[Apollopuppy]

I have a job interview at a petshop on tuesday. The available position is in the small animal and reptile department. I am VERY familiar with ferrets and there care, I've had hamsters before, and my sister had a mouse once. I called the store today to follow up my application and the woman asked what animals I am familiar with. I admitted I am not too familiar with guinea pigs, rabbits, and lizards, but I'm willing to learn! I really want to impress my interviewer on Tuesday by showing her that I took the time to learn about various small animals and reptiles this weekend. I think that would look REALLY good to them.

Does anyone own small animals or reptiles? If so can you PM me and tell me what type of animal you have and whatever basic care info you know about it? (Like what you were told at the petstore when you got your pet). That would be GREAT. If you don't have the time to write out a description, if you could just tell me what type of animal you have and PM me a link to a care guide for that species I'd love you forever lol.

Thanks! I'll let you guys know on Tuesday afternoon if I got this job or not.

 

[henrysmom]

I had gerbils and guinea pigs growing up. The GPs were LOTS of fun!!

GPs can't make their own vitamin C so they need daily supplements in their water.
GPs also like to kick their crap out of their cage, so make sure to fit store-bought cages with screens around the bottom half (plexiglass or wire mesh) so your house stays tidy.

Those are the two things I thought up right away, but here are some good links:

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/MNAALAS/GPig.html

http://www.2ndchance.info/guineapigcare.htm

http://www.guinealynx.com/healthycavy.html

Crossing fingers you get the job!

 

[Apollopuppy]

Thanks!

I just know there are SO many petstore employees who don't know anything about the pets they sell. I want to be knowledgable on the animals under my care and I want to help people pick the right pet for them. I feel like if I am informed and knowledgable, then I can help the owners be the same way. And knowledgable owners makes for a healthy, happy pet.

PLUS once I become a vet I plan to become a ferret and exotics specialist. I figure this job will give me great insight into the animals I will be treating in the future.

 

[ZukinGriffins Mom]

Hello

Let's see.....we have a hamster and two tortoises....

You already are familiar with the hamster, so, as for the Tortoises; one is a yellow footed tortoise, the other is a red footed tortoise. They are dry land tortoises, they eat fruits and veggies and like a warm and humid climate. Basically, care is easy....but they are small still. Some of the things I wished the pet store would have told me included; how big they would get, I had to find this out on my own via internet research. Not that it would deter me, but it would have been nice to know before purchasing a $200 tortoise. I found that the gentleman at the pet store was very knowledgeable, however, he didnt know his products very well. I had a problem with keeping the "cage" temperature up when we first came home. This was when we had just one and he wouldnt eat or use the restroom, so we knew he was too cold. Well, we opted for an undertank heater and the guy sold us the wrong one. I kept questioning him but he acted so confident that I actually believed him. Well, unfortunately, he sold us the wrong size and it wouldnt fit our tank. So, I had to go out and get another one... not a huge inconvenience, but a small one nonetheless.

As for their care; it is pretty basic. Change bedding as needed, food and water twice to three times daily. Use bottled water or the special drops (sorry, dont know what they are called) as the tortoises cannot handle regular tap water with chlorine in it. Umm.....sprinkle vitamins on their food everyday for the first 30 days, then every other feeding. Enjoy them!!! They do like to use the restroom in their water dish, so that was helpful to know. I also liked how the guy at the petstore took my kids aside and told them about washing their hands and how to pet and hold him. They still remember that conversation like it was yesterday. That was the first time I have seen an actual employee address my children, it was an invaluable lesson for them.

 

[Apollopuppy]

Thats great! Thanks for taking the time to write out such a detailed post! I really appreciate it. I am TOTALLY clueless when it comes to reptiles, so thats one thing I really wanna learn about. Thanks so much for your time.

 

[WeHeartLabs]

My son has a Mali uromastyx named Ceasar.

http://eduscapes.com/nature/lizard/index1.htm
forum he uses:
http://www.reptileforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

I'm sure he'd love to talk to you about them, and also he can share what questions were on the test Pet Smart gave him and what kinds of things they asked in the interview. I'll PM you his email and MSN info.

