Where are these animals coming from?

Vojera

In a local petshop over the last year or so I've noticed them getting certain exotics in once in a while and I was wondering, where do they come from? Are there really breeders of these animals in the country? Are they imported? I would also have to question how much the staff would know about these since they're so unusual (and how a vet would cope, considering I had problems finding a good vet for my guinea pigs, which are way more popular).

The ones I've seen are prairie dogs, shaws jirds, ground squirrels and lesser jerboas. Are they actually just a lot more common than I think they are?

Wisco

I'm not sure where they come from, but my experience with staff knowledge is pretty poor.
I recall walking into one of the major chains and being appalled by the conditions of the rabbits (inadequate diets, etc) and birds (they were all fluffed up and sick looking). They also often give out bad advice as they have no knowledge of what diseases or nutritional requirements are for various species. A lot of these small pets won't show signs of illness until it's too late, so diet and husbandry are extremely important in keeping them healthy.
Just my experience though- there probably are a few people out there who know their stuff. As for vets, they learn about all species, but if you were buying an exotic, I'd be looking for an exotic specialist (like in Bray)

Birdnuts

The exotic pet trade is devastating the population of many species in the wild. Most of these animals die before they get anywhere near a pet-shop due to horriifc conditions while being transported etc.. I too have serious concerns about the origin and welfare of many parrots, reptiles etc. in pet shops and as the poster above mentioned, the knowledge of staff often leaves alot to be desired.:(

Irishchick

Wisco wrote: »

and birds (they were all fluffed up and sick looking).

I think birds are among the worst treated animals in pet shops. They're diets are almost always horrificly inadequate. You can see it in the dullness of their feathers and the dull lifeless appearances.

The larger parrots never get the attention they require and crave, I have an African grey and I've showed pictures of her to people in my nursing class and they cannot believe the difference between her and a pet shop bird.

Its terrible. Same goes for the rabbits. As you say the diets are just not good enough.

I have my suspicions too about where some of these more exotic animals come from. I think pet shops should be required to produce information on the breeders/ suppliers they use.

player101

I couldnt agree more, in general the standard of pet shops in Ireland and the knowledge of the employees is really below par, i went into a pet show across the road from me a few years back and he has a fish tank full of water with about 8 baby terrapins, they had no bank or heat lamp, i advised the guy that the reason he couldnt keep them alive is because they spend most of their time on land and these guys we literally dying of exhaustion trying to breath. im no expert but i did my homework before i bought one a year before, its crazy, i did find a good petshop and all the guys seem to know what they are talking about even with the exotics, its in Kinseally in dublin well worth a visit even if you are not planning to buy anything

Vojera

Irishchick wrote: »

I think pet shops should be required to produce information on the breeders/ suppliers they use.

Totally agree with this. I'm always suspicious of where they come from. I know one pet shop (not the one I was talking about) that gets nearly all their dwarf hammies from people who sell them back after buying two differently sexed littermates, resulting in a LOT of inbreeding.

I'm pretty happy with my local petshop wrt their rodents. They're always able to answer me well when I quiz them. I also saw a little guinea pig with paralysis of its back legs and the girl I asked about him was a trainee veterinary nurse and was well able to examine him in front of me and confirm that there was no spinal damage and to outline the treatment they were giving him (which impressed me because a lot of people don't realise that paralysis in guinea pigs can often be cured if it's not down to an injury and just have the animal put down).

Still, I can't see how they would have that detailed knowledge about an animal they might have in for a fortnight and then never have again, if you know what I mean.

Wisco wrote: »

As for vets, they learn about all species, but if you were buying an exotic, I'd be looking for an exotic specialist (like in Bray)

I definitely think that nothing less than an exotic vet would do for these guys. As I said above, I had so many problems with vets for my guinea pigs before finding one who has a real personal interest in them and who treats them with as much care and respect as a dog would get. The first one I went to had no idea what their diet was or that they're so vocal or anything! That was a scary experience!

Graces7

I am trying to remember, so please bear with me if i am wrong; but is not Ireland too lax re imports of exotics?

