Pet shops

[Jose]

In Spain you can pretty much obtain anything that´s not on Cites,unfortunately, if your wallet is fat enough.That includes all manner of venomous species and other animals that are perfectly ridiculous for the non-specialist.Actually, you can get anything that IS on Cites as well, but your wallet needs to be fatter.Disgraceful.

wow es cierto eso acerca de España? en Mexico,hay un gran gran problema con el tráfico ilegal,y puedes comprar cualquier tipo de animal que quieras,si tienes suficiente dinero,muy seguido los carteles de la droga también trafican con animales.
Hay una agencia de protección que trata de combatir el tráfico ilícito,pero como la mayoría de organizaciones con buenas intenciones esta mal financiada y tiene pocas cosas

Here in Mexico , the terrible thing is the animal trafficking in exotic pets is out of control. too often the drug cartels are also into trafficking wild caught species. There are animal protection charities and organizations funded by the government but unfortunately they are underfunded , understaffed and have formidable enemies. In a lawless part of Mexico city called Tepito (where even the police fear to go) there was recently a raid on a house where the cartel was selling exotic animals such as spider monkey , howler monkey , ocelot , iguana , boa constrictor and even baby jaguars along side klashnikovs, m16s and rocket propelled grenades. Incidentally one of my students keeps a cincuate snake which is native to Mexico in her house , she said she buy it from a markey for 150 pesos which is very very cheap , i might see if i can buy it off her and return it to the xochimilco lakes , its native habitat.

 

[Leptonyx]

Ontario is absolutely horrible for regulating the importation and sale of exotic reptiles. I have to revisit the two biggest offenders this winter to compile a more comprehensive list; but of the top of my head I do recall a caimen, alligator snapping turtle hatchlings (which are NATIVE; and I have no idea how they managed to find them in December...), two fly-river turtles, electric eels (smaller version of the big HULKING ones at the aquariums), and at least two species of stingrays (one which was common enough; the other one I haven't even been able to find). To boot there were a bunch of reptiles I'd never even SEEN before at zoos; so I can't even begin to imagine where they were shipped from....it's all incredibly sad

 

[Meaghan Edwards]

Ontario is absolutely horrible for regulating the importation and sale of exotic reptiles. I have to revisit the two biggest offenders this winter to compile a more comprehensive list; but of the top of my head I do recall a caimen, alligator snapping turtle hatchlings (which are NATIVE; and I have no idea how they managed to find them in December...), two fly-river turtles, electric eels (smaller version of the big HULKING ones at the aquariums), and at least two species of stingrays (one which was common enough; the other one I haven't even been able to find). To boot there were a bunch of reptiles I'd never even SEEN before at zoos; so I can't even begin to imagine where they were shipped from....it's all incredibly sad

Tell me about it There's been Massasauga Rattlesnake seized as well. They were taken to the Toronto Zoo for rehab and were released into the wild.

I've also seen a Japanese Macaque for sale in the Toronto Sun, which came with it's cage.

 

[Leptonyx]

I've also seen a Japanese Macaque for sale in the Toronto Sun, which came with it's cage.

You just reminded me; I saw an ad for a capuchin monkey in Guelph that also came with a cage....and I've been told Rowdy was apparently confiscated from someone's garage in Scarborough? And I think there was also a pet cobra that escaped downtown as well (all these memories are flooding back now...)

 

[siamang27]

In most pet shops here, there aren't many exotic species, just common parrots, reptiles, fish, etc...I've seen sugar gliders and lemurs for sale (the lemurs were around 3000 dollars I think). I also remember seeing an American Crow somewhere that had been held as a pet. I don't know what happened to it...if it's owners gave it up or if it was confiscated but it could talk.

 

[Jesse]

In most pet shops here, there aren't many exotic species, just common parrots, reptiles, fish, etc....

what exact species do you classify to be a common parrot.

and in america do you need to have a liscence to obtain native species?

 

[Steve Robinson]

the local petshop near me has quite a vast array of exotic and native birds. there is a monkey (not for sale) and a macaw (also not for sale) but some animals that are for sale include.

blue fronted amazon parrots, african grey etc.

Jesse, I've just caught up with this thread.

What sort of monkey is it, do you know?

And, does the guy handle it or is it just in a cage?

 

[Jesse]

Jesse, I've just caught up with this thread.

What sort of monkey is it, do you know?

And, does the guy handle it or is it just in a cage

when i posted that reply i didn't work at the pet shop. since then i have got a job there. the monkey happens to be a crab eating macaque but is not the only one. i belive there are 6 or more where the guy lives.

he does handle the monkey. i believe i mentioned in a previous thread that he trains animals for television. that particular monkey was on the logies with steve irwin. the monkey is no longer in the front of the pet shop now due to health and safety. the pet shop down the road made a number of complaints.

i think with the number of animals he has on his property he could start a zoo. wombats, roos, emus, snakes, lizards, monkeys, camels, exotic and native birds and mammals.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Is that the bloke from out Nagambie way?

 

[Jesse]

Is that the bloke from out Nagambie way?

yeah, probably 15-20 mins away
do you know him?

 

[Steve Robinson]

Haven't met him - know of him.

 

[Jesse]

i would like to know where he sources his animals from. i already know he gets his exotic parrots from breeders in melbourne and he breeds his own native birds. but i am completley clueless as to where he gets his macaques from.

i will ask him next time i'm working there.

 

[siamang27]

what exact species do you classify to be a common parrot.

and in america do you need to have a liscence to obtain native species?

