Unhappy with Reptile Boarding at Stoke Rep Shop

[taraliz]

We’ve been away for 4 days and left Roary, Roxy and Simba at a reptile shop in Stoke.
Went to pick them up today and first off I wasn’t allowed to go upstairs to get them and see where they had been kept. I was told it was Staff Only, fair enough but as I was not allowed to go put them in their vivs when I left them I wasn’t pleased about still not being able to see where they had been.

When the lad brought them down I was shocked. They were both very very dark green, almost black. I know these reps and I know they only do this when they are not warm enough. I said straight away I was shocked and they shouldn’t be that colour and was told it might have been the stress of getting them out of the viv !?! I asked what temperature they had been kept at and was told they were fine upstairs !?! They don't go that dark in seconds, I know for a fact. They were clammy and cold to the touch.

Simba was also dark and blotchy and again I KNOW this only happens with him when he it too cold or ill.

I showed them to my other half in the car and we were not happy and discussed it on the way home. I called the shop as we drove back and asked what temperatures and humidity they had been kept at and what they had eaten. The lady went away to get the info from the guy who had been taking care of them, just to come back and say the temperature and humidity was right, not what they actually were They also said they had noticed every time they went into the room they darted about and charged into the glass, so they may have been stressed, hence their dark colour. I asked what they had eaten and was told they had eaten loads and loads and had had black crickets, locusts and both had eaten pinkies.

I have to say I was really surprised. In my experience stressed reptiles don't eat loads and loads and I know for a fact that Roary is doing his ‘I'm not eating’ bit at them min so certainly wouldn’t have eaten loads and Roxy is mainly eating pinkies, which is how were getting some fat back onto her. Also, I had specifically asked for them not to be given black crickets as neither of them like them and don't doo well on them.

20 minutes after being home in their viv they were green again?

Simba is laid on his log, legs dangling and eyes shut.

I'm not at all happy and made this clear but was offered no apology or explanation.

We buy all our rep food from this place and most of our supplies and have made a couple of large viv purchases there too, but have received poor and contradictory advice on occasions and have to say its always hard work to get anyone to even smile let alone serve you. I wont be taking the reps back again for sure and will look around for some other food suppliers.

[Spikebrit]

You have a PM

[lauraberwick]

were bouts was the shope in stoke? i use glovers aquatics when i go away and they seem top notch to me

[lil05]

heya if you want next time you go away i could look after them for you.. but keep them at yours to ease stress and that way you know that they have the right temps and getting fed the right foods and no pay needed as its only a 2 min walk for me

i use online for my foods and never had any problems .. when i buy from shops they never seem to last that long

[taraliz]

Thanks Lil thats great. x

[Girlie]

I wouldn't take them to that shop anymore! They've obviously don't know what they're doing.
Hope Roary, Roxy and Simba are ok now
x

[taraliz]

I’ve had a few PM's about this shop and people making a guess where it was. I haven't named this shop as this is my own experience and not a name and shame.

I was, and am still unhappy about the way my pets were kept, although in all honesty I suppose I really cant comment on how they were kept as twice I was refused access and not allowed to see where they were. Even when I asked, in the shop and over the phone, I was not told the temps and humidity they were kept at. Again, I am VERY surprised they were so stressed they were darting around and charging at glass, yet they were both easting loads. Just doesn't add up.

The basilisks are bright green again now.
My beardie is still black and sleeping mid day which is not like him, so will see how he goes.

Again, I am commenting on MY experience. This time with my reps boarding and when I have asked advice in the past it has arisen it was incorrect, also with the general friendliness of the staff, or lack there of, but again this is MY experience and not intended to influence anyone else’s shop choices, hence why I don't feel it necessary to say where it was.

[taraliz]

Originally Posted by Girlie

I wouldn't take them to that shop anymore! They've obviously don't know what they're doing.
Hope Roary, Roxy and Simba are ok now
x

Hiya

I cant say that for sure as I have had people telling me they are fab and a great place and so on and so forth, im just commenting on my experience. Maybe I should have refused to leave them without seeing where they were being kept and ,aking sure they knew about their husbandry but I didnt, so maybe thats my fault.
I wouldnt leave my dog at a kennels I hadnt seen so this shouldnt have been any different I guess. Unfortunatly reps are not as hardy as dogs.

T

[suez]

i will be very honest with you i would NEVER leave any rep of mine without seeing eclosures .the fact they did not show you how and where they were to be boarded would have instantly alarmed me.saying thet i am pleased they are back safe with you .i have too many reps to even think of holidaying lol .that all said i am sure ther must be some very respectable sitters out there.it may be an idea to start a thread in classifieds (if not already been done) for respected and trusted reptile sitters

[Hellcat]

i was at a rep shop earlier that does sitting, reptile express in oswestry. i would defo trust my beardie with her after seeing the shop and having a chat, without a doubt.
but i already got offered free boarding at the nwrr where i got him from if i ever go away