rescued ball python from the horrific petco!

So I have rescued a 4 mounth old ball python from Petco. I have had bps in the past. My son fell in love with this underweight bp. An when he asked me if she was gona starve due to the live feeding policy of Petco. I could not resist I had to say no because we are gona take her. He was so happy. For the first week i gave her time to agust to her new home she refused her first meal an seemed to be afraid of the live food probly due to pet is two force feeds in the 3 months they had her. Now i have keept her heat an humidity at the right temp an percent.when we received her she was 44 grams. Its three weeks later an she has taken 4 live meals within seconds of them being placed in the tank. I started with a live pinky for first meal the a fuzzy for the next two meals. An two days ago she took her first hopper. I feed every 5 day till she is at proper weight. She now weighs 58.2 grams. She is very alert an enjoys being held. I had her checked at herp vet she is healthy other than her being underweight. Everything seems to be going well an i don't want to rush bulking her up. So I'm just looking for any suggestions to help her get up to an appropriate weight. I will post a pic she is smaller than most hatchlings I've seen but she is also ajusting quicker than i thought she would.

Keep feeding the weekly meal

Glad it's eating and gaining for you but just remember that even having the best of intentions, it isn't a rescue and only adding to the supply and demand of the next poorly cared for snake that they'll quickly replace it with.

You may want to let Petco know that you took their hatchling to a vet and they told you it was underfed. If you just buy it and say nothing, another BP will just be ordered and have to go through the same thing. For the next baby they bring in, you should tell them that their care was off. Glad she's eating for you


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Well I couldn't watch her die for there poor care. An I know they will continue to purchase sell an mistreat there animals. To me an my son we saved her from the hands of those monsters. An after we took her home. I spoke with the CEO of the copany. Made a formal complaint I also sent him pictures of her on the scale before an after her weight gain. I also took videos of the mistreated under feed animals an sent I to there corporate center. I was sent a full refund without having to return the snake. Thats why she was considered a rescue I did not contribute money to there cause. I am still in the process of fighting for them to not carry animals they cant properly care for.

I wonder if you can get a note from the vet and bring that plus the bill back to PetCo, and try to get them to pay for the vet visit and/or give you a refund for the snake (which you obviously aren't going to return to their "care"). Not because it's necessarily a ton of money involved, but because they should have the incident in their records as something other than a problem-free sale or a presumably healthy animal that no one complained about.
I don't think you're wrong to rescue the snake by any means - that snake now has a shot at a decent life, which it would not have had otherwise. But PetCo shouldn't be rewarded for letting that happen.

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Originally Posted by cristacake

You may want to let Petco know that you took their hatchling to a vet and they told you it was underfed. If you just buy it and say nothing, another BP will just be ordered and have to go through the same thing. For the next baby they bring in, you should tell them that their care was off. Glad she's eating for you


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I did the day we got her I spoke to the CEO made complaints an will continue to right complaints an speak to anyboy that will here me out they at aware that we took her to the vet. An the vet wrote a leter an offers his contact info to confirm my claims trust when I say I will not stop to protect mistreated animals. The vet was mortified with her size an was so happy to see she was eating finally. An gaining weight. He told me he will back me up with whatever help I need to stop this cruelty to animals.

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Originally Posted by nateyboybarnz

I did the day we got her I spoke to the CEO made complaints an will continue to right complaints an speak to anyboy that will here me out they at aware that we took her to the vet. An the vet wrote a leter an offers his contact info to confirm my claims trust when I say I will not stop to protect mistreated animals. The vet was mortified with her size an was so happy to see she was eating finally. An gaining weight. He told me he will back me up with whatever help I need to stop this cruelty to animals.

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That's great, I'm glad the vet is helping you out!


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Sorry, you must have posted while I was typing! Sounds like you're really doing due diligence to make sure you aren't just rewarding them for poor treatment. Kudos to you!

