Petco: Who Breeds for them?

[humpbacks1962]

I know some of my state's leos are bred in Florida. Who supplies the leos to Petco there?

Wanda

 

[geckokreeper]

I have asked a few of the Petcos around my area because I sometimes see some nice leos. 1 of the places said they order from somewhere in Flordia , another one said Gourmet Rodent and another one didnt know. So I would guess Gourmet Rodent as they are in Flordia I think.

 

[Mark and Aimee]

Gourmet Rodent is the only supplier, unless local stores have a contract set up with a local breeder (highly unlikely, as they'd need to produce 50+ every month, year round).

 

[humpbacks1962]

Yes, I could not believe the leo I saw at one of our stores the other day. All white and gray! They also have some stunning jungles every now and then... And then trillions of albinos.

Like many other herp lovers, this is where we got our first animal. We got a tiny, young baby. So small he hid in crevases on decorative rocks in his tank. You could not see him anywhere. He turned out to grow healthy and as he sheded, turns out he has tangerine on his tail too!

So, for all the talk about Petco, it is worth the stop when you are in the area. They have rare colors every now and then, mixed in and selling for exactly the same low price the others sell for!

Wanda

 

[suebrass]

The Petco I go to told me they get a lot of their babies from a local breeder. My two leos were bought when they were only a couple of weeks old. One is a male albino with one orange stripe around his tail. The girl is a high-yellow with some orange on her tail. they are both around 5 months old now and very healthy. I know a lot of people don't like Petco, but the stock I've seen has been pretty healthy. And they have sales all the time - $29.00 for a baby gecko - regardless of the color pattern.

Sue

 

[humpbacks1962]

There does not seem to be too many local breeders of reptiles in Connecticut, so that answer is quite interesting.

I have two stores nearby and they say they get their animals on Wednesdays. One told me they "don't know what they'll get" when they get shipments. Most times that is the story: it is a game of change to get a stunning gecko but they do get them, and sell them for the same price they sell normals and albinos!

I know some breeders bash Petco aggressively. They do have great prices on reptiles, and the occasional jewel they'll sell for the same low price! At least Petco allows buyers to see the animals' living conditions before they buy! I wish I read more statements in breeder pages guaranteeing the living environment of their animals is "(..*) State agency inspected and approved"...

It is worth at least just walking by every now and then to see what you may find...

Wanda

 

[Karen Hulvey]

Our Petco had Greek tortoises and Russian tortoises. They were actually stacked on top of each other and some were tilted. They could not move or turn around. I brought this up to the manager and he said he didn't have anywhere else to put them. Duh, a tub in the back would be better than the conditions they were in. They had no room for a water dish or any food and no basking light.

Then the Mali uromastyx cage had a temperature of 74° and no basking light. I brought this up to the manager too. He said that the Malis were the same temp as the snakes. Again, duh, they're not snakes. Malis like high, high temperatures, over 100°.

They also had peachfaced and black masked lovebirds in with lovebirds that apparently weren't weaned because there were lovebirds begging the older ones and the older ones were tearing the young ones up. The peachfaced lovebirds were also picking on the black mased LBs and plucking out feathers. I brought this up to the manager and he said he couldn't separate the LBs because he didn't have any more cages. DUH, don't order so many. He said they were all weaned. I pointed out the ones begging and he tried to tell me that was how they played with each other. I have 30 breeding pairs of lovebirds and I know what a baby begging for food looks like.

I'm not fond of Petco at all. It could just be this store, however, as it is the only one I've been to. I do wish this store would go out of business. They don't know the first thing about most of the animals they carry.

Karen

 

[humpbacks1962]

Sad to hear. The ones I go to in my state are very good about displaying and keeping their animals.

But you have a resource, if you feel strongly about it: Locate their permit (on display somewhere) and ask the agency to do a surprise inspection. Follow up on your concerns.

Still think some breeders keeping their animals in worse conditions get away with such abuse by not being as regulated.

 

[Jodi L Aherns]

All petco and petsmarts use Ron Tremper and Bill Brant for there leopard geckos,ball pythons,crested geckos,corn snakes and king snakes. All there wild caught comes from mid american,and cal.zoo.
They do NOT buy from local breeders at all.

 

[Intense Herpetoculture]

Petsmart also buys from Fluker Farms (mostly beardies) and from a few other breeders within the U.S. I can't think of the other names at this time, but I'll look it up again. Also, I know Petco does buy wildcaught (and some CB) animals from SEVERAL importers/wholesalers. I personally two seperate people that supply Petco in Texas myself, one based in Dallas/Fort Worth area, another in Houston. In 1999 I supplied Petco for a few months myself when I was still in the import/export business.

