Questioning what I should do

So I went into petsmart yesterday to pick up some substrate and other random things. One of the employees came up to me and started chatting with me about what reptile I had. Turns out he was asking me all these questions because they are trying to sell a bp that was returned to them because it is "mean" for half price. When he told me it was "mean" I had to check it out because I've never heard of a "mean" bp. So the employee takes me in this back room and right from the start I can see that this poor guy was treated like crap. There are pieces of shed skin laying around and there are still lots of pieces stuck to him. You can't put your hand near him or he will strike. From what I saw the eye caps are off so he could see just fine but I'm guessing he is just miserable.

Now they want $40 for him cuz they normally sell them for 80. I didn't even pay $40 for my super sweet bp. I don't have a whole lot of money to be thrown around but I do have an extra 20 gal tank. I'd have to buy all the husbandry for the tank and an UTH. Which wouldn't be cheap at all. I can't really afford all of that but I can't stop thinking about how miserable that poor guy is, and how much I want to make him feel better.

What do you all think I should do?

That is a tough choice to make. I say if you really think you can rescue it, do it. But if you are on a tight budget the only thing you can do is wish for the best for the little guy and hopefully someone will come along and rescue it.

Hi,

It's a horrible situation.

If you buy it they will simply replace him with another they still won't treat right.

If nobody gives them any money they will either stop selling them or learn how to make them worth buying.

You say you don't really have the money and buying an animal you can see hasn't been well cared for might incur some vet bills.

To be honest I would steel your heart and not buy him. If you want another BP give the money to someone who cares for the animals and deserves it.


dr del

I think I am going to see if anyone in the area has extra supplies for the tank or if anyone is willing to rescue the poor little guy. It just breaks my heart.

It wasn't the petstore that was treating him badly it was the person who bought him and returned him. I was actually surprised to see that the temps and humidity were both perfect and was provided 2 hides and a large water dish. Obviously the store can't keep him and I think it might be hard to sell a bp that is very aggressive now because of miss treatment. But you are correct about the vet bills and such. I'm talking to a few locals that may take him in. They really aren't in the market for a normal but I'm trying to talk them into it :)

If you explain the additional expenses that you will have to incur, is there a chance the pet store will give him to you for free? I recently adopted a female that was supposedly "mean," and the guy wanted money for her. I explained that the extra effort and risk I was undergoing meant that I could not justify paying for her, so he gave her to me for free. I know the pet store has more red tape than an individual, but it might be worth the pitch if they really do care about his welfare.

I agree with the above post. You should talk to them to see if they'd be willing to give it to you for free, since it sounds like they're not going to be able to sell it. Explain to them that you will be taking on a problematic snake and spending a lot of time and effort trying to work with it to "rehabilitate" it, so you can't justify spending money to rescue it. Also explain to them that you're not really in the market to BUY a new snake, because if you were you could get another bp of similar size and age (but without the attitude) for $25 and not have the headache that comes with this one...

I'm sure the pet shop did not buy the snake back from the previous owner, if you insist on getting getting it, offer them the wholesale price for it.

If I can't find someone who is willing to take him I am going to call the pet store and talk to a manager about giving him to me. I have an amazing vet who I spoke to and she said that because of all the business I have brought to her over the years and that I am going out of my way to help this poor guy she would check him out and treat him for the low price of 38 dollars (that is the price I would normally pay just for the visit)

I'm crossing my fingers that the pet shop will just hand him over

If they won't hand him over for free, at least suggest to them how they can get the stuck shed off of him. If he gets in better shape and they feed him a few times, he'll most likely settle down and they'll be able to sell him to a decent home.

If you're strapped for cash, then taking on another mouth to feed just isn't a good idea, no matter how badly you feel over it. You'd have to get equipment, possibly pay a vet bill or more than one vet bill, feed him, make sure he's in quarentine away from your animals... it's just a lot.

Once he's comfy, gets that old shed off and gets fed a few times, he'll most likely revert back to a typical BP temperment. I definitely would not pay $40 to the store, when they are basically trying to place a 'unsellable' animal with you. That's not a time for a "half price" but time for a home placement.