Mis sexed ball python

So I bought a "female" mojave back in April this year, at this time we didn't know how to pop or probe, so we took the breeders word for it. Turns out that the snake is a boy, another breeder showed me how to pop so after discovering this mistake I had a few other breeders confirm for me. I don't want to give up the snake as my family has grown attached to him. The breeder offered a credit, but since then I've decided that I don't want to deal with them anymore. Is it unreasonable for me to want more then the difference in cost of a male and female to make up for the mistake

- - - Updated - - -

Should note that this breeder isn't local, they are a 2hr drive away

sucks, sorry you got lied too. was the breeder well known, or just a small business type deal?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4Ballz

sucks, sorry you got lied too. was the breeder well known, or just a small business type deal?

---

Yes, I'm curious of who it was just in case I do business with them one day

I'm not going to give names but it happened in Canada so I dont think it will be an issue for you doing business with them. They are a smaller breeder but have been around for a few years now. They breed geckos, balls, and carpet pythons.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by danrjc

So I bought a "female" mojave back in April this year, at this time we didn't know how to pop or probe, so we took the breeders word for it. Turns out that the snake is a boy, another breeder showed me how to pop so after discovering this mistake I had a few other breeders confirm for me. I don't want to give up the snake as my family has grown attached to him. The breeder offered a credit, but since then I've decided that I don't want to deal with them anymore. Is it unreasonable for me to want more then the difference in cost of a male and female to make up for the mistake

- - - Updated - - -

Should note that this breeder isn't local, they are a 2hr drive away

---

Yes it is unreasonable, the breeder has made a mistake it happens you weren't lied to it was a mistake we all make them. If it were me and I was really upset about it I'd ask the breeder to take the snake back and refund my money. But as you said you weren't so upset that it was worth getting rid of the animal so take the cash difference in the price and move on with life.

Mistakes happen, we're only human but to demand more than what you're owed is just absurd.

They have been giving the run away, said they produced it and it was the same line as another breeders that was at the show we were at, and it turns out that they bought it wholesale. I gave them photo evidence of the hemipens they still don't believe its male.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Yes it is unreasonable, the breeder has made a mistake it happens you weren't lied to it was a mistake we all make them. If it were me and I was really upset about it I'd ask the breeder to take the snake back and refund my money. But as you said you weren't so upset that it was worth getting rid of the animal so take the cash difference in the price and move on with life.

Mistakes happen, we're only human but to demand more than what you're owed is just absurd.

---

thank you i feel the same way! things like that happen this weekend for example i went to pick up what i tohught was a male pastel and as i was walking away the breeder tracked me down and asked to see the snake turns out it was a female so instead of laughing in his face and walking away i gave the snake back and got a great price on a butter male instead:) so just know people make mistakes especially when you have alot of snakes they tend to blend together

Yeah, if someone is going to make a mistake in sexing a ball python, it's going to be that mistake--if you pop a ball python, and you see hemipenes, then it's a male, but if you see nothing, you call it a female--every once in a while, you might make a mistake if you can't get the hemipenes to pop.

It was probably an honest mistake, unless this person has a suspect reputation. If it had happened to me, with a snake I sold, I would have offered to take the snake back for a refund or credit, or offered a partial refund for the cost difference, if you wanted to keep it. I wouldn't offer more than that, either. I don't think asking more is reasonable.
Most breeders will have information on their site about what they guarantee, and how they will handle it if a mistake like that is made. It's a good idea to be certain you are ok with their policies before you buy from them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by danrjc

They have been giving the run away, said they produced it and it was the same line as another breeders that was at the show we were at, and it turns out that they bought it wholesale. I gave them photo evidence of the hemipens they still don't believe its male.

---

Then Cowboy up..send the animal back and get your money back..I mean it sounds like a raw deal all the way around.
so you're Three options are

• Take the difference in the cost and keep it.
• Send the animal back at the breeders expense and get a refund.
• Or take this one on the chin and chalk it up to the School of Hard Knocks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by danrjc

They have been giving the run away, said they produced it and it was the same line as another breeders that was at the show we were at, and it turns out that they bought it wholesale. I gave them photo evidence of the hemipens they still don't believe its male.

---

Well, that's a different story, then, they're just being shady. If they're willing to give you ANYTHING concrete, I recommend you take it right away, because otherwise you're likely to wind up with nothing--obviously they're trying to scam you, if they won't accept evidence.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 4Ballz

sucks, sorry you got lied too. was the breeder well known, or just a small business type deal?

---

Why do you assume he got lied to?

Are you so perfect that you can swear that you never make any mistake when comes to sexing snakes?

I hate to see people jump the gun like that have you ever considered that sexing mistakes happen, people are human and human make mistakes, people who LIED intentionally do not offer credit or try to rectify a situation.

This is why it's always good to double and triple check "females" when popping. Even so, probing is the best way to make sure your girls are girls.