this forum!!!