 

[TangerineFizz]

I really want to impress my interviewer on Tuesday by showing her that I took the time to learn about various small animals and reptiles this weekend. I think that would look REALLY good to them.

If you don't have the time to write out a description, if you could just tell me what type of animal you have and PM me a link to a care guide for that species I'd love you forever lol.

Since you want to impress them, google the heck out of everything. Everyone can provide with you excellent advice and resources here, but you should be the one putting the leg work forward. I personally wouldn't wait for anyone to PM me a link to a care guide, information guide, etc., I'd be busting my own chops finding out for myself. Don't rely solely on other people is what I'm saying.

Does your pet store have fish? I can help you there: http://www.fishforums.net/

If you go to that site and read up on all the FAQ's, basic beginner's guide to water, light, feed and care, you'll be somewhat well versed by the time Thursday rolls around.

I suggest you spend your spare time trolling other forums -rabbit, hamster, bird, reptile etc.

Good thoughts you get the job.

 

[Apollopuppy]

Oh I'm already googling the heck outta everything. I have 6 pages of handwritten notes on rabbit care. I just figured it would also help if people could PM me useful info and links on the side. So far I have detailed notes on rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, rats, hamsters, and mice, so I'm getting ready to start on the reptiles now. i'm gunna knock their socks off, cuz I told them I wasn't too familiar with rabbits and guinea pigs when she scheduled the interview. boy is she gunnna be impressed when i can talk about rabbits and their care, health issues, etc.

I've joined a rabbit forum and a guniea pig forum and a rat forum. Forums always help me learn the best. All have been enthusiastic and welcomeing, so thats really neat.

I'm gunna head to a bookstore/library today and read a few books on these animals.

Oh! and I also have a piece of paper that lists a book, a website, a forum, and a good vet for every species of animal that will be under my care if I get the job! Yeah....I think this lady is gunna be real impressed lol. I hope so cuz boy do I need this job!

 

[JustL]

I have two painted turtles. They're aquatic turtles... the most common sold in pet stores are Red Eared Sliders. When I got my first turt I had no idea that they had to have a dry place to bask, no clue what their diet was like... the person @ Petco basically put him in a box and I came home and did my research on my own. The forum that helped me most was www.turtleforum.com. They have links on their for basic turtle care, both aquatic and land.

Stuart (Southern Painted) and Stanley (Western Painted) hangin' out.

 

[Apollopuppy]

Thanks for helping me out!

Thats the problem I have with so many petstores, the employees dont know **** and the poor animal is the one that suffers. I want to give every new pet owner a forum, a local vet, a website, and a book that they can use to take care of their pet. I ALSO want to match them up with the right pet. I don't want a 9 year old to get a ferret and I dont want a 'cute and fuzzy person' to get a reptile. I want everyone to pick the right pet and have the proper resources to care for that pet.

 

[JustL]

While your intentions are good, you do need to realize that you will be working in a petSTORE, not a shelter where you can pick and choose who gets an animal and who doesn't. If someone is willing to shell out the $$$ for a ferret, even if you don't think they're going to be responsible with it, you are still required to sell it to them. While you can educate them to the best of your ability, ultimately that person may still buy the animal you don't think is 'right' for them. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Kimmers]

Very good point JustL, you beat me to it.

 

[Apollopuppy]

I completely agree with JustL. Working in this petshop is just a temp summer job. The vet in town that I desperately want to work for wants someone with petstore experience before they hire for a receptionist position. So while I'm not thrilled about working in a petshop, I've really got to for financial reasons and experience. Its only a summer job. I totally understand what you are saying. Im sure ppl will buy pets that they cant handle, but this is a big reason why I am also involved in rescue organizations. I help to place the pets that ppl buy in stores and dont decide they want anymore.

 

[Apollopuppy]

Oh! I also meant to add that by being informed about the animals in my care I will be able to inform potential owners of the good and the bad. They may still decide they want the animal (even though they'd probably be a bad owner) but atleast they will be aware of what to expect with the new animal. its not like they'll be buying an animal from me and not know the common diseases, lifespan, and other crucial info. Too many petstore employees sell pets to potential owners who think they can handle the new pet. These owners dont realize the work involved and then wind up giving the pet away. Most people will probably be able to make an honest decision regarding if they can or cant handle a specific animal, BUT in order for them to do this, they must be given all the info.

