Buying a collection, need to quarentine but can't. Any suggestions?

[RideRed12]

Aright well tommorow I plan to go look at a collection for sale a little ways away. Now before you criticize, this is the background info. I found out about a guy selling several ball pythons, which was on craigslist. I know, not craigslist! But this story is much to elaborate to be a scam or fake. So here it is:

My cousin's husband passed away and he collected and bread snakes. I am trying to sell the snake(s) and equipment for her. Neither of us know a whole lot on snakes but would like to try and get rid of them. I have done a lot of research on what they typically sell for along with what the used equipment sells for. I will also entertain any reasonable offer as they need to go. We are unsure as to the specific age of the snakes (some are 2-4 years old). We will also give you a better deal if you buy more than one. Here is a general list as to what kind of snakes they are:

The story is that the man who passed actually committed suicide due to a seperation from his wife. Leaving her with his collection, this worries be because the man said all of his hatchlings had died. Which kind of makes me wonder if there may be a disease going through them all.

Now, I have no idea how to go about quarentining 10 snakes, not to mention what to look for as for problems. Does this sound to risky to anyone else. It's a hell of a deal and I would rather see them go to someone who is going to care for them. Also, has anyone heard of any IBD outbreaks lately?

[The Serpent Merchant]

They do not need to be quarantined separately, you only need to separate them from your established snakes. That is not to say that they should be kept in the same enclosure, but they could all be in the same rack, and your established snakes in another rack (or whatever you house them in)

I would only work with your established snakes one day, then the next only work with the new ones. this minimizes contamination between the 2 groups.

[RobNJ]

I'm not following your story, but being that it's irrelevant in regards to your ability or inability to quarantine, I'll just leave you with this...

Not a good idea. I personally wouldn't risk buying a collection in which a few, if not several snakes died over a short period. I definitely would not buy and resell a collection in which a few, if not several snakes died over a short period. It would be a risk to my snakes(even with quarantine), and it would be a risk to any buyers' snakes. As for recent IBD outbreaks, I do not need to hear of them in order to know that it is out there.

Do what you're gonna do, but be well aware of the risks. My concern would not be so much for your snakes as it would be for the snakes of people who would buy from you.

[RideRed12]

I'm not following your story, but being that it's irrelevant in regards to your ability or inability to quarantine, I'll just leave you with this...

Not a good idea. I personally wouldn't risk buying a collection in which a few, if not several snakes died over a short period. I definitely would not buy and resell a collection in which a few, if not several snakes died over a short period. It would be a risk to my snakes(even with quarantine), and it would be a risk to any buyers' snakes. As for recent IBD outbreaks, I do not need to hear of them in order to know that it is out there.

Do what you're gonna do, but be well aware of the risks. My concern would not be so much for your snakes as it would be for the snakes of people who would buy from you.

Cannot agree more man, my story is really jumbled as it is a long story short. I do believe the hatchlings died because of improper care as the husband passed about a month ago. He also has two boa's and that is what makes