Opinions on "rescuing" tarantulas from pet stores?

[miserykills]

I keep seeing people on here say they "rescued" a tarantula from a local pet store that wasn't treating it well and I want to get other peoples opinions on this and express my concerns with this idea. When you buy a pet, the store doesn't think you're trying to "save" it, they think that the animal is selling well so they order more. The pet store near me sells G. roseas somewhat often so now instead of only having one at a time like they used to, they have 3. Thankfully they take care of them pretty much the same as any of us would, just a couple exceptions. My point is, by "rescuing" these tarantulas you are supporting a potentially bad business AND putting a different tarantula in their situation when they order a replacement. If instead of giving them your money, you explain to them how poorly they are taking care of them hopefully that could help. And if they see they aren't selling them fast they may stop ordering them. I'm not trying to offend anyone because I have seen a ton of people on here who say they rescued their G. rosea or avic. and I know you are giving it a great home that the store would never give it. I agree with the idea of saving them, but I think it causes more harm for more tarantulas. Unless of course you know the store isn't ordering anymore. Sorry for the rant. Let me know your opinions on this and maybe change my mind, because I would love to be proven wrong on this.

 

[skippydude]

If you say "rescue" when buying a wild caught tarantula, IMO your just easing your conscious. When in reality you are emptying an enclosure for another victim

If you want to do the species a favor quit knowingly buying WC specimens and raise a few dozen CB slings. Even if they don't bring much profit

 

[Mariner1]

I tried to explain that having a G. rosea in a sopping wet substrate and hermit crab setup with that disgusting sponge and crickets sitting on it while the T is on the top of the KK lid and the scorpion in the same setup next to it and the Kingsnake and Cornsnake in CEDAR chips. This was at a petsmart and they couldn't care less. You might as well be talking to a tree stump.

 

[Tarantula24]

Like skippydude said, every time you buy a T or any other animal from bad conditions, it's just gonna be replaced by another one. I think boycotting buying animals in bad conditions saves more animals, because if they aren't able to sell the animals and make a profit,they'll quit trying to sell them. The first thing I look at before buying a t is how well they're taken care of.

 

[Formerphobe]

Well, you're not going to stop people from 'rescuing' pet store tarantulas. IMO, it is right up there with supporting puppy mills.

 

[skippydude]

I've told all three PetCo stores in my areas affiliates that they are treating the tarantulas wrong
The response is the same "Big Deal" and they all but walk away shaking their heads
The only way it will stop is if there is no market for them, let one tarantula die for the benefit of many. Be strong "Walk Away"

 

[Zigana]

I don't usually buy from a pet store but I have adopted free of charge for injured ones they may have. These are not kept on the store floor for people to see but are kept in a back room. I also take in injured tarantulas found near me in the wild to nurse them back to health. I purchased one of my tarantulas at a reptile show.

 

[samatwwe]

I agree with this thread. I have "rescued" a T from a large petstore but they actually weren't cared for that bad where I got it. I just knew I could give it a little bit better of a home. So I did not feel that the next T would be treated badly in that situation.

 

[miserykills]

I don't usually buy from a pet store but I have adopted free of charge for injured ones they may have. These are not kept on the store floor for people to see but are kept in a back room. I also take in injured tarantulas found near me in the wild to nurse them back to health. I purchased one of my tarantulas at a reptile show.

That's different than what I meant. You are actually rescuing them in the sense that people usually use the term, adopting. That's always good.

 

[Zigana]

That's different than what I meant. You are actually rescuing them in the sense that people usually use the term, adopting. That's always good.

True people do use the word rescuing loosely sometimes on the forum. From what I can tell at the local stores here,mainly chain stores, most tarantulas are not at the store for very long to rescue from poor conditions. Their in their temporary home for maybe a week. I think most people think of them being there for weeks or months and feel sorry for them hence the rescue thought comes to mind. I wouldn't consider it a rescue so to speak but if people feel like they are helping in some way to call it that no harm done. Someone will buy the tarantula if they don't so encouraging the stores to buy more from purchasing one is a non issue. Someone will buy the tarantula regardless. JMHO

 

[dredrickt]

Seems pretty pointless to buy one that's kept in horrid conditions. Then you have a substandard T you likely overpaid for, AND they will replace it in their inventory.

 

[NeuroToxin109]

Honestly guys here's the thing... When you have stores like PetCo and PetSmart they don't care AT ALL for animal health and well being in store for reptiles and what arachnids they have. If they run out, they get more, corporate orders. If an animal is sick, most of the time it rots the back with no care or attention. I would STRONGLY advocate boycotting these kinds of stores and not "rescue" any animal from them.
That being said! I actually manage the reptile dept. at a one location LPS and my animals get taken better care of than most peoples homes. So before boycotting all pet stores take the time to look into different stores and see who's doing it right and support them! Because they're the ones who can give PetCo and PetSmart notice for stealing their customers and give them a reason to change!
Sent from my RM-917_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk

 

[HungryGhost]

Well, you're not going to stop people from 'rescuing' pet store tarantulas. IMO, it is right up there with supporting puppy mills.

Agree 100%

 

[timisimaginary]

i am anti-pet store rescue, i agree with the OP, it only promotes their business and leads to more T's and reptiles that need to be rescued. it's a vicious cycle. i'd rather "rescue" all the other exotic animals that haven't been caught yet, or bred by pet mills, by withholding my financial support from the businesses that put them in such terrible living conditions to begin with.

i do understand how difficult it is to see an animal that is being improperly kept and wanting to save it. for those people i advise simply staying away from the places where the temptation is there. if you HAVE to go to a pet store that keeps these animals poorly, stay away from where they're kept. if you really want to rescue a T, you can find plenty on craigslist that were bought from those same pet stores that need to be rescued just as badly, and you won't be adding to the profits of any irresponsible companies in the process.

