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Mancunian
Hatchling
United Kingdom
384 Posts |
 Posted - 27/03/2008 : 11:22:59
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I went to a specialist reptile pet shop yesterday as I was interested in getting some lighting for my Corn Snakes vivarium, purely for decorative purposes as I know Corns do not require any artificial lighting.
I was amazed therefore that after asking about lighting for vivariums that the shop keeper then proceeded to try and sell me a UV lighting system for lizards! I explained that Corns did not need artificial UV lights and they said "Since when?"! I was shocked at their poor knowledge, especially as the shop sold many reptiles as pets including corn snakes (none of which had UV lights!). They then proceeded to tell me I must get UV lighting and heating. When I said my corn snake had a heat mat for heating purposes, they said that that was not enough!  I stood there open-mouthed before making my exscuses and leaving.
I am a newbie to snake keeping but have read a lot about keeping corn snakes and I just wanted to share this experience so others new to snake keeping are made aware that not all advice out there is accurate or safe, even in so called "specialist" shops. A quick sale seemes more important than reptile safety and health. Thank goodness for sites like this and decent pet shops.
I went back to the smaller (but far better shop in my opinion) where I had purchased Jasper from originally and got decent advice and a suitable light system that is safe for my snakes viv. |
0.1.1 Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata) CB07 Jasper (Amelanastic) CB07 Chicomecoatl (Anerythristic Aztec)
1.0.0 Royal Python (Python regius) CB07 Tibo (Normal)
1.1.0 California Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula californiae) CB05 Luka (B&W Banded) CB06 Lucien (Albino Banded)
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Lewy
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
2874 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2008 : 12:47:55
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It's one of the things that worry me a lot when I receive emails - Some people have bought Corn Snakes as pets and don't even know how to take care of them - the shops have sold them a pet without even giving a basic care sheet. It's one of the reasons I set this website up.
The only thing we can do is name and shame the shops on here so we don't promote this quick sale policy some shops have.
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Lewy
THE CORN SNAKE.co.uk Team
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Mancunian
Hatchling
United Kingdom
384 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2008 : 12:53:58
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| I didn't want to name them for fear of litigation! But if people do read this excellent web site, hopefully they will realise when they are being fed inaccurate information and avoid the shop. I certainly shall not be returning to this one. |
0.1.1 Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata) CB07 Jasper (Amelanastic) CB07 Chicomecoatl (Anerythristic Aztec)
1.0.0 Royal Python (Python regius) CB07 Tibo (Normal)
1.1.0 California Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula californiae) CB05 Luka (B&W Banded) CB06 Lucien (Albino Banded)
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Lewy
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
2874 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2008 : 12:55:39
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Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Lol  |
Lewy
THE CORN SNAKE.co.uk Team
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Mancunian
Hatchling
United Kingdom
384 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2008 : 13:38:27
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| Freedom of speech is fine as long as others agree with you I find! :) |
0.1.1 Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata) CB07 Jasper (Amelanastic) CB07 Chicomecoatl (Anerythristic Aztec)
1.0.0 Royal Python (Python regius) CB07 Tibo (Normal)
1.1.0 California Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula californiae) CB05 Luka (B&W Banded) CB06 Lucien (Albino Banded)
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saddleninja
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1400 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2008 : 14:21:00
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| i would be happy to promote 3 good shops in my area for advice and sales mike at scales n tails porthcawl, pepe at the reptile center cardiff, simon and claire at dragon reptiles in pencoed and radyr |
1 amel
1 okeette
2 normals
1 rosy rat x
3 royals
1 cali king
1 publean milk
1 yemen chameleon
2 orange spotted agamas
1 colombian rainbow boa |
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Kazerella
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
3093 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2008 : 14:35:04
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Sounds like they were more interested in your money than what was best for your snake. Thank god you had done your research otherwise you could have been serverely out of pocket.
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n/a
deleted
113 Posts |
Posted - 28/03/2008 : 03:08:06
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| I agree...name and shame and spare others the hassle of going. If you don't want to name it..maybe you could be more specific as to where it was. As a fellow mancunian i am intrigued. |
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Mancunian
Hatchling
United Kingdom
384 Posts |
Posted - 28/03/2008 : 17:18:29
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I decided I am not going to name them as the person who served me was not the owner and I had no other problems as such with their set-up. Maybe the person serving me was new, inexperienced etc. Not an exscuse, but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt this time. I just wanted newbies like me to be aware that some of the "advice" you get given in pet shops can be wrong. There is no substitute to getting accurate info from experienced snake keepers.
I have since been to three other reptile shops in the Manchester area and they were all fantastic- great stock, great guys, great information and a joy to visit, and I highly recommend them all:
Viper and Vine in Prestwich http://www.viperandvine.com/index.html
Stockport Pet Warehouse http://www.stockportpetwarehouse.co.uk
Swan Street Pet Shop in Manchester City Centre http://www.swanstreetpetshop.co.uk/index.html |
0.1.1 Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata) CB07 Jasper (Amelanastic) CB07 Chicomecoatl (Anerythristic Aztec)
1.0.0 Royal Python (Python regius) CB07 Tibo (Normal)
1.1.0 California Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula californiae) CB05 Luka (B&W Banded) CB06 Lucien (Albino Banded)
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deleted
526 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 16:16:09
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Reptile plus in Bornemouth is brill, acurate, free advice whenever
Shame that there are shops like that though, a shop nearby to me was raided by the police for neglect... |
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deleted
316 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 21:22:48
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| is such a same that some shop can only think about profit or hire kids that dont know what they are doing. in my experience unforuatly they are alot of bad shop out there which is no good for our hobbie and helps to give it a bad press. there is on the other hand alot of good shops out there but unforuatly a new keeper doesent alway know the difference. i agree that Reptile plus in Bornemouth is a good shop and i go there whenever i get the chance. jac mac if you are from Bornemouth that other shop wouldnt happen to also sell fish would they? |
www.cornmorphs.webs.com www.southwestpythons.webs.com |
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deleted
526 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2008 : 12:41:52
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| I think so....cant remeber tho lol |
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