Here we go again!

Today I was about 100 miles from home checking on a new job. I asked at the end of the interview if there were any pet stores locally. I went into the store they told me about and I see multiple snakes in crappy conditions and want to take them all home to give them better lives. One of the main ones was a 2500g (guessing weight) female ball, in poor shed, no thermometers, humidity gauges in the tank, shed peices allover the place, on sand as a substrate, poop allover, and a water dish that I couldn't fit my big toe in. I asked about where she had come from, she had come from one of our troops that was recently shipped to Iraq and was given to the store. I asked about the temps and humidity and the answer was "we just see how they act". Asked about RI's and was told there was no such thing in snakes only GI infections. They wanted $60 for her and it looks like I'm going to do it. I recently got two other rescue adults that are back up to health. I feel like I'm going around rescuing BP's instead of buying the ones that I would like to have. I know I can't rescue them all but I get frustrated when I see stuff like that. There were also two beautiful retic's there, one I couldn't see very well and the other was 15-17ft. Again cage full of poop, one little heat light, sand substrate, didn't see any water, pieces of old shed allover. I know if I had the facilities to house a snake of that size I would. Just wanted to share some frustration and get this off my back. Thanks for reading!

That sucks man! But I commend you on wanting to help them out and doing what you can to help the ones you have gotten. I have seen some balls and other species in rough conditions around here too in various pet stores. And what's strange to me is that the larger chain stores like PetSmart and Petco have conditions as bad sometimes, if not worse than some of the little "Mom and Pop" places. In their defense though, they just opened a new Petco in Gadsden and they are doing very well with all the animals so far. It just seems to me that a chain with that much revenue would be able to hire or train specialists (who actually know what they're doing) to care for the herps, small animals, fish, birds, etc. respectively. I don't know... But I do know the feeling about seeing them miserable like that and their "care-takers" are clueless...

I dont know about you but I know I would have grabbed that poor girl up and taken her home with me just because she needed to be given a good home. I always have another tub to put one in and enough equipment to go around so I would go get her asap and get her right again. and who knows she might prove out to be a wonderful breeder if you ever bred her.

It upsets me to see and scalie but BP's mostly in such poor conditions. It wasnt until I took Beauty home with me that I relized just how much i enjoyed having scalie babies. So I have opened my home to as many as I can keep, and have now even gone and remoddled my garden shed and turned it into a reptile room.... if im not hooked i dont know what i must be going nuts.........lol but I have ppl now who come to my door because they were sent ot me by a vet to surrender their reptiles to me. All I can say is thank you and that they did the right hting in handing them over to me and that way they would know their reptile will have a good home even if i cant rehome.

Its kinda funny here in Ireland you need a license to have a dog, or to own a big snake or reptile but you dont need one to have children, or small reptiles. I honestly think ppl should be asked to have one and there be a data base of reptile owners that can have their rights revoked when their pet gets to the condition i find alot of these babies in.

BUt back to now, I truely hope you got that girl out of where she was and have her nicely shedded and warm. it will do my heart some good.

Best regards,
Beauty the BP

And I remember when you started off with Nani jsut a few months ago! Now you're up to five and now maybe a sixth! LOL


Yeah - you've been bitten hard! Be sure to keep us updated!

My heart goes out to you. If I had the money, I'd rescue every snake I saw mistreated. I don't. It's nice to see that you'll hopefully be saving one life. That's noteworthy. ^_^

Thats why I do not go to pet shops anymore. plain and simple. for one, i cant stand witnessing it, when i cant rescue them. 2. If I buy, its always through a trusted breeder.

Beware the following rant. :soapbx:

I don't mind taking in bps from individual owners, as they are unlikely to get another one. I won't buy one to save it in a store. I believe that encourages that store to continue with their bad husbandry and I refuse to support them in any way. As soon as you purchase that one, it will be replaced with another, and it's impossible to just keep buying them all. It's horrible to see them in that condition. If you do encounter animals that badly off, then start contacting people to find out how you can make them stop. Well I'm done ranting now. ;)