pets@home horror story!

[Andy b 1]

had nothing but good everything from my local pets@home over the past few years

[Crownan]

Not all Pets at home stores are bad. The ones near us seem fine, thats at least 3 different stores.

Also........why do they need to seperate guinea pigs and rabbits?

[joe0709]

another has just opened up near me and i was really impressed. the guinea pigs were all looking healthy along with the rabbits (not togethor) they even had an adoption part. the cage for the rats was a little small now that i think about it but they all loked healthy.

[retri]

Havent been in local one for a while, they had a short period with exo terra stuff and stick insects, but its mostly hermit crab stuff.

Was in there one evening and there were a couple asking about some of the fish labeled up as 'Bolivian Rams' over heard the 'fish guy' telling them that they were not bolivian rams, but he did not know what they are, but he would do them at the same price, he then told them about these 'rare' parrot cichlids, which to be honest looked in terrible condition.

I couldnt stands no more, walked over 'those are keyhole cichlids, and those parrot cichlids look in awful condition but are far from rare, and for the tank size you have are too big'

the guy didnt know what to do, came out with 'oh right yeh thats it keyhole....'

after the guy checked the system, turns out that thier price for keyholes is half that of bolivians

I then proceeded to help the customers while the guy stood there looking like an idiot, the customers left happy with some keyholes and dither fish which was perfect for the set up they had.

Made me laugh as they walked out, said to the shop guy 'you should give him a job'

dont think they like me much in there now

[retri]

Originally Posted by Emmaj

No matter how much better they make it i will never buy animals from them again

to date i have had and lost from them

2 baby male rats.......lasted 3 days

4 cold water plecs lasted 3 days

3 rabbits lasted a few months

only thing that lasted was my sons evil hamster that died at 5 years old yes bloody 5 years old

they have a gurantee thing, if anything dies under a week you can get your money back

[neep_neep]

Originally Posted by Harrison

And I don't think they should be allowed to sell degus. Have you seen how they are treated?

Not in your store, no. But in other stores, yes I have, nowt wrong with what i've seen? Better setup than other places i've seen selling degus! At least they give the right food and a decent caresheet - if you've seen them giving the wrong food, have you tried contacting head office? Because the stores all have guidelines to follow regarding the animals (including what they feed the degus!) so if they are ignoring these guidelines then head office should give them a kick in the backside.

Originally Posted by retri

they have a gurantee thing, if anything dies under a week you can get your money back

They haven't had the '7 day' guarantee for a couple of years now - because what do you do if your fish dies after 10 days? There effectively isn't a 'limit' as such, it's management discretion as to each individual case.

Originally Posted by Crownan

Also........why do they need to seperate guinea pigs and rabbits?

Species mixing Very similar reasons to why people recommend against keeping different reptile species together.

Although it used to be widely accepted, it's no longer considered a good thing do for a whole world of reasons. Firstly, both species are social animals requiring company of their own species - although a rabbit can sit there keeping a guinea pig 'company', they just aren't on the same communication level. Rabbits are also much bigger than guinea pigs, and even if they don't mean to be aggressive, if something spooks them and they dart away, a kick in the head from a rabbit could result in a dead guinea pig. They also have slightly different dietary requirements, guineas need vitamin C in their food whereas rabbits synthesise their own. Although rabbits could 'tolerate' this extra vitamin C, it isn't an optimum diet. Guineas also need a lot more fresh veg than rabbits do, so if the rabbit thieved the guinea pigs share it could end up with stomach issues (they have ridiculously sensitive guts, I really don't understand why they are so popular and sold everywhere!). There is also a respiratory infection that can be carried by one or other of the species (Bordatella/Pasteurella), and can cross-infect. The other one is, of course, rabbits are horrible horny things and don't really care if they are humping a different species... quite traumatic for the guinea pig! Even females will hump, which could inadvertently cause injuries.

I'm sure i've missed something - but it gives the general gist!

[Crownan]

Originally Posted by neep_neep

Species mixing Very similar reasons to why people recommend against keeping different reptile together.

Although it used to be widely accepted, it's no longer considered a good thing do for a whole world of reasons. Firstly, both species are social animals requiring company of their own species - although a rabbit can sit there keeping a guinea pig 'company', they just aren't on the same communication level. Rabbits are also much bigger than guinea pigs, and even if they don't mean to be aggressive, if something spooks them and they dart away, a kick in the head from a rabbit could result in a dead guinea pig. They also have slightly different dietary requirements, guineas need vitamin C in their food whereas rabbits synthesise their own. Although rabbits could 'tolerate' this extra vitamin C, it isn't an optimum diet. Guineas also need a lot more fresh veg than rabbits do, so if the rabbit thieved the guinea pigs share it could end up with stomach issues (they have ridiculously sensitive guts, I really don't understand why they are so popular and sold everywhere!). There is also a respiratory infection that can be carried by one or other of the species (Bordatella/Pasteurella), and can cross-infect. The other one is, of course, rabbits are horrible horny things and don't really care if they are humping a different species... quite traumatic for the guinea pig! Even females will hump, which could inadvertently cause injuries.

I'm sure i've missed something - but it gives the general gist!

Of course, if I'd have actually thought about it for a second I could probably have come up with most of that lol

We used to keep them together when I was young (15 odd years ago now!) But at present I have my GFs Guineas and Rabbits at my house. They are in seperate cages, have different diets etc and yes the rabbit can get an upset stomach extremely easily! lol

Thansk for the info though

[Shell195]

Most petshops hate me I was in one on a hot day last year and they sprayed the Chinchillas with water to cool em down then wait for it???????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????they put a sand bath in for them. Didnt like being told they shouldnt be spraying them............................ IDIOTS

[rapunzel]

Our local branch was extremely rude to me when I (stupidly) asked if they sold frozen mice/rats. I mean really offensively rude....like I was the cruellest person on the planet for feeding them to my snakes! Bunch of idiots!

I used to keep Stick Insects when I was about 10...had dozens and dozens of them for years. One year my uncle was feeding them when we were on holiday. We came back to find they'd all escaped....they were all over the house. Luckily all my family liked them, so we had hours/days/weeks of fun finding them!! I used to breed them...I was given mine for nothing by our Biology teacher.
£5 each!!!!! Crazy!

[Esarosa]

went to the one in teeside park a few weeks ago and all the enclosures etc were clean all animals well fed and everything in order...except... a little male rat in the FEMALE tank..i asked an assistant why he was there and got told 'oh its just a tumor...its safe tho, she's been in there a few days with no problems' i said no offense but that aint a tumor it's testicles.anyways after ten minutes of debating the point i got the supervisor over who swapped him into the male tank..i asked if they would take the females off sale to ensure they weren't pregnant and got told 'no need he's too young to breed!' it's ludicrous..so now some poor unsuspecting customer will buy these female rats and end up with litters in a few weeks time... ever feel like banging your head against a brick wall???

I mean if the assistant had just said 'oh god i didn't realise one sec i'll sort it out' or even a 'i didnt notice' but why make up some cock & bull story about him having a tumor that was safe..it just baffles me completely!