The trouble with pet stores...

[Pharaoh]

Just been to my local pet store/garden centre. I don't know if its the same over there in the States but here in England our garden centres have developed a sideline in reptiles and other pet store livestock? Anyway I digress.

I saw a Ornate and a Fantasy frog both about the size of a 50p both housed in huge vivariums. They had a substrate of just sphagnum moss and it was pretty damn dry. The temp I noticed was at the high end of 80's and the humidity was just over 65%. Curiously and subversively I asked the assistant what she fed them and she told me she was feeding it pinkies every 2 days. The frogs looked in generally poor health and miserable!

I quietly asked to see the manager. I politely explained to him everything I had learnt from you guys about Pacman keeping. His reply was "Well I don't care what you or they think they know, I have never had one die on me yet", so I replied "You must sell them quickly then because they don't look like they are going to last a week!" I walked off at this point shaking my head...

I think I may be making a call to the relevant authorities

[GrifTheGreat]

Just been to my local pet store/garden centre. I don't know if its the same over there in the States but here in England our garden centres have developed a sideline in reptiles and other pet store livestock? Anyway I digress.

I saw a Ornate and a Fantasy frog both about the size of a 50p both housed in huge vivariums. They had a substrate of just sphagnum moss and it was pretty damn dry. The temp I noticed was at the high end of 80's and the humidity was just over 65%. Curiously and subversively I asked the assistant what she fed them and she told me she was feeding it pinkies every 2 days. The frogs looked in generally poor health and miserable!

I quietly asked to see the manager. I politely explained to him everything I had learnt from you guys about Pacman keeping. His reply was "Well I don't care what you or they think they know, I have never had one die on me yet", so I replied "You must sell them quickly then because they don't look like they are going to last a week!" I walked off at this point shaking my head...

I think I may be making a call to the relevant authorities

You may see situations like this a lot. Many stores have no idea what they are doing so they just get some less than basic information on housing the frogs and go with it. This usually ends in a high mortality rate. Just because they don't die in the store doesn't mean they made it 3 days once purchased. This guy is obviously ignorant and doesn't know a damn thing about these frogs.

You did what you could by advising them to house them correctly. It's up to the store now to change this.

[Lija]

pet stores..... you better do not get me started
the ones that pretend they know what they're doing are the worst.

[CHUBBY]

Pac's get moved to smaller cages, more floor space, room for bigger animals who need those enclosures. Same with toning the heat down, he'd be saving more on hydro. Too bad he's ignorant and does not want advice that will save him some cash and most importantly, a vet visit.

[paul3col]

Just been to my local pet store/garden centre. I don't know if its the same over there in the States but here in England our garden centres have developed a sideline in reptiles and other pet store livestock? Anyway I digress.

I saw a Ornate and a Fantasy frog both about the size of a 50p both housed in huge vivariums. They had a substrate of just sphagnum moss and it was pretty damn dry. The temp I noticed was at the high end of 80's and the humidity was just over 65%. Curiously and subversively I asked the assistant what she fed them and she told me she was feeding it pinkies every 2 days. The frogs looked in generally poor health and miserable!

I quietly asked to see the manager. I politely explained to him everything I had learnt from you guys about Pacman keeping. His reply was "Well I don't care what you or they think they know, I have never had one die on me yet", so I replied "You must sell them quickly then because they don't look like they are going to last a week!" I walked off at this point shaking my head...

I think I may be making a call to the relevant authorities

mmmm this sounds a familiar story with garden centres doubling up as pet stores

i,m sure your local trading standards office would be interested, give them a call.

[GRABibus]

I saw the opposite yesterday and today at a french pet store.
An albino horned frog in some soil + mouse, with a little bit light (No UV, no agressive), 27°C and 60% humidity.
It eats like a monster and is very small...They feed it too much (Mices too much), but it seems very healthy.
I will take it at my home on next Wednesday (It is booked for me at the pet store) and let's see how it grows !
I should have preferred an ornate, but this one was so cute...

[paul3col]

Good luck with your new addition, i have the opposite problem to yours, mine won't eat a mouse.