This is surely the crux.

And yes, there must be more legislation, but then look at the antiquated laws re farm animals etc.

baords dyslexic

afaik nearly all birds would be captive bread? The pet shop I know of regularly takes the excess birds that the "fanciers" produce.

I'm just not sure how you get any bird into the country without a lot of hassel? We tried to move with our Love Birds and with the vet certs and customs stuff it wasn't worth the effort so they ended up in a large avairy in a UK collage that teaches small animal care.

On the subject of bird diet, we feed our Amazon (captive bread in Ireland) a base seed diet just to be sure and suppliment it with loads of fruit, cooked potato sweet corn rice and pasta, plus nuts and dried fruit for human consumption. Then he also gets the very occasional treat of a tiny piece of cheese or piece of meat. tbh he doesn't eat much of the "parrot seed".

Irishchick

Veterinary Medicine consists of dog, cat, sheep, horse, cow ,some pig, some chicken and a small part for exotics if there is time.

Everything else has to be done through experience or separate study which is why your regular vet might not know a great deal about your exotic pet. They should be able to point you in the right direction though.

I go to bairbre O Malley in bray for anything the Parrot needs. She treats a wide range of exotics.

Im looking to specialise in exotic nursing but there isn't even a course in this country.

Birdnuts

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/smuggling-wildlife2011.html

This is just a snapshot of what is going on at one airport:mad:

Hellrazer

Vojera wrote: »

In a local petshop over the last year or so I've noticed them getting certain exotics in once in a while and I was wondering, where do they come from?

Over here a petshop is required by law to have a Cites certificate for protected species.Most exotics are captive bred over here.

Are there really breeders of these animals in the country?

Yes there are.There are some fantastic breeders whose sole objective is to protect some species close to extinction.

Are they imported?

Very few are imported here.

I would also have to question how much the staff would know about these since they're so unusual (and how a vet would cope, considering I had problems finding a good vet for my guinea pigs, which are way more popular).

If you want an exotic there are specialist shops that sell them.Im more worried when I see a petshop thats selling exotics that usually only sells goldfish...the exotics are usually kept in the wrong conditions.

The ones I've seen are prairie dogs, shaws jirds, ground squirrels and lesser jerboas. Are they actually just a lot more common than I think they are?

They are actually.And there are breeders here and in the UK.

Birdnuts wrote: »

The exotic pet trade is devastating the population of many species in the wild.

No its not.The illegal pet trade is devastating the population of some species.The captive breeding of exotics is actually saving some species from extinction.

Most of these animals die before they get anywhere near a pet-shop due to horriifc conditions while being transported etc..

Thats all down to illegal smuggling.They cant be transported in the conditions that they need.

I too have serious concerns about the origin and welfare of many parrots, reptiles etc. in pet shops

Not so much over here since the trade is quite small but as I said earlier if you want an exotic you need to go to a specialist shop that will give you info on the breeder,any papers required for Protected species

and as the poster above mentioned, the knowledge of staff often leaves alot to be desired.:(

The knowledge of staff in non specialist shops leaves a lot to be desired.

Ive even offered to take animals in and help them recover from bad treatment in these shops and was turned down on numerous occasions only to see the animal dead the next time I went in.

There was a particular incident with Chinese Water dragons that had lost half their bottom jaws from "cage rubbing"

I spotted it when it started and gave them advice on how to halt it and cure the disease and they turned it down.The same shop was selling anacondas as first time snakes--nuts stuff altogether.That snake would have grown to 8+ feet and been extremely aggressive and honestly could have killed someone.It was nuts at 18" long.

The difference with the likes of Reptile Haven and the pet shop in Kinsealy and these non specialist shops is like chalk and cheese.

Hellrazer

Birdnuts wrote: »

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/smuggling-wildlife2011.html

This is just a snapshot of what is going on at one airport:mad:

Thats Jakarta where the smuggling of wildlife is rife..Big difference than Dublin Airport where ilegal smokes are the main item smuggled :D

doctor evil

With exotics it worries me what could be dumped/released into our ecosystem.