 

[suebrass]

I don't know if my local Petco really gets their leos from local breeders, that's just what I was told by an employee. I have no way of knowing for sure. I do know that the two I've been to have been pretty clean, and the staff have been pretty decent. Of course, I don't trust any pet store fully. Afterall, their bottom line is profit.

Sue

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

All petco and petsmarts use Ron Tremper and Bill Brant for there leopard geckos,ball pythons,crested geckos,corn snakes and king snakes. All there wild caught comes from mid american,and cal.zoo.
They do NOT buy from local breeders at all.

PETsMART does not even carry snakes the majority of the time. The only thing they are permitted to carry are cornsnakes raised on "snake sausages." and that has even failed, causeing the majority not to carry snakes at all.

PETsMART receives their reptiles from C.R.A.P. (don't even ask me what that stands for), Flukers and Lasko. All USD Vet-Checked breeders.

 

[humpbacks1962]

And those breeders are in Florida?

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Arizona and Florida

 

[chondrokeeper]

C.R.A.P. (ironically) stands for Center for Reptile and Amphibian Propagation = Ron Tremper

I was also under the impression that Petco gets their cresteds and beardies from Sandfire Dragon Ranch. After all, they do carry SFR's supplements.

 

[Intense Herpetoculture]

Nope, pretty sure both the beardies and cresteds at Petco come from Gourmet Rodent. As for SFR's suppliments, Petco carries T-Rex products who produces the SFR's suppliments.

C.R.A.P. (ironically) stands for Center for Reptile and Amphibian Propagation = Ron Tremper

I was also under the impression that Petco gets their cresteds and beardies from Sandfire Dragon Ranch. After all, they do carry SFR's supplements.

 

[ShannanD25]

The Petco here has great conditions for their animals. They have very nice Leos as well. The manager said they get them from Calif. Zoological. I have seen some petstores with horrible conditions and it really does depend on management. If you ever see bad conditions, don't be afraid to do something about it. Talk to the Manager, call corporate, report them to whoever but try to make a difference!
But I am happy to say the Petco in York PA is wonderful!

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

*lol* The PetCo in York is definitly NOT wonderful! I stop in their now and again to see if they have any supplies for sale and to check out their fish. I've seen tanks full of fungus covered fish on the sales floor. I've seen baby birds that don't even have all their feathers on the sales floor (and with all the customers going in and out of the Aviary, I'm shocked the birds haven't died yet from stress). I've seen emaciated baby balls with shed stuck all along their bodies. I've seen emaciated baby leos who are so disgustingly thin they should be put down.

York isn't as disgusting as Hanover though.

and the East York SuperPetz! Yikes...don't even get me started...

 

[ShannanD25]

Actually their tanks are cleaned daily and any fish even looking ill is quarantined, same with the Leos. I've never even seen a spec of algae growing on the tanks.I am in there at least weekly through volunteering with a cat rescue. I have yet to see any reptile , fish, or critter looking emaciated. And the aviary is one of the best I've seen in pet stores. We raise birds, mostly larger ones, and can say they are well kept. I'm not sure if you are going to a different Pet co or what.
They don't have a sales floor they put birds on, they are all kept in the aviary. So you will see younger birds but they will have available on dates on their cages. The woman back there is extremly knowledgable and loving to her "babies".
Their Leos look great. There is on occaision a thin one but you rarely see it as any that appear ill are taken into the back room and set up in a little hospital tank and hand fed. I know this because I usually ask whoever is in aquatics how the Leos are doing.
My friend also fosters(small animals) for Petco and works at the vet Petco uses. They do care for their animals and recently paid $700 for an operation and care on a guinea pig.

Superpetz is bad. I won't go there either. But they have recently purchased a new display that at least heats. They still have alot to learn however. But at least they don't sell many Leos at 49.99 each or 74.99 for albino(which often aren't albinos and their regulars have a few "chocolate" albinos mixed in)

If I thouhg Petco was bad like some of the local petstores, I would go there, nor support them on this site, but they have good knowledable people who care about the animals.

 

[humpbacks1962]

Yikes...don't even get me started...

Well, allow *me* to get you started alright. For the sake of the animals you are so disgusted to see maltreated, contact the agency that issued their permit in your state!

If anything infuriates me about hearing complaints about pet stores is the numerous people who post complaints but never move their on behalf of those animals!

In spite of it all, Petco's facilities are inspected and their animals approved to hold in captivity for resale. Name all the breeders who have their sites inspected and approved! We just see nice pictures of the merchandise, but what's behind the camera?

So, draw on the resources available accordingly!


Wanda