Pets Live Food Q&A   Pets   What's a pet store without the pets? Boring! While we don't always have every animal pictured, we aim to represent mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertibrates. Come on in and visit the zoo! The Paw Shoppe also works with Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) to host rescue cats and rabbits. The shelter cats, in particular, have been spayed/neutered and are up to date on vaccines based on their age and weight. Rescue rabbits have been spayed/neutered. An application in-store is required to be cleared with LBACS to adopt. Contrary to popular belief, we do not have dogs or puppies for adoption, but we do still love to see them! To find more rescue animals, including dogs, visit Long Beach Animal Care Services and select ADOPTIONS. Note: To purchase pets customers must be at least 18 years old or be accompanied by an approving parent or guardian.   Live Food   If you need crickets, worms, mice, rats, feeder fish, and yes, roaches, then come on in! We are stocked twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Our official regular stock includes: crickets (small, medium, large) mealworms (small, giant, super) mice (pinkies, fuzzies, hoppers, adults) rats (small, medium, large) hornworms (also known as goliath worms)* dubia roaches feeder fish (small), usually pond comets or common goldfish We can sometimes order fruitflies with advance notice. Note: Live food customers must be at least 18 years old to purchase mice, rats, or fish, or have been identified as a regular authorized customer for these animals. * This species is an agricultural pest. It is unlawful to release matured moths into the wild. Don't be naughty!   Q & A   Are animals guaranteed? Paw Shoppe has a 24-hour guarantee on the animal's viability from time of purchase. The sex, health, or behavior of an animal cannot be guaranteed. What is your return policy on animals? We accept returns of all animals, for any reason, with original sales receipt within 24 hours of its purchase. Please note, that after 24 hours, acceptance of returned animals depends if we have space to house the animal again. After the 24 hour period, a refund is not guaranteed. If you need to return an adopted rescue cat or rabbit, please call us first; it is likely that we can host the animal here at the shop again. Do you take donated animals? Yes, sometimes, if the animal is in good health and we have the facility to house it. By state law, we cannot accept donated dogs, cats, or rabbits. Paw Shoppe follows standard animal quarantine procedures for new livestock entering the store, especially birds, before they are put up for sale. Please note that a donated animal is a surrender; we do not buy pets. What is a good first pet for my child? Let's reinvent that question: What is a good first pet for our family? After all, can a parent reasonably expect their child to consistently care for an animal day after day? At some point, the novelty wears out and then neglect creeps in. It happens in every household, and we've experienced it ourselves with our own kids. If we may be frank: responsibility for the family pet belongs to you, the adult. Before you get a pet, do your homework. Consider the long term costs, the maintenance time, and is it age-appropriate for your child? (Can your child crush it or will the animal fight back?) Most importantly, will all of you enjoy having this pet in your household? Now, since you asked, here's our recommendations: dog cat rat parakeet leopard gecko bearded dragon small snake (that stays small) frog or toad I would like to adopt a rescue cat or rabbit in the shop. What do I need to do? First, come in-person to fill out an adoption application and so that we can meet you. If an animal has an application pending, we still invite you to apply, since some applicants change their mind and don't adopt. Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) will then contact you directly to interview you further and give the approval. There is no home visit required. Once approved by LBACS, please come in to pay the adoption fee and take home your new pet! We can provide a disposable carrier if you don't have one. Note: We do not hold rescue animals for more than 24 hours after you are approved to adopt. Once you been approved by LBACS, please come into the shop to adopt the animal, otherwise we have to make the animal available for more applicants. Thank you. How do I keep crickets alive? Give them hiding space, keep their temperature stable, keep them fed and watered, keep them clean. If you need to store any quantity of crickets for feeding, put them in a smooth-sided plastic terrarium with a well-ventilated top. A plastic storage container is fine, as long as you poke holes in the top! Give them places to hide, such as separated egg carton or paper tubes. If there isn't enough space for each cricket, they will start to cannibalize each other! Crickets need to be kept at a constant mild room temperature: 68-75°F. The garage is probably not a good place to house your crickets unless you can verify that it stays room temperature year-round. You can feed crickets oatmeal, carrots, potatoes, organic greens, crushed dog food, and commerical cricket diets. When feeding vegetables, replace them every day or two. Moldy produce will kill crickets! Put moistened cotton balls in a very shallow dish, such as a yogurt lid, so they can't drown in open water. Change regularly. Clean your cricket bin every two days. Tap all of the crickets off of the egg carton, remove food and water. With a wide, soft brush, sweep crickets and debris to one side. Replace the egg carton on the opposite end. The crickets, seeking darkness, will flock back to the egg carton. Remove the debris. Once a week, move out the crickets and clean the bin with a diluted bleach solution. Rinse well and dry. Put in fresh egg carton. Then rebuild your cricket habitat! More Tips: Avoid using ammonia (Windex), bleach, or pesticides near your crickets. Keep them out of direct sunlight.