Pet store find I want... To rescue... Maybe.

OK so a local pet supermarket I go to get rodents from (when I forget to take the trip to Lakeland which saves me a ton) has a few balls in the tank. A very pretty looking normal, a "fancy" one with a label "Mojave" which I can verify, and a very pretty little purple looking one. The only information they can provide is... " blah blah blah reptile industries. Blah blah blah Mojave written on bag. Blah blah blah snippy little snakes". I have done my research and can identify the genes in the ball python. At first I thought purple passion. But seeing how there's too much pattern I realize its a mystic potion.
Now I'm not for pet store finds especially since they know nothing of the animal and the conditions are a bad word for crap. I mean its skin is flaky telling me its having a hard time shedding, its tiny... Like fresh out the egg tiny, all 3 are in one tank... Just a mess. I've visited a few times over the passed month and it catches me every time. I want that noodle. The Mojave is gorgeous but the potion is amazing and its 2 genes for one!
My dilemma... I don't want to feed the machine! I know me purchasing and saving that beautiful baby will only create the demand and they will resupply with another poor baby. I don't have the most space but I know I can house and care for it to bring it back to 100%. On the other hand I would love to add it to my collection. I was looking for a Mojave and a mystic would be a great addition as well so both at once would be a great enhancement to my future plans.
I spoke with my lady and logically she stated "work with what you have for now. We are going to need space for babies when Harleen drops the clutch and its gonna be tight". She's right but I explained my points and the fact that $160 for a snake I can't find for less than $300 online (for a mediocre example of the potion) is amazing even having to bring it back from pet store condition health. So she hits me with... " if you can low ball them to $120 or so and you really want it then go for it".
Thoughts. Concerns. Help me. What should I do? I'm reaching into a pool of knowledge and ideas and opinions to come to a solid conclusion as to what to do.

Think about what the vet bills could be if it brings home an RI or worse. There is no such thing as a free puppy friend.

True! Full quarantine and all, it could shut down my whole colony!

I know how tempting this is...and I KNOW you want us to say "go for it!" but only you can decide, because you'll have to live with it either way- it could be a
wonderful addition, or a nightmare...none of us knows either. I wish I could at least tell you what I'd do, but it won't help as I've been keeping snakes for so
long (and so many!) that I rarely get tempted to add any, plus I have 16 snakes already. So flip a coin?

I "rescued" a normal BP from a big box store that had horrible stuck shed and was a little underweight. I completely understand the reasons NOT to do that (as you said, feeding the machine), but I have absolutely no regrets. He's an awesome snake and I can look in the mirror a little easier than if I had ignored his condition. With that said, only you'll know what's best for you and your situation. :)

Yes, in the past, I've "fed the machine" a few times as well, with no regrets either. We do understand...

Just keep in mind that any money you save may very well be negated by vet bills if it's in bad shape. That being said, if it's a nice example and you really want it and it doesn't look obviously ill or underweight, I say go for it.

As someone working for what sounds like may be that big box store....

I have 2 noodles that I have 'adopted'. Meaning they had reasons they couldn't be sold, so i was able to take them home with no guarrantee at no cost. One as a very young snake refused to eat frozen thaw and was needing to be assist fed since live feedings are a nono there. The other arrived from the breeder with a SERIOUS burn wound. Already seen by a vet on the company dime, but I couldn't bear seeing the baby in iso at work and just kept him.
Reptile Industries is where my store gets the frozen rodents from. They are owned by Mark and Kim Bell iirc. Our breeder is not the same. Since you are on the opposite coast, reptiles may be from a different breeder, but I don't know if Reptile Industries actually does do reptile sales to the big boxes on that coast.

That being said.... They aren't allowed to change the price on the animal otherwise. They will discount other merchandise to make up for the price difference if you can talk the manager into it.

