Scale Rot on Snake at Store

I went to get feeders last night and the store had gotten in a spider ball python and a platinum ball python. I asked to see the spider just because it was so cute. :P I took him/her out and the first thing I felt was a rough belly. I'm used to the belly of a ball python feel smooth. This snake's scales seemed rough and scratchy. I turned him over and his belly was yellow. The edges of some belly scales looked almost scabby. Is this scale rot? I mentioned the belly to the store employee but I'm not sure if he's going to take the ball python out of the cage or not.

I really wish pet stores would hire people that ACTUALLY know what they are doing. Several times, my sister has gone in there for a rat to use for breeding and the employees will tell her "Oh yea, this rat is 10-12 weeks old. It should breed really soon." She brings it home, I come over and no, that rat is only 6 weeks old at most. One guy recommended a really expensive cat food (50% protein content) for her rats. And the people know little to nothing about reptiles. For example, they have some boas in their reptile room that look like they are sub adults. I asked the guy if they ever get babies in and he says "Oh yea, the male and female in that one cage are breeding." My jaw almost dropped to the floor on that one. :mad: Why can't they hire someone like me. I know 2, 3, 4x as much as most of their employees about the majority of animals and products they sell. I just don't get people sometimes.

:/ I would definitely not support this store with my money. The spider situation does sound like scale rot :(

I am glad the petsmart by my house is decent and keeps its animals in fairly good conditions. I always make it a point to check on them all while I am there and I have never noticed anything horrifically wrong with any of their animals. Thank god..

The thing is, I really wish the smaller stores got more business because I like supporting the "little guy" rather than buy from big chain stores. I was thinking of going in and talking to the guy there. I think he owns the store and I think he might actually listen to me. They got the ball pythons, apparently, from a local breeder. The other snake was fine so I think the spider may have come into the store with it and the employees might not know how to recognize scale rot. All of their other animals are taken care of very well.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

The thing is, I really wish the smaller stores got more business because I like supporting the "little guy" rather than buy from big chain stores. I was thinking of going in and talking to the guy there. I think he owns the store and I think he might actually listen to me. They got the ball pythons, apparently, from a local breeder. The other snake was fine so I think the spider may have come into the store with it and the employees might not know how to recognize scale rot. All of their other animals are taken care of very well.

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In that case I would definitely notify them! If they don't know what to look for then they probably won't see it :/

[QUOTE=Several times, my sister has gone in there for a rat to use for breeding and the employees will tell her "Oh yea, this rat is 10-12 weeks old. It should breed really soon." She brings it home, I come over and no, that rat is only 6 weeks old at most. One guy recommended a really expensive cat food (50% protein content) for her rats. QUOTE] WOW:colbert:

Yea, 50% protein cat kibble as rat food. And my sister trusted him since he said he's been breeding rats for a while. I helped her make a mix for her rats and I believe she will be getting some Mazuri for them soon. The animals all seem to be taken care of well. (clean water, fresh bedding, heat, hides, etc). It is just the employees are so.....dumb! I told the guy who was showing me the spider ball python that he had scale rot and showed him the belly and he just said "Oh, ok." and then asked if I wanted to see the platinum. I don't think its the store itself, just who they hire.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

The thing is, I really wish the smaller stores got more business because I like supporting the "little guy" rather than buy from big chain stores. I was thinking of going in and talking to the guy there. I think he owns the store and I think he might actually listen to me. They got the ball pythons, apparently, from a local breeder. The other snake was fine so I think the spider may have come into the store with it and the employees might not know how to recognize scale rot. All of their other animals are taken care of very well.

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Here, the small guys are worse than the corporation owned stores; the snakes and reptiles seem to be in good shape at the chain stores.

What are they asking for the spider? The platinum? Who sells a platinum to a pet store :weirdface.

I was in Petco yesterday to buy my daughter a robo hamster (cutest thing, her name is Holly Pop) and I always go by the snakes to check them out...They had a Spider for 350 and a Pinstripe for 450..both had hides and them I walk around to the other side and the little Normal was curled up in the corner with no hide and kids banging on the glass...my husband gets close to them and says "no banging"..hahaha they took off. One of the robo hamsters had its feet gnawed on and they were bloody.Made me stick....