 

[TangerineFizz]

. So while I'm not thrilled about working in a petshop, I've really got to for financial reasons and experience. Its only a summer job. I totally understand what you are saying. Im sure ppl will buy pets that they cant handle, but this is a big reason why I am also involved in rescue organizations. I help to place the pets that ppl buy in stores and dont decide they want anymore.

And what praytell is wrong with working in a pet store? You make it sound like it's a bottom of the barrel last ditch job that you are too good to do. There is nothing wrong in working in a pet shop imo.

I also meant to add that by being informed about the animals in my care I will be able to inform potential owners of the good and the bad. They may still decide they want the animal (even though they'd probably be a bad owner) but atleast they will be aware of what to expect with the new animal. its not like they'll be buying an animal from me and not know the common diseases, lifespan, and other crucial info. Too many petstore employees sell pets to potential owners who think they can handle the new pet. These owners dont realize the work involved and then wind up giving the pet away. Most people will probably be able to make an honest decision regarding if they can or cant handle a specific animal, BUT in order for them to do this, they must be given all the info.

I wouldn't mention this to your potential employer. I see where you are coming from but, if I owned a pet shop and you told me that during your interview, you'd 100% be passed over. Like JustL pointed out, you are there to sell - not to discourage potential customers. I don't always agree with the philosophy behind petstores and their get 'em in and sell 'em, who cares what happens afterwards, it's not our problem mentality, but here's the thing: You will be hired to sell the livestock in the store, and give it/them the best possible care while they are under the store's roof.

 

[Apollopuppy]

Petstores are not my favorite place because the rabbits and ferrets that are sold there are often from rabbit/ferret mills. Lots of ferrets and rabbits are in shelters cuz they were impulse buys. Many petstores dont treat their animals well and the young ferrets/rabbits are often TOO young to be sold. If I had a choice, I'd not pick a petstore that sold animals like rabbits and ferrets as my #1 place to work, but this is the only petstore within walking distance that is hiring and I have to take this job if I plan on applying to the vet clinic up the street, because the vet clinic wants someone with petstore experience. :

As for the interview, its a pet STORE and I realize I will have to sell these pets, Duh lol. I realize that not all these pets will go to good owners, BUT many petstores realize that if their employees are very informed on the animals they sell, customers really appreciate that and often return to that petstore for all their pet needs. Petstores are required to tell the new owners the lifespan, common diseases, etc of the animal they are selling. Even if they dont mention it themselves, customers will ask about that. Tell all the facts about an animal may discourage potential owners, but thats part of telling ppl about the animals you sell. This petstore wants me to know the ins and outs of the animals in the store so that I can tell customers the good AND bad things about the animals.

This petstore realizes that if they sell a person say, a rabbit, and they dont provide the new owner with good and bad info about rabbits, then that person will be pissed to find that rabbits aren't easy to care for and they will blame the PETSTORE for not informing them, theyll be pissed, and probably not come back to the petstore. This place wants to make money, they aren't stupid. So while they may not be telling people about the good and bad of the animals they sell from the goodness of their hearts, they are there to make a profit and keep a solid customer base and they'll do whatever it takes to keep their customers.

Ultimately its up to the customer to decide if they want an animal. I get commision on the animals we sell so its not like I will be trying to not sell them. I will give all owners the best info possible and hope for the best that the animals I sell wind up in good homes.

 

[TangerineFizz]

I get how pet stores work. : Duh lol

I was just pointing out that your somewhat fascist attitude towards people coming in to buy a pet, might perhaps keep you from getting the job. You want the job, you're going to have to eat some of your beliefs and swallow hard if you want to keep it too.

 

[Apollopuppy]

This is something I am well aware of Tangerine Fizz. As long as the animals are healthy while under my care and I am able to inform their new owners to the best of my ability i'll be happy. I'm not thrilled to be working in a petstore but I obviously have to get over that, now don't I? Im not an idiot, give me a little credit please.

 

[TangerineFizz]

I never called you an idiot.

 

[Apollopuppy]

I know, your right, you never CALLED me an idiot, but I kinda feel like you were implying that I was. I dunno if you were aware of this or not, but I thought I'd let you know.