I've gotten lucky and my 4 babies from the store have all been fairly clean bills of health (just dealing with the post vet care for the one was a lot of work) but I have seen occasional issues on other pets in the reptile section

Do you want to post a picture of it for morph identification? Not all mystic potions and purple passions have a lot of pattern, some just have a few little dots or none at all, like this one: https://www.morphmarket.com/us/c/rep...pythons/109939

or this one.. https://www.morphmarket.com/us/c/rep...pythons/146196

I agree seeing a pic would help with morph identification. Mystic potions, like Redshepherd mentioned can be varied. Some darker, some more brown, some more purple/gray and some super light.

In case it's helpful, here is my mystic potion boy for comparison.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...7aso8_1280.jpg

I can’t speak from the bix box perspective, but I have 2 snakes in my collection that were rescues. The first was a 2 year old normal ball that I purchased through the local trading post. He was significantly under weight, unable to constrict an adult mouse, and had extensive retained shed. I paid $150 for him, his tank, and a tank of feeder mice (in much better condition than him). I almost didn’t go through with the purchase, but couldn’t leave him with the dippy girl who was under-feeding him so he wouldn’t get 6-8 feet long and too hard too handle. :weirdface It did take a vet trip and some work, but he’s happy, healthy, and 28 years old this year. :D

The second rescue is a Colombian rainbow boa. Very poor condition, under weight, extensive retained shed, thermal burns from a malfunctioning heat rock, and no water. He had also been without heat for the prior 2 weeks while the owner was on vacation...in the winter...because the owner didn’t trust the heat rock. He was free (without the tank) because he’d bitten the guy and the guy was now afraid of him. I had serious doubts he would make it. He was about 9 years old at the time (according to the owner born in ‘88). He also took a couple of trips to the vet and some work to get healthy, but he’s 30 this year. :D

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Originally Posted by Dianne

I can’t speak from the bix box perspective, but I have 2 snakes in my collection that were rescues. The first was a 2 year old normal ball that I purchased through the local trading post. He was significantly under weight, unable to constrict an adult mouse, and had extensive retained shed. I paid $150 for him, his tank, and a tank of feeder mice (in much better condition than him). I almost didn’t go through with the purchase, but couldn’t leave him with the dippy girl who was under-feeding him so he wouldn’t get 6-8 feet long and too hard too handle. :weirdface It did take a vet trip and some work, but he’s happy, healthy, and 28 years old this year. :D

The second rescue is a Colombian rainbow boa. Very poor condition, under weight, extensive retained shed, thermal burns from a malfunctioning heat rock, and no water. He had also been without heat for the prior 2 weeks while the owner was on vacation...in the winter...because the owner didn’t trust the heat rock. He was free (without the tank) because he’d bitten the guy and the guy was now afraid of him. I had serious doubts he would make it. He was about 9 years old at the time (according to the owner born in ‘88). He also took a couple of trips to the vet and some work to get healthy, but he’s 30 this year. :D

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Will you post pictures?!? I’d love to see multi decade old snake pictures in these threads. Glad they’re doing well for so long!


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Thank you all for your stories and various opinions. I will try to get a picture of it as soon as possible. It looked like it was trying to shed so its hard to describe but its a faded lavender with a faint yellow line down the dorsal and lightly patterned up high that fades blank midway down the side.
I'll probably take a trip there tomorrow if not I'll give it a couple days to get through the shed before I attempt to talk them down or whatnot.
The name of the place is Pet Supermarket. And when I asked two separate associates, one being the manager, they said Reptile Industries is where they come from.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Will you post pictures?!? I’d love to see multi decade old snake pictures in these threads. Glad they’re doing well for so long!


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I haven’t figured out how to post pics yet, but I’ve uploaded a few of my pets into an album, including these two guys.

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Originally Posted by Sirus Uno

The name of the place is Pet Supermarket. And when I asked two separate associates, one being the manager, they said Reptile Industries is where they come from.

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Ah, yeah. Different company so yeah, different breeders. I didn't actually know that Reptile Industries did wholesale pets as well. I'm just used to only seeing Artic Mice from them. Lol
I am so behind on the current breeders and such.