My solution>>>Everytime I walk into a petstore Im going to bring a sticky note pad and leave little post it notes stuck to the cages...if I do it once a week maybe they will take notice. I will be the Post it note Phantom,,lol

I'm not sure how much they are asking for the spider but when I asked the price of the platinum, the guy said "$800, or something around there."

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Originally Posted by PYMOM

One of the robo hamsters had its feet gnawed on and they were bloody.Made me stick...

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That's.. Nothing unusual for rodents. When my female mice have spats they end up making each other bloody. I have one mouse with only two usable legs and most of his tail gone from when a mouse gnawed on him as a baby. Mom wanted to keep him as a pet and call him "stumpy" x.X Hamsters are worse than mice. They're very "I like my personal space 'rawr!'". Especially the females. Unfortunately for pet stores, you can't have a hamster per tank simply because you'd spend more money on bedding and more time feeding/cleaning/watering. Plus it'd take up more room.

Hi,

Are you sure the other one is a platinum and not a lesser?

The reason I ask is a platinum should be a heck of a lot more than $800 surely in any retail environment? :confused:


dr del

I looked at a few pictures and I would say it is a lesser. I'll try to get a picture of him the next time I go into the store.

Big difference between a Lesser Platinum and a Platinum. :gj:

Sounds like these guys just need some actual reptile owners as employees. :gj:

from my experience with reptiles in small shops or large chains its the small ones that dont take care of the animals. When i bought my first ball he had mites all over him. literally i had at least 10-20 mites on my hands after holding him so i bought him. And there was 5 others in his tank being sold so u know they had them to along with all the other tanks with reptiles in them. including the burmese beside the tank my ball was in was covered too. me being the faint hearted and mad at the same time wanted to buy all of them to bring them home and help them out. but i said something to one of the employees and they said they treat the tanks with provent a mite witch i highly doubted because i used it and that stuffs amazing. but anyway i just recently purchased another ball from a local pet store (my buddy breads for them) who i know take care of their herps and other animals. my advice is if it isnt to late and your looking for something get it out of there and help the poor thing out.

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Originally Posted by ML85

my advice is if it isnt to late and your looking for something get it out of there and help the poor thing out.

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Well sounds like you should not be giving advice.A pet store that clearly has little understanding of reptiles and practices poor husbantry obviously should not be supported. I understand that you want to help but the store sees the snake as a product to make a profit not a living creature.If you want some good advice speak with the floor associate and store manager and point out the areas that need improvement then leave and take your money elsewhere.

That's the thing. They actually do a lot better, care wise, with their animals. All of their animals look good (no dehydration, starvation, no visible mites, etc). Water bottles and bowls are always full of fresh water. Bedding is always clean and food is always present (with the exception of reptiles of course since they are fed differently). This is actually the first time I've seen something like that there. On occasion I will see an injured rat in with the feeders, but they usually separate or cull any that are sick or injured.

Next time I go in, I'll get some pictures of the place if I can.

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Originally Posted by PYMOM

My solution>>>Everytime I walk into a petstore Im going to bring a sticky note pad and leave little post it notes stuck to the cages...if I do it once a week maybe they will take notice. I will be the Post it note Phantom,,lol

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Bahahahah! I LOVE that! This is a brilliant idea! :rofl: I may need to start doing this. I mean, yes, I have OCD when it comes to properly keeping pets, but I do it in their best interest. This is a great way to vent that AND help.

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Originally Posted by RhacHead

Well sounds like you should not be giving advice.

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thanks for your opinion i felt like i was doing something right by helping him and didnt realize i was setting up another animals life for danger. you came across a little harsh and dont appreciate it.

ey i was in that store with my girl friend on broad st. that night i loved that platinum tho but did you know they want 430 for that spider and 5 something for the platty lol

I dont know about scale rot, But it's pretty common for some spiders to have a yellow belly, mine does. Of course it should be smooth.

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Originally Posted by ML85

thanks for your opinion i felt like i was doing something right by helping him and didnt realize i was setting up another animals life for danger. you came across a little harsh and dont appreciate it.

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I didnt mean to offend you I was just pointing out the error in your ways.I know you had good intentions.