Looking to "Rescue" a Pet Store snake

Hey everyone I'm new to the forums and have been lurking here for a while. I have been keeping reptiles for almost 8 years now and have always gotten my reptiles from shows or rescues.

However, my girlfriend and I have been going to a local pet store for almost two years now to buy food for our reptiles. Ever since we've first been started shopping at this pet store, the same Cali King has been there. It has been in the same 12 x 12 x 18 Exo Terra (the one made for arboreal herps), which it is much too big for. It has also been put on black sand for substrate. I haven't seen it move much at all since I've been going to this store, until last night when me and my girlfriend were there before it closed to buy roaches. Just approaching the glass while it was awake showed that it was never really handled, as it started posturing up and shaking the tip of it's tail in a defense display.

I have been looking at this snake for a while, and I can't bare to see it there any longer. I want to buy it. However, it's $50 and I really would prefer not to spend that much on a snake that I could buy for $20 at a show. Especially one that is so defensive and may have stomach abrasions/infection from the sand.
This pet store doesn't practice the best husbandry, and there has been a time in the past where we have seen some really ill-looking water dragons with serious cases of nose rub and horrendous mouth rot. I remember after a few weeks all 3 had vanished from the store, and I'm very concerned as to what exactly had happened to them. I fear they had been thrown away

I am familiar with Cali King husbandry and have had coloubrids in the past. But how should I reasonably go about negotiating a price on this snake? This pet store is a small-chain based in PA, if you're from here you may already know what the name is. I would really not like to spend anymore than $30, and I feel like that is reasonable considering the circumstances. Feel free to tell me other wise. I don't want to get into a personal conflict with these people. This store is the only way for my gf to get her food and such for her reptiles, because neither of us drive. Eventually I would spend $50 if I must to get the animal, but I'm a poor college student so less is better. Thanks for any advice :)

Edit: Also, would you consider this a "rescue"?

I once also "rescued" a female bearded dragon only to have her die two weeks later. Looking back, I will not do it again. Not because I don't feel bad for the animal, but because it will just encourage the shopkeeper to continue having these animals because eventually some sucker like me will come buy them.

Also, I consider free a rescue. He probably bought that snake for $15. Paying an adoption fee at a rescue is more like a donation for them to stay up and running to continue their good deeds.

That wouldn't be called a rescue, you would be making a purchase. My opinion is that if you don't agree with the way a pet store is keeping it's animals, you shouldn't reward them by giving them money. It can be a hard thing to do but giving them money for an animal that you feel sorry for will only cause them to take your money and buy another animal to replace it with which they will then house in the same way they housed the previous one.

My honest opinion is to stop giving that store any money at all, however I realize that's not really an option in your situation. Absolutely do not give them any money for this animal. They would likely just get another to sell in it's place, thus starting the cycle over. If the same animal has been there that long they may be willing to give it to you just to not have to keep feeding it, but I doubt it. And considering your situation, you may not want to make too much fuss, since you have to continue to shop there. However, consider getting your supplies online, you may find yourself saving a lot of cash. And if you can drop that store, you'll have the option of telling them exactly why. I pretty much had to bite my tongue for several years till I found a monthly expo I could get to, but I stopped frequenting my local store for various reasons.

As previously stated, if you just buy it now because you feel bad for it, it just encourages the store to continue it's current treatment and setup of it's snakes. You will be rewarding bad behavior, which will just encourage the behavior to continue.

I think you'd be better off talking to the store owner/manager and seeing if you can get him/her to change the snake's environment. Some stores are cheap and treat their snakes like crap cause it's cost effective, but some are just not knowledgeable and think they are doing what is right for the snakes.

If they can get it in a better situation it'll be healthier and someone else who actually wants it will buy it and get an animal in better condition. More upside is future snakes at the store may get better setups as well.

When I started reading your post, I was inclined to say negotiate a reasonable price and "rescue" that snake. After reading the responses, I have to say I completely agree with their reasoning. Buying it to save it just gives the pet store money to repeat the cycle. If you can avoid the store completely, I say do it and protest by closing your wallet to them but I see that may not be an immediate option for you. Depending on how well you know the manager or employee, I would recommend 200xth suggestion: speak to them about a better housing. They may or may not heed your advice but at least they'll know someone is noticing their treatment of the animals.

I have a similar situation with a local pet store. They have very little knowledge of reptile treatment and I've made it clear to them of all the things they are doing wrong. Nothing has changed so I now go elsewhere.

Hope you'll update us on what eventually you decide to do. Have a good one.

"Saving" a snake from a pet store is not the solution but it contributes to the problem. if you get that snake within a week or even less another one will replace it, will you rescue that one too, and the next one, and the one after that?

You can't save them all, it's sad but true and you do not buy a snake from a store to rescue it.

If you have an issue with how a store treat their animals you should not buy an animal from them you should stop doing business with them.

I appreciate the feedback everyone, I see what you are all saying. However, leaving the store completely is as said, not an option in our current situation and I'm not inclined to feel bad about myself for being in that predicament. I talked to one of the employees today and she has said the snake has been there for 4 years since the store first opened. She said the snake is very aggressive. I asked about lowering the price, and it was said at one time they were asking for $100. I agree with you guys, they should not make a profit from the snake. However, I asked to talk to the manager about it and will be making a call Friday morning. I think it is reasonable to ask to pay the price they got it for. I haven't seen any other king snakes since I've been there so I think it's safe to say they learned its not a good investment for them. However, I'm going to try to barter in getting it for free. I won't pay more than what they got it for, and I think that's reasonable. I will make comment on husbandry as well.


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If they have had it for four years then they have more than $50 tied up in it just in feeders. A smart retailer would dump it for cost or even give it away, not replace it with another animal, and stock a high turnover moneymaker in its place on the shelf.

I don't give treats to dogs that bite...even if the treats don't cost me anything.