Help. New Ball very weak

just got a new ball from the local pet shop today and it seems very weak. What's more I found 2 ticks on it when I got it home. The ball is well over a foot long but is incapable of keeping a firm hold on my arm like my other snakes can.

Right now I'm thinking of going to the pet store tomorrow and giving them back the snake and demanding a refund. Is there anything else that you can suggest that might be able to help.

Yeah take it to a reptile vet!

I would take the animal back to the store, and purchase from a better breeder. The poor animal is likely anemic and probably carrying other parasites as well. If you really want to you can take the animal to a vet, and see what you can do for the little guy but that would be up to you.

Also I would consider purchasing Provent a Mite and treating your cage with it, whether or not you keep the animal. It's possible you now have eggs that can infect any new animal you bring into the house. Here's a great link on it.... http://www.pro-products.com/miteandtemp.html

brink it to the vet. the snake has ben through enouf. give it a chance for a better life,and report the pet store.

Is there a specific organization I should contact to report the store?

http://www.hsus.org/acf/cruelty/
http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/animal_cruelty.php
you can check the state laws on animal cruelty. i know this is the fedral law.To fail to provide an animal with:

Proper food and water
Shelter or protection from the weather
Veterinary attention to reduce or end suffering from disease or injury
A sanitary environment
To willfully abandon an animal
To carry or cause an animal to be carried in or on a vehicle in a manner that endangers the animal including transport of an improperly secured animal

To willfully permit an animal to be subjected to unnecessary torture, suffering or cruelty

To Subject, Cause or Procure an animal:

To be tortured or tormented
To be cruelly killed, beaten or mutilated
To fail to notify the owner or police after striking a dog or cat with a motor vehicle

To use animals as lure or bail in a cruel or inhuman manner

To transport an animal in the back of a motor vehicle unless animal is properly restrained

In November, 2004, animal cruelty, as defined in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 272, Section 77, became a felony. Until November 17th, animal cruelty had been considered a misdemeanor. Now, violations of this law may result in a sentence of up to 5 years in state prison, or up to 2.5 years in a county jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

Also remember that by 'rescueing' these animals by purchasing them, you enable that store to bring more animals into those conditions.

Well here's the latest. I took ball to the vet and they checked it out and I could tell that she felt bad even charging me for this. She gave him a vitamin B shot and told me to keep him warm and showed me a good way to try to feed it liquids through a dropper. I'd been doing this all day until it died on me tonight. I'm planning on talking to the humane society and the owner of the store on monday and we'll see about some other places. I'm going to do what I can to make sure this place is at least shut down for a little bit while they're being investigated for neglect and who knows what other types of animal cruelty

im sorry you lost him... it didnt sound very good from the get go. there are so many wonderful breeders out there, i would suggest going that route. ((hugs)) sorry