My new pets, Redfoot Tortoises

[Cyris69]

Oh god, DON'T BUY AN ANIMAL FROM PETCO. DON'T DO IT. They're overpriced, poorly cared for, almost universally in terrible health, and your life will become a nightmare of vet bills. Plus store employees generally don't know squat about caring for exotics, though they'll be happy to pretend/insist they do, which is even worse.

I'd have to disagree with you there. I can't speak for all corporate branches but I worked for my local petco for close to a year and we took excellent care of all are reptiles, amphibians, and inverts. From specialized diets to vet recommended supplements. I personally took care of them on my shifts and when I was posted for another area I knew the people I worked with took great care of them as well. I was the small animals specialist working towards becoming the reptile specialist which takes quite a bit of training before your even allowed to be promoted to one or really care for them however since I had lots of experience they let me there on some shifts. Your required to take hands on training, online training with videos, tests, etc... it wasn't some 16 year old who had a gecko when he was 6 taking care of them, you have to be 18 to work there as well for any position at petco... Now, pricing wise petco is ridiculous on some things so I shopped elsewhere unless I was getting a good deal with my discount.

So I find it reckless to condemn a whole chain because you had a bad experience with one of the stores. Not every employee knows everything or has been trained for it but most are in the process. At my store if you didn't exceed in your knowledge and training for the different areas of the store you stayed on the register.

 

[BrianWI]

I have to agree, many animals come to pet stores sick from the suppliers. Our local pet vendor had a 3 toe box turtle come in with pneumonia. The pet manager gave it to me due to its condition after the vendor reimbursed them and said "let it die". Most expensive free turtle I ever got after paying for injectible antibiotics, injectible saline to cut them to proper dosing, syringes, etc.....

However, she is a very healthy and happy turtle now about 2 months later.