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Originally Posted by Coluber42

Sorry, you must have posted while I was typing! Sounds like you're really doing due diligence to make sure you aren't just rewarding them for poor treatment. Kudos to you!

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Thanx I'm trying most of the Petco people are very stuck in there ways. I will say I will never walk in that place again seeing what they do is a bad experience. But I'm sure no mater what anybody does they will continue there mis care of this poor pets.

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Originally Posted by nateyboybarnz

Well I couldn't watch her die for there poor care. An I know they will continue to purchase sell an mistreat there animals. To me an my son we saved her from the hands of those monsters. An after we took her home. I spoke with the CEO of the copany. Made a formal complaint I also sent him pictures of her on the scale before an after her weight gain. I also took videos of the mistreated under feed animals an sent I to there corporate center. I was sent a full refund without having to return the snake. Thats why she was considered a rescue I did not contribute money to there cause. I am still in the process of fighting for them to not carry animals they cant properly care for.

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That's nice you were able to get ahold of the right people. Did they reimburse you for the vet visit too?

Do we know why these animals are so poorly cared for in these chainstores? You'd think it would make business sense to get on top of this, and I'm surprised animal welfare groups aren't hitting them harder.

At the very least, they should be sending care sheets to the stores with the animals (for staff use, but maybe also to give to customers?). Or do they do this, but they are ignored by bad or over-worked staff?

I'd imagine these issues aren't exclusive to Ball Pythons - I guess all exotic animals (or even all animals) at these stores have a bad time. :(

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Originally Posted by cristacake

That's great, I'm glad the vet is helping you out!


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Me to. When I went I I did not expect the vet to be that supportive.

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Originally Posted by Pug50

Do we know why these animals are so poorly cared for in these chainstores? You'd think it would make business sense to get on top of this, and I'm surprised animal welfare groups aren't hitting them harder.

At the very least, they should be sending care sheets to the stores with the animals (for staff use, but maybe also to give to customers?). Or do they do this, but they are ignored by bad or over-worked staff?

I'd imagine these issues aren't exclusive to Ball Pythons - I guess all exotic animals (or even all animals) at these stores have a bad time. :(

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No they don't seem to be just bp. I saw son crazy bids on YouTube news clips with an iguana that was found alive in the trash, underweight snakes, an hamsters with wet tail. My fiance also noticed 100s of dead fish floating in the tanks with hundreds of live fish. It was very unsettlingly. As for the animal welfar groups. I realm don't see how this goes unnoticed as much as I does. When searching Bing an google for info on sick reptiles pet chains seem to always pop up with awful reviews bids an stories. It realm is unfair to all thies helpless animals

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Originally Posted by HannahLou

That's nice you were able to get ahold of the right people. Did they reimburse you for the vet visit too?

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It was very difficult to get ahold of the right people took a couple days an tons of transfers from person to person. But eventually I received the call from the right person.
Not yet but I will be working on that as well. When I brout that up. There was debate because it wasn't there be but with enough push I'm sure that will come through

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Originally Posted by nateyboybarnz

I saw son crazy bids on YouTube news clips with an iguana that was found alive in the trash,

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Not that I'm a fan of the big chain stores, but just to note, don't believe everything... that guy planted it in the trash in order to 'find it' and create an outcry.

Anyways, good luck with your new BP, sounds like you're on the right track.

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Originally Posted by Pug50

Do we know why these animals are so poorly cared for in these chainstores? You'd think it would make business sense to get on top of this, and I'm surprised animal welfare groups aren't hitting them harder.

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Unfortunately here in the US the animal "rights" groups (think lobbyists) manage to pull more cash from donors than the groups truly involved with animal welfare and rescue efforts.

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At the very least, they should be sending care sheets to the stores with the animals (for staff use, but maybe also to give to customers?). Or do they do this, but they are ignored by bad or over-worked staff?

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I'd have to find it again, but the last big box store care sheet I found for ball pythons had so many inaccuracies it was essentially worthless.