 

[NewAgePrimal]

What can I say other than I'm guilty of it. I've gone in petco and seen this avic that had been there a few months in substandard conditions and can't help but feel sorry for the little bugger (I have a soft spot for avics). I tell them repeatedly they don't take care of them right (of course they don't listen). So I get it. I feel good about giving it a good home untill the next time I go there. They replaced it with an even bigger, more expensive T!! *facepalm* Yall are right. They are only in it for the profit. They couldn't care less for the critters. I just wish we had a privately owned petstore around here.

 

[edgeofthefreak]

The polar pair (one north, one south) of PetsMarts in my hometown stopped carrying spiders quite some time ago. They were in the standard reptile wall containers, with not enough "substrate" for the height. We have a few smaller shops that care for, and sell, exotic pets in a much better manner. After enough time, PetsMart just couldn't sell em, so they just stopped.

I still check from time to time, but I'm glad they've given up.

 

[Poec54]

Like skippydude said, every time you buy a T or any other animal from bad conditions, it's just gonna be replaced by another one. I think boycotting buying animals in bad conditions saves more animals, because if they aren't able to sell the animals and make a profit,they'll quit trying to sell them.

Absoluetly not. W/C tarantulas are cheap and easy to replace, that's been going on for at least 50 years with no end in sight, so your symbolic 'boycott' is wishful thinking. Tarantulas draw in curious people who buy things in the store (usually not the spider itself). Great for boosting floor traffic that they wouldn't normally get ('Hey mom, look at the spider!'). The merchandise sold to those people more than pays for the replacement spiders.

So in your mind, the poor tarantulas unlucky enough to wind up in a pet store poorly taken care of, should die to prove some point of yours? They didn't get to choose who caught them and who bought them. They were minding their own business in the wild, and next thing they know they're in a lousy cage with humans staring at them and pointing. They don't deserve a chance to live? Is that how you want to die, rotting away in a cage while no one cares?

Why not actually do something positive to help those spiders, like calmly talking to the employees and teaching them how to care for them? They get VERY little training. Why not save those spiders, because whether they're sold or they die, they'll be replaced.

 

[Beary Strange]

I'm on the fence on this issue. On the one hand, I do agree that it's just setting the stage for another specimen to end up in that situation. On the other, you're possibly saving a tarantula from dying unnecessarily at the hands of people who refuse to keep them correctly. And if their poor husbandry kills the spider, they usually just buy another one anyway. It's a total catch 22. Personally I have rescued quite a few G.porteri from Petco (I own 4 females, 1 MM which is precisely 4 more than anyone really needs XD) because it breaks my heart to go in there and see them baking under those heat lamps.

 

[Poec54]

When I was in college (with a tarantula collection), my source of crickets was cleaning/feeding/watering the tarantulas in deli cups for a local pet store and a reptile importer. I saved spider's lives (back then most were w/c adult female B smithi) and got enough crickets in trade to feed my spiders.

Teach people, volunteer to help, make a difference. Poorly-kept spiders in pet stores WILL be replaced, so you're living in a dreamland to think that letting them die accomplishes anything. We as humans owe it to those magnificent animals to see that their lives aren't wasted by people who don't know how to care for them in captivity. Boycotting that store, or refusing to buy their spiders is a cowardly approach. Speak up, save some lives. Aren't we supposed to be sharing our knowledge?

 

[timisimaginary]

sharing knowledge is an admirable approach. unfortunately, lots of big box pet store people i've heard from tell me that they have to abide by the "care guidelines" dictated by the corporation. i've heard from people who wanted to change how some of the exotics at their store were housed and cared for, and weren't allowed to because it varied from the guidelines forced on them by their higher-ups. and if you've ever read any of the "caresheets" these companies have in their stores, you can see just how wrong and misguided they are. i once took a bunch of caresheets out of a Petsmart out of curiosity for a variety of species i owned or was familiar with (bearded dragons, skinks, chameleons, crested geckos) and every one had at least one major flaw or error, such as recommending calcium sand for beardies or a primarily insect-based diet for crested geckos. they had one for tarantulas and scorpions too, i don't remember specific details from it, but i know it had to be wrong if for no other reason than it didn't differentiate between care for rose hairs and avic avics, the two varieties they sell there.

but, every store is different and i suppose some stores may be willing to deviate from the corporate guidance, but a lot won't. it doesn't hurt to try i suppose. maybe it would be more effective to write to corporations themselves and get them to update and upgrade their care guidelines.

as for the idea that these companies sell spiders primarily to drive traffic, i just don't buy that. most of their business is cat and dog owners buying food, toys, etc. and have no interest in exotics, and the idea that people are going to go to a pet store more often, or choose one store over another, because that store has a tarantula on display seems laughable to me. people DO buy the T's, and they fall mostly into one of two categories: 1) people who know how to care for T's and want to rescue one they see there, and 2) people who just want to buy a cool and weird pet, have no idea how to care for it, and usually get bored with it or neglect it, lots of times even worse than the store it came from (at least the pet store T's get fed, usually overfed, and watered, even if it's got a sponge soaking in it). there are plenty of T's from people in category 2 who got bored and want to get rid of their T, that you can find on craigslist, and these T's are in just as much need for rescue, often more, than the pet store ones. if you're in category 1 instead, any T you rescue will get replaced, so unless you plan to keep on buying every T they get in stock til they run out, you aren't making any difference in the number of T's that will suffer and die in that store. and yes, the ones that die there will also get replaced, but buying them only speeds up that process, it doesn't prevent it.