Most parrots sold around here are the smaller species commonly kept as pets:
Budgerigars
Cockatiels
Rose-ringed Parakeets
Peach-faced Lovebirds
Monk Parakeets
A few stores have conures (usually Sun Conures).
There are of course shops that have larger parrots like African Gray Parrots, amazons, cockatoos and macaws but not many at least in this area. I know of one shop that had one macaw for sail but I think it closed down now.
Besides parrots, finches (Zebra, Society, and a few others) and Domestic Doves are widely available. Some places have canaries too.

You do indeed need a license to keep native species but I don't know much about that...

 

[groundskeeper24]

Probably in the US this is the case with the availability of these animals likely much greater than it is here.

In the UK hobby, the "average shopper" simply does not buy a £450 reptile of any description, whether it gets big or small.
People of little knowledge (who would therefore not be interested in buying the animal at full size if they knew what that was) do not impulse buy animals above a certain pricerange.
"Special interest" Herps such as albino boas and other morphs sell 99.9% of the time to people who know why they are paying a premium for a non-wildtype animal and would therefore likely pay more for a grown on or adult albino boa (which would be closer to breeding age).

In the UK reptile market colour morph animals demand a premium, a price which only increases with age (unlike a normal boa or other normal coloured large boid).
A four year old albino boa would cost considerably more than a 12" neonate and a proven adult albino boa would cost considerably more than that.

I still have no idea why there is some fundamental issue with a 12" neonate albino Boa constrictor costing more (or less) than any other type of animal??? Is it something to do with the other animal being a mammal? Is there some Class-ism here?

You may find this an interesting insight!
Crystal Palace Reptiles


P.S: I worked in the reptile and aquatics trade for 8 years and I dislike colour morphs and the frenzy over them, intensely.

That's interesting to know. All I ever see around here are people trying to unload big constictors. I suppose the novelty of a giant snake wears off once it becomes a reality.

I'm not a big fan of morphs myself. I'm not into the snakes, though. Just lizards for the most part. I'm more interested in how the animal behaves in my care than what it looks like.

Your prices are crazy over there, BTW. I looked at the monitors section and most are well over triple what you'd pay in the States for even a captive bred animal. Are all legal animals over there cb? I bought a hatchling blue tegu a couple of months ago. They are fairly rare, with maybe 5 people in the States breeding less than a total of 100 animals a year. They are also never brought in from abroad. It cost me 300 USD.

 

[jenjen]

I was in a new local pet shop that sells exotic species, and i was look a chincilla had the same space a a full grown skunk and there was 2 meerkats in 1mx1m boxes.

but what annoyed me was that a BABY albino boa constricter was £450 while the skunk was only £150. It scary!!

( i know i am late replying)
i know of several people who have skunks and they have to be kept in small spaces when asleep (as they are nocturnal i would expect them to be in a small space in a pet shop which is open during the day) because if they are given too much space they can injure themselves. something the size of a cat carrier/transporter is ideal for them to sleep in. they are great little animals.

as for the snake - my local reptile shop sells baby reticulated pythons (less than a foot long) for £50/£75 which i think is very unethical considering how big thay get not many can accomodate a full grown one (indeed the shop has several fully grown ones customers have brought back)

i dont know about the meerkats but i know of a wrestler who has a pet prairire dog. thats an interesting topic weird celebrity pets.

 

[stubeanz]

( i know i am late replying)
i know of several people who have skunks and they have to be kept in small spaces when asleep (as they are nocturnal i would expect them to be in a small space in a pet shop which is open during the day) because if they are given too much space they can injure themselves. something the size of a cat carrier/transporter is ideal for them to sleep in. they are great little animals.

as for the snake - my local reptile shop sells baby reticulated pythons (less than a foot long) for £50/£75 which i think is very unethical considering how big thay get not many can accomodate a full grown one (indeed the shop has several fully grown ones customers have brought back)

i dont know about the meerkats but i know of a wrestler who has a pet prairire dog. thats an interesting topic weird celebrity pets.

well most skunk keepers i know keep them as house pets running around their house and deffinatly not in the small spaces you describe, keeping them in a cat boxes to sleep is just plain cruel someone that cannot provide the enviroment for the animal shouldnt have them.
skunks are incredibly intelligent and will need alot of mental stimulation including enrichment, they will not get this in cat boxes, im sure you will know how long they sleep for however they will wake up throughout the day and night to use the litter tray, feed, wander around.

i believe any animal can be kept privately if they provide the right ammount of space/correct diet/ husbandry and enrichment that any zoo can provide.
however after saying that, i do think some animals need to be licensed that arent and that a test should be taken before purchesing ANY animal.
stu

 

[jenjen]

sorry if i didn't make it clear, i meant that they require only small spaces to sleep in but you are right that when they are awake they are very active, itelligent and playfull. but you dont know what the pet shop in question does with them at night when they are awake.

the people i know keep the them indoors with the cat box door open so they can come and go as they please, the cat box is like their bed but they have the run of the house too.

although i dont agree that all animals can be kept as pets, i dont think you should be allowed to keep venimous snakes, monkeys, bears, big cats ect and i think it should be illigal to have any bird unless you have an avairy or its allowed to fly in the house (its sad looking at a bird in a cage unable to fly)

 

[stubeanz]

sorry i read your post as if they had to be locked in when sleeping as they would injure themselves, i had never heard of this before and so thats why i commented.
i think i may know the petshop in question if it is in northampton? if thats so then the owners are pretty experienced with exotics and wouldnt say they are just any old pet shop buying in exotics that they saw added added to a reptile/bird wholesale list.
stu