petstore housing pyxie with white's treefrog...

[Bolisnide]

I'm feeling so disturbed by what I've seen recently in a locally owned petstore..
A pyxie about the size of my fist housed with 2 white's tree frogs in a 12x12x12 enclosure. No plants, only a dirty dish of water and some moist coco fiber substrate.

Questions for everyone:
I desperately want to 'save' the 2 white's, but do you all feel this only supports bad husbandry in petstores?
How have the white's been effected by being housed with a pyxie in such a small space with only one water sourse?
Will the white's eventually fall ill? Will they be eaten? Should I call the local humane society?

[Cocinecro]

I wouldn't go so far as calling the humane society, they probably won't bother with it. Unfortunately this is a pretty common occurrence, a lot of pet stores don't know how to keep their pets properly. I've seen similar situations happen before. The best thing you could do would be to tell them that they are not taking care of them properly and offer advice. If it's a locally owned pet store they might be more willing to listen to you on how to keep their animals. They may (unfortunately) not care about the animals, but every business understands their products dying before they can sell them. If they won't listen to you out of compassion for the animals, they will if they think it will hurt their wallets. Try suggesting that they read up on the animals they are trying to sell. Maybe even print out some care sheets for them, or if you're really concerned, offer to set up a tank for them. They'll probably be glad for the help and let you use materials they have in the shop. Even a quick set up with separate enclosures, some fake vines, coco fiber substrate, thermometer/hydrometer and a heat source would be better than what they have now.
If they won't listen to good advice then take other measures to not support bad husbandry. Call the humane society. They may not do anything for the frogs, but if they're not keeping the frogs correctly they probably are not taking care of the other animals correctly either. No pet store would want the humane society called on them, that would be business suicide if word got around. Try other places too, Better Business Bureau, leave a bad review on Yelp or elsewhere online. I wouldn't take these steps unless really necessary. It could be that they are not knowledgeable on keeping frogs and need to be educated. They may have no idea they're doing anything wrong.

If you're wanting to save the whites, I would make sure they're not already too far gone to be saved. You can take them home but be ready to take care of a sick frog with a proper set up for them.

Best of luck!

[Bolisnide]

Thank you for all the advice! I was truly feeling so torn on what to do.
I think I will offer some help, rather than 'reporting' these guys. I know for a fact that the bottom line is what matters to them (unfortunately).
And realistically, I can't get any more frogs at the moment. I have no quarantine tanks, and very little space (plus my husband already thinks I'm nuts).
Thanks again.

[kueluck]

I agree with Cocinecro, first approach the store owner, then if they blow you off take em’ down and report the store to the local Human Society and any local reptile rescue, they will really come down hard on them.

[KingCam]

The store owner will likely be glad to know those frogs will eat each other, after all, he paid for them to be there, right? Why would he want them to eat each other? It's probably just a simple (all too common) case of total ignorance on the matter. My local pet store recently lost about a dozen green anoles they were housing with the biggest whites tree frog I've ever seen.

[Bolisnide]

The store owner will likely be glad to know those frogs will eat each other, after all, he paid for them to be there, right? Why would he want them to eat each other? It's probably just a simple (all too common) case of total ignorance on the matter. My local pet store recently lost about a dozen green anoles they were housing with the biggest whites tree frog I've ever seen.

Good Point!

[Bolisnide]

I agree with Cocinecro, first approach the store owner, then if they blow you off take em’ down and report the store to the local Human Society and any local reptile rescue, they will really come down hard on them.

I'm totally with you, Gail!
I'm a cpa, I wouldn't dare do accounting without doing my research first!!! Why in the world would someone specialize in a field, get paid for it, and not do the research FIRST! And when there are animals suffering because of their lack of research, it just really boils my blood

[flybyferns]

Hi,

" I have no quarantine tanks, and very little space (plus my husband already thinks I'm nuts)." lol

I had a similar experience. The little pet shop where I occasionally buy crickets, got RETFs last fall "for Christmas". Whatever that means?
They were really cold, no heat source ( by the door) , dry as a bone, and in a little 12x12 w/ pine chips !!!!. I nearly died!!! I had my 2 albinos in quarantine at the time.
These people simply did not have a clue ! When I was looking at the ( having my little panic attack ) the kid who worked there came over and was excited about having them at the shop. So, I politely explained about all the problems. He was, actually, very concerned. Together, we collected everything they needed and fixed the poor little guy's enclosure. By the time I left they were really comfy? God knows where the poor frogs ended up though

Lynn