Is buying a gerbil from petco bad?

Question

Everyone on here says that petco is a horrible place to buy gerbils from because they are sick and most likely have horrible diseases that will kill them before I bring them home. I was just wondering if this was true. I don't want to hear any of your opinions, I want facts (recent facts).

I've had gerbils in the past, but they were from a person I knew who bred them (she took really good care of them, and they were wonderful gerbils who lived almost four years). She has moved out of state, and no longer breeds gerbils, so now I am forced to get one from petco. I have already used petfinder.com and found no results near where I live.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

no they last a long time... only if its already sick.... and when you get one  check its ears to make sure nothing in them ...and check the eyes to make sure there clear

Answer 2

Not at all! All that you have to be sure of is that the gerbil that you pick has to look healthy and has to seem alert! I know people say never buy from a chain pet store but it is fine! Don't worry! I wish you and your gerbil the best of luck!

Answer 3

I'm not sure, but all pet stores have a sort of guarantee whether it's 24 hours or a week. Just ask them and if the animal dies within the time limit you can always bring it back.  

Answer 4

Well,I don't think that you should! It may be a bad idea.I don't live anywhere next to one,but I have heard bad things!

Answer 5

It's hard to get truth about buying animals form pet stores because a lot of times the truth is hidden.

To guarentee that you will have a healthy gerbil, look up what a healthy gerbil looks like, and go into Petco and evaluate them that way.

I do reccomend that you get a pair though  

Answer 6

Hello, God_Rock!

Please adopt!

I like PetSmart better! :]

Answer 7

HORRIBLE IDEA! THEY USE PET MILLS  

Answer 8

What everyone says is right.

Adopt from a rescue or shelter http://www.petfinder.com/

Answer 9

Yes, Petco stores do sometimes get sick animals in their stores. But all Petco's have back rooms in which they keep the sick animals. Petco is not in the business of selling sick pets to people. When you go into a Petco, if you see that an animal looks sick, please go and tell an employee immediately, they will take them in the back and start a treatment program. Employees at petco are instructed to do checks on the animals many times throughout the day. Also, when the store opens and closes, the sick animals in the back are all taken care of. If an animal is in one of the glass cages that are shown to customers, the animal is most likely healthy. And yes, sometimes they look fine and when you bring them home they suddenly show signs of illness. This is why there is a health guarantee (14 or 15 days for small animals.)

Answer 10

i've heard bad things about petco too.  however, i see how some of the guys there look so miserable and because of that i have bought hamsters and gerbils from there to give them a good home.

just make sure you look for a gerbil that is alert, active, and has a shiny coat.  hopefully they won't be sleeping!  

i have gotten two gerbils from petco in the last year.  they are both doing perfectly fine.  they are healthy and one is a little on the plump side but they are well.  i will say though that a week after they came home their fur was even more shiny and attitude was much improved.