Your thought on Pet Shops selling reptiles

[almaron]

Ok, the US perspective here. Most run of the mill pet shops should absolutely not sell any pets. I've seen all sorts of horrible stuff. Then again I've seen great pet shops. I would say that it should be legitimized for breeders like Paul, no doubt. Then I think there should be certain guidelines for how to keep and care for them, and periodic inspections. Maybe set up a tip line type thing so the public could report bad conditions, and have someone sent out to check. If place receives enough violations, pull their licence to sell. I think something like that would be nice here too by the way.

[grahamh]

Maybe they should place a bond with the Parks and Wildlife with they lose if they violate. :roll:

[stretch]

The pet shops can certainly be regulated to ensure caire of the animals, though that is only half the battle. There is a pets paradise store in Canberra that does take very good care of the repties they have. The manager is a reptile rescuer and breeder. I think that makes all the difference in that regard.

Still leaves it open though for impulse buying whatever reptile happens to be in there on any given day.

I dont believe that all buyers would be like that of course. And I also dont doubt that some impulse buyers might make great reptile keepers! I just hate seeing the constant abuse on all animals, scaley or not, usually dished out on 'christmas presents' or 'he looked so cute in the shop' animals.

Experienced reptile keepers can run into trouble with an animal, and that is with all the right care and equipment!

[almaron]

Then again, some of those kids that get those Christmas pets end up being life long animal lovers because of it. Hard one to balance.

[stretch]

It's not usually the kids that are the problem....

[Magpie]

I HATE buying anything from my local pet shops (3 of them.) In my oh so important opinion, the animals in all of them are kept in appalling conditions. Yet they have been checked out by NPWS or whoever it is that inspects pet shops several times over the last few years. I detest supporting these businesses but when I need something I don't often have a lot of choice. Fortunately, one of my mates sells most reptile products now so I can get most stuff off him (cheaper too) I am absolutely oppesed to pet shops selling any animals (even fish) but ESPECIALLY reptiles as they are such a low volume market.

[snakecharmer]

what an interesting topic
just a thoughty
i am apposed to pet shops having reptiles
the reason being if the snakes did get a disease of some sort it
COULD and im not saying would
lead too alot of animals dying or getting real sick
these sick snakes could be sold of cheap to unsuspecting newbies
and unfortunatly i do believe it would happen and the only person too benifit from all this is the pet shop owners
i believe it should be left too the breeders and if the government wants too do somthing they could run an awarness program or somthing like that
well thats my thoughty
sc

[FrenzMan]

where i live in vic theres only a coupla pet shops selling reptiles and one is just up the street from where i live and i went there and they had 2 diamonds in an ok sized enclosure but with no lock or anythin on the door and anybody could have stolen them cos to prove my point i got one out and handled it for a few min and nobody even noticed


so i put it back in and went and told them that there was no lock or anythin and they took notice straight away and now theres locks on evrythin so i guess i did sum good.

but they r very very stupid people not to have the locks on in the first place cos it was a young pair in there that they said werent for sale cos they were gunna breed them.

[africancichlidau]

Hi Frenz, what part of Vic are you in, I am in Newport