Reptile Industries is the wholesale side of ReptMart. Their animals are of decent quality and I've purchased several from them over the years, so if the snake is in bad shape blame the store.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps9aoclzxk.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psp66maedr.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps09ng70ue.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psupsyfqak.jpg
The first 3 are of the normal on top of the potion/ passion in question. The 4th is of the Mojave clutchmate that arrive with it. Bad pictures but that's all I could get.

Lools more Cinny than Mojo but that could just be the photo.
Still not a rescue, its plain and simple a purchase.

My two cents: there are PLENTY of reputable breeders at our fingertips, some of which are members of this forum.
There's just no need to buy animals from these types of stores.
It's not a rescue. It's putting profit in the pockets of stores who treat animals poorly, and in my eyes, supporting their practices.

That enclosure looks pretty filthy, I would pass.

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Originally Posted by Ladybugzcrunch

That enclosure looks pretty filthy, I would pass.

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Agreed, urates everywhere. Scattered all over the place. That's not just one fresh urate that they haven't gotten to yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ladybugzcrunch

That enclosure looks pretty filthy, I would pass.

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My thoughts too...in that sense, it's a "rescue" & I've "been there, done that" (happily with a good outcome) but it increases the odds against you.

Just adding about the filthy conditions, maybe that’s why the two are sitting on top of each other on the branch. Trying to escape the obviously disgusting litter. From Garrick Demeyer to Deborah Stewart (and so many, many more) great breeders out there! Wow, and now with the Internet. I have never had animals I liked (loved) more and didn’t have to wait for physical photos. Please try and think about this, who needs headaches. Good luck with whatever you decide regardless. And I didn’t even mention reptile shows.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmcrook

Will you post pictures?!? I’d love to see multi decade old snake pictures in these threads. Glad they’re doing well for so long!


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Hopefully these work...

Eli, my 28 year old normal ball

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...b625c0739.jpeg

and this is Hudson, my 30 year old Colombian rainbow

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...28a2f0572.jpeg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dianne

Hopefully these work...

Eli, my 28 year old normal ball

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...b625c0739.jpeg

and this is Hudson, my 30 year old Colombian rainbow

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...28a2f0572.jpeg

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That’s awesome. Thank you for posting these!


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First off, I want to thank everyone for responding with their opinions. I have read all of the arguments and have decided not to continue with the animal.
Under the circumstances at hand I can not afford to gamble with the odds of the possible problems and honestly I kind of have my hands full. It was a beauty when I saw it and just like the morning after a drunken one night stand I'm seeing the ugly truth. I really was looking for a reason to let it go. I've always had a problem with trying to be "captain save a ..." Whether it be a junkie ex or a potential problem animal in this case. I'm building another rack for my growing juveniles and adding another bp to my collection I'm expecting to receive by the end of this week. So once again, thank you all for your valued time and opinions. I just have to accept that you can't save them all and there will always be next time.!

We'd ALL love to "save them all", but as you said, "you kind of have your hands full" & I'm glad we helped you sort this out...it's NOT easy for any of us
to look the other way. It IS very easy to get in over your head, especially when you start off with an animal that has health issues. We should probably
ALL carry a little card with us with notes to help us talk ourselves out of "rescues" & other impulse animal acquisitions, lol...

For what it’s worth, I think you’ve made the best choice. It’s one thing to get an animal from a reputable breeder, but the big box stores don’t often fit the bill for responsible maintenance as shown in your photos. That said, I still took in my two rescues (normal bp that I paid $150 for him and his setup & Colombian rainbow). I don’t regret getting them at all, but it was stressful trying to get them healthy and thriving...and it didn’t happen quickly. I’m a “saver” also and have taken on a number of snakes over the years from questinable sources. Most have gone on to lead healthy lives, but sometimes the gamble didn’t pay off and the snake didn’t make it, which was always heartbreaking to me. Some of those were outright rescues that owners didn’t want...too big, too difficult to handle, etc. Others were hard to start juveniles (Candoia) that didn’t survive. Here’s hoping you find the healthy morph you want at a killer deal! :D