Frankly I'd just as soon the big box chain stores stop selling reptiles completely. They carry tons of dry goods for dogs and cats, but good luck purchasing a dog or cat at one of these stores. If they carried more reptile supplies but no reptiles I think they would be more profitable overall.

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Originally Posted by nateyboybarnz

Thanx I'm trying most of the Petco people are very stuck in there ways. I will say I will never walk in that place again seeing what they do is a bad experience. But I'm sure no mater what anybody does they will continue there mis care of this poor pets.

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First off great work on getting this little guy up to health!

But I must stop you here! Yes I will agree, that some of these pet store employees are well how do I say this nicely:confusd:"Aww mis-informed". Most are bound by store policy and have their hands tied. I have talked to a few local petsmart employees in my area ( it's one of the only places in my area that always carries my birds pellets), mostly the people who deal with the animals. When I was having trouble switching my sun conjure to a pellet diet and getting him to eat his veggies, one of the girls in the back gave me some really good tips and they worked. On a few occasions, I have complained about some of the enclosures and basically been told by the employees not to waste my time. They know that most of the enclosures are wrong, but can do nothing to change it. It's sad, but it all comes down to supply and demand. They won't supply if there is no demand!

I'm glad this snake is with you now, but make NO mistake, you didn't perform a rescue, you performed a business transaction. I'm glad you got to speak to someone high in the company's food chain, and I'm glad you got your money back. But remember this, your snake goes on the company books as a sale. And as such, will trigger an automatic restock of that item.

The ONLY way to get them to quit ordering these animals is if we quit buying them...that means all of them, even the sick ones we feel sorry for.

I know it's hard, but it's the only way to get real results.

I have had this baby Bp that was very underweight. I took her in an started getting her to feed.
First live pinky. Second an third feeding were live fuzzy. Now on small hoppers. Due to her low weight when I got her at 48.2 grams. Now last weight a week ago was 68.2 grams. I feed her every 5 days an she eats in seconds after placing the food in the tank. At almost 5 months old. She is still below the average 100-150 gram Bp. Now i will soon move up to nomal size hoppers. I'm wondering about how long i should stay at 5 day feedings. I figured i shouldn't change anything yet since she is eating an gaining great now. But mainly trying to plan ahead. Any thoughts? Thanx

I agree. But regardless of the situation there will always be demand. Witch in turn will always be supply. . They had sold all 22 ball pythons they had except the one refusing to eat that was on the verge of death. That last baby we bought was days away from getting tossed In the back to eventually starve. They said that they had 30 more on the way an no room to keep the last dying snake on the floor.

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Originally Posted by Slim

I'm glad this snake is with you now, but make NO mistake, you didn't perform a rescue, you performed a business transaction. I'm glad you got to speak to someone high in the company's food chain, and I'm glad you got your money back. But remember this, your snake goes on the company books as a sale. And as such, will trigger an automatic restock of that item.

The ONLY way to get them to quit ordering these animals is if we quit buying them...that means all of them, even the sick ones we feel sorry for.

I know it's hard, but it's the only way to get real results.

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I agree. But regardless of the situation there will always be demand. Witch in turn will always be supply. . They had sold all 22 ball pythons they had except the one refusing to eat that was on the verge of death. That last baby we bought was days away from getting tossed In the back to eventually starve. They said that they had 30 more on the way an no room to keep the last dying snake on the floor.

There is never a supply if there is no demand. Simple business math. And a hard fact of life.

I see things have not changed much, I watched Baby Balls die from starvation, because Corporate says FT only , I went straight to the top and spoke my piece and showed them the pictures from day one did it help it sounds like they took it in one ear and right out the other. Very sad because the potential is their to do it right. I worked for Blue Buffalo in the Petco store and I spoke my rants to management ,but again Corporate rules even if they are wrong . My First Ball my Pastel was at deaths door, I bought her to give her to give her the best chance to thrive and live, she is my best eater...........I alone can't take on Petco/Petsmart it's gonna take a lot to confront Corporate it would need to be highly organized and with Media coverage with an Attorney to represent us.

