Saw a Jackson
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ChamomilleCame
Avid Member
Don't support petsmart. I personally wouldn't buy one if it cost more than a pair of jacksons you can get somewhere else. I don't know, that's just my opinion. Also that if people keep buying reptiles there, they'll just get more. Remember they don't take good care of the chams at all. Sorry to be so harsh, though.
I would buy it in this case: if the cage is ok, you use the PS card so it's way cheaper, and if he looks good of course
I would buy it in this case: if the cage is ok, you use the PS card so it's way cheaper, and if he looks good of course
i thought it was funny that the girl there didnt know whether it was a male or female. she said they are only told if they are labled with they arive. also those little pamphlets about the animals were right next to them.
They will keep getting more even if they die so does it really matter
It looked like he was well taken care of, the cage looked like it was just recently misted. and he seemed alert and aware of his surroundings
RealIzeRecognIze
New Member
Chameleon abusee
You must live near me because I saw that poor guy the other day in his 1x1x1 glass cage at petsmart I felt so bad for him.
You must live near me because I saw that poor guy the other day in his 1x1x1 glass cage at petsmart I felt so bad for him.
JRchameleons
New Member
Guys, this is not true at all. No offense Camimom, I have read your posts and most of what you say is good information, but this is simply not true. I work at a PetSmart and Jackson's chameleons are a special order item. The only reptiles that are automatically restocked are bearded dragons, leopard geckos, ball pythons and sometimes aquatic turtles. The reason that so many PetSmart stores just got them all at the same time is because they just came available this year on the most recent reptile order form, so everyone got excited about getting something new and ordered them.
JRchameleons
New Member
Although I feel passionately about this, I'll try to keep my response simple. Even as a PetSmart employee, I do prefer to support reputable breeders who take excellent care of their animals whenever possible - however, not all PetSmarts are bad, and if you look at what their policies regarding animal care actually state, PetSmart is extremely humane (much more so than Petco and many locally-owned pet stores). The problem arises when individual stores neglect to follow procedures and take care of their animals like they are supposed to. And let me just say that this doesn't only happen with large chains like PetSmart. Many locally-owned pet stores are just as bad, if not worse, than any PetSmart I've ever seen. My friend who works at the local pet store near my PetSmart was just telling me about how his store owner either lets animals go outside or feeds them to snakes when they are sick. PetSmart, on the other hand, treats every single sick animal regardless of cost. You would never find a local pet store that would spend hundreds of dollars to perform surgery on a guinea pig, only to adopt him out to a good home for free afterward (which just happened at my PetSmart about a month ago). Please consider that locally-owned stores often appear much more humane than they actually are.
JRchameleons
New Member
I have no idea, but that's not how it's supposed to work. I am the one who filled out the reptile order form at my store last week and I selected the option to order a Jackson's chameleon. And my coworker who filled out the form today chose not to order another this week because the one our supplier tried to send us last week was way too young and small to be sold in a pet store. Most PetSmarts don't have a chameleon expert on hand, however, so most of them don't know how sensitive baby Jacksons are.
The only thing I can think of is that the manager who told you that was not the pet care manager and didn't know what they were talking about, or maybe they meant that someone higher up (like a district manager) told them to order a Jackson. But they're not supposed to be automatically stocked. Not even veiled chameleons are automatically restocked, and those sell very well.
*EDIT* Actually, now that I think about it, we do occasionally receive reptiles we didn't order. I honestly didn't think about that at first but my store did get a crested gecko a month or so ago that we didn't order. So I suppose it is possible that happened with the Jackson for the store near you. Not to mention the reptile suppliers are different in different parts of the country. It shouldn't happen again though because when they send reptiles that weren't ordered it's usually just a trial to see how they sell, so if it takes a while for the Jackson to sell they shouldn't have to get another one.
Forgive me; I'm very quick to defend PetSmart because so many people make nasty generalizations about the company that are simply not true and not fair. Individual stores can be horrible, yes, but that doesn't mean that is true of every store or that the company as a whole is evil. Blame the managers and employees of the bad stores, not the whole company. My PetSmart is by far the most humane and ethical pet store I have ever been to, and we have several employees who are extremely knowledgeable about animals whose specific care requirements are often neglected, like chameleons, certain types of fish, turtles, tortoises, etc.
At least no one on this thread has grouped PetSmart together with Petco (yet). lol...
patrickfraser
New Member
I just saw one yesterday. The $125 price tag was ridiculous. There was a nice water dish full for her to drink from. Isn't that nice of Petsmart? No UVB, but they did seem to have a basking light and a red bulb that was not on and probably for nighttime warmth. There were also notices in front of all the displays saying they care about what you think and to call an 800 number or speak to the manager. I did neither, but did say a little prayer for the little girl for a "saving grace". Grace??? Are you out there???
Goldenarcher1328
New Member
All petsmart stores have gotten them in within the last month, its a new species they carry. Mine got one too. $130
JRchameleons
New Member
If it was a PetSmart, I promise you they have UVB lights. That's a corporate policy that can't be ignored. Look into the enclosures and up. The UVB strips are just above all the enclosures at the front.
I have been to MANY local pet stores that don't use UVB lights, however...
(This is why I am quick to defend PetSmart. People say things that aren't true. It's kind of hard to see the UVB lights, but they are there. Also, people like to complain about how the reptile enclosures have no ventilation, which is also not true. The reptile habitats that PetSmart uses now are actually very well-designed. There is a fan system that very lightly fans the toward the glass fronts of the enclosures to circulate air. It is not strong enough to stir up dust or anything like that - just barely enough to create air movement.)
Goldenarcher1328
New Member
I can confirm that, it is a policy and i'm sure they'd lose licences if they were caught not using UVB, however, i don't really support petsmart or petco.
patrickfraser
New Member
I guess I didn't look hard enough? I only got on the ground and looked up and saw the basking and the red heating light. I must have missed them, because there surely is no way that they wouldn't abide by a policy, right? You must visit and verify all the policies are being adhered to in all stores, before making such statements. I know you love your job and all, but you make such great "assumptions" with no evidence.
OH...Also is it policy for a drinking dish of water? Great policies, but I think they got the wrong info.
Nope I'm in oc
Goldenarcher1328
New Member
I guess I didn't look hard enough? I only got on the ground and looked up and saw the basking and the red heating light. I must have missed them, because there surely is no way that they wouldn't abide by a policy, right? You must visit and verify all the policies are being adhered to in all stores, before making such statements. I know you love your job and all, but you make such great "assumptions" with no evidence.
OH...Also is it policy for a drinking dish of water? Great policies, but I think they got the wrong info.
I know for a fact that the one near me uses UVB, unless they stopped recently.
thats a tiny female unless its a male that hasnt got his horns yet
