Bad Week for Blue Beauties

Ok, you all know that I got a pair of CB Vietnamese Blue Beauties last Saturday. I was ecstatic! They looked good, ate for me Sunday. Then Tuesday, I check on them, and the male is dead. No apparent reason, just dead. So, I call the breeder I got them from, didn't have any real expectations, the guys TOS basically say "no guaranties". Anyway, they say that they would send me another male, if they had one, at a reduced price, but they don't have anymore hatchlings. They do however have WC adults. So I agree to the WC adult male, and since I'm paying shipping, I also get a WC female adult (at full price), I might as well start the breeding project. So anyway, this is what showed up yesterday
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...urecrop163.jpg

There was no flesh on the end of this snake's nose, her nostrils were gone, and the bone was exposed. She was 3/4 dead when she got here, she died a few minutes after this pic was taken. I tried soaking her to revive her, but she was so weak, I had to hold her head up out of the water so she didn't drown. After she died, I ran my hand along her body, there was absolutely nothing in her digestive tract. I think she couldn't eat because the nose rot had destroyed her nostrils, so she couldn't breathe and swallow at the same time. Quite a choice, eat and suffocate, or breathe and starve.
I purchased these animals from Strictly Reptiles out of Florida, and I'm not saying they're a bad outfit, but I've got a 50% mortality rate with their animals. I won't be buying from them again.

I'm so sorry. That's such a shame and you must feel terrible to happen to 2 snakes. :(

I am very sorry to hear that.:( I dont think I will ever buy from them either. 2 out of 4 snakes die, and at least one was because of them not wanting to treat the nose rot. I hope you can find someone else to get some more from. Good luck to you and ur blue beauties that they may live a great life with you!!

aww that makes me sooo angry... where in FL are they? I'm suppose to head down there sometime soon...

Maybe I'm being a hard case on this but I'd call that irresponsible. Bad enough you lost the hatchling, that happens sometimes I guess but for them to ship you that female with that kind of damage and in such poor shape is absolutely disgusting! Did they represent her as healthy (other than of course being a WC you expect some issues). I hope you contacted them immediately for a full refund of her cost at least.

I also hope you have these snakes strictly quarantined as I'd worry that they probably weren't kept all that well from the look of that poor female. Probably a vet visit is in order for the survivors.

Did you check these people out on the BOI at all before purchasing from them?

God thats horrible. Well how is the CB female and the WC male doing?

Here's a thread from the BOI on Strictly Reptiles. Sometimes it helps to not only search the company name but also the person who owns it as sometimes people post that way too.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...ictly+Reptiles

Hmmmmmmm Just some food for thought....Have read thru the thread.....

Isn't it interesting that one of the most glowing accounts of service and quality of the animals is from Chris of TSE????

Thanks Jo, I researched them as much as I could on the BOI. I even asked Matt at MG Reptiles to post an inquiry for me. Unfortunately, nothing current, or outright negative turned up, so I decided to take a chance. Live and learn, as they say. I'm just stunned that they'd send that female out. Yes, she was represented as WC, but apparantly healthy otherwise.

The remaining two are in strict quarantine! the hatchling ate again for me today. the wc male is 6ft of attitude, but appears to be in perfect condition. Yes, they will both be going to the vet very soon.

I'm soooo sorry to hear about the deaths of your snakes. Good luck with the rest of them. :hug:

Hate to say it but it's probably well worth the $10.00 to join Fauna just to post on the BOI about this experience (especially since you have that photo as proof of the poor condition of the now deceased female). Hate to think someone else would end up getting the same raw deal you've had to go through with this supplier. Are they aware of this WC female's death and her condition on arrival (though obviously they packed and shipped her) but still I'd want it in writing to them that you are less than pleased about this deal.

I think you're right, I think I'll spend the money to join Fauna. I've been reluctant to so far because I don't want to get sucked into the Madness that is the BOI! But, to be brutally honest, the only thing they should have done with that female was put her out of her misery. So I'll join Fauna and post that pic, see what happens.

it doesn't cost anything to join the boi... didn't cost me anything... and i post regarding my experiences...

I think that's because you're a paid member of Rich's other forum. It won't let me post, even though I'm a member of the regular forum.

Oh geez, I just saw this, I'm so sorry! :( Poor little beauties... I thought their pricing was awfully low... BHB was the place I was considering getting beauties from before I got my pair, which honestly I think I'm lucky they're as healthy as they are given the husbandry they had before. VBBs are hard to find... You're definitely on my list for when I have hatchlings!

Paypal? Credit Card? They'll return your money for ya. This is just another reason why I will never buy a WC or a farm raised snake or any other animal from an exporter/importer. Not worth the risk you have to take. I'm sorry about your bad experience too.

Thanks for the thought Sheree, please do let me know how things go with your kids. And thanks Jimi, it never occurred to me to talk to my CC company and dispute the charges.

I just checked on the hatchling and the WC, the hatchling is doing fine, cute as can be! And the WC didn't even hiss at me when I changed his water, maybe he's calming down. He is the first snake I've ever had growl at me, so I know he's got a temper!

that's weird cause i don't think i'm a paid member of any of his other forums... weird.

Ooh, that's terrible...poor things. Yeah, get the membership so you can post that. Completely irresponsible of the seller, both as customer service and mistreatment of animals.

Sheree, make us happy, healthy babies!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cassandra

Sheree, make us happy, healthy babies!

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That's the plan! *knocks on wood*

Oh my!

I am soooo sorry for you and those snakes! Just glad they are no longer in pain, but now I wonder what other others may be suffering! This just made my heart hurt reading this. :(