Re: supply & demand -- boycotts & arguments not to buy from them.... Hmmm. They will restock a snake whether it starves under their own care or is sold to someone who will help it. Either way -- they will restock -- BUT at least this one has a chance to live.

OP -- Good luck with your new BP.

PetCo doesn't have an adoption policy like PetSmart? I know that the store Buggsie came from had some sort of policy in place for adoptions - he cost a grand total of 0$. Of course, by then they weren't even sure he would live, so there is that gamble...

These animal's should not be in such poor health or starving either. They need to step up their out dated system.

Sent from my SGH-T999

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Originally Posted by nateyboybarnz

I have had this baby Bp that was very underweight. I took her in an started getting her to feed.
First live pinky. Second an third feeding were live fuzzy. Now on small hoppers. Due to her low weight when I got her at 48.2 grams. Now last weight a week ago was 68.2 grams. I feed her every 5 days an she eats in seconds after placing the food in the tank. At almost 5 months old. She is still below the average 100-150 gram Bp. Now i will soon move up to nomal size hoppers. I'm wondering about how long i should stay at 5 day feedings. I figured i shouldn't change anything yet since she is eating an gaining great now. But mainly trying to plan ahead. Any thoughts? Thanx

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You can keep her on a 5 day schedule until she's up to around 500 grams, then offer once a week.

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Originally Posted by Slim

There is never a supply if there is no demand. Simple business math. And a hard fact of life.

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true. the problem is that there is a demand and many of those making the demand are just as clueless as the worst of those on the supply side. this isn't unique to BPs or reptiles. far too many people buy animals on a whim without any knowledge, consideration or caring for the animal's needs. unfortunately when it comes to our hobby, many newcomers are attracted to it not for a love of the animals, but in an attempt to draw attention to themselves. Most of these folks will never make an appearance on BP.net or similar forums because they just don't care about the animal. sad but true.

There seem to be some misconceptions about what Petco can and can't feed BPs. I was a Companion Animal Manager there, and you can feed live! There is a very strict "snake not eating protocol" that they're supposed to follow, and if a snake is refusing to eat, live is an option! It takes a huge amount of effort to get it approved, which is why some CADMs won't do it, but it's possible. I had to live feed several snakes to get them eating again.
There was a BP that came into the store weighing 59g. He was timid, and fearful, and wouldn't eat. I tried absolutely every trick including live food to get him to eat, but he would only eat every 4-5 feedings. Finally, I left him in the back, and he began eating again. He was scared out on the floor, and only felt comfortable in a quiet room. The problem of course, is that you can't sell anything from the back, so I'd have to return him to the floor after a few good meals, and he'd go on a hunger strike again. After he was in the store for six months, he weighed 67g. I considered it a victory that he wasn't losing weight at least.
After I left that job, I adopted him because the person who took over couldn't get him to eat. Once he was home in his QT tank which is in my bedroom (well away from my other snakes), he has eaten every single week, even when he's blue! I've decided to keep him in my room because it's quieter, and he really doesn't like people walking by him. He's now 180 grams and growing quickly.
So it's not always horrible care, some animals just can't handle being in a pet store (and who could blame them?)
Oh, and the "crickets in the Corn Snake enclosures" thing that's often used as a sign of bad care? Those little buggers squeeze through the barriers between enclosures and end up in everywhere! At my store, they were always in the hermit crab enclosure, I'd get them all out, and ten minutes later there would be one in there again.

They did not do that in the store were I was....

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The statement "There will always be demand" is not an excuse to get a snake and encourage them to restock. Part of the very demand we are trying to tell you about stopping is what you contributed to by geting this snake, regardless of the intention. You can't save them all; sometimes the best thing is to just walk away and use a trusted breeder. Eventually, if everyone thought this way, the sh!t breeders (i.e. Petco, people who don't know what they're doing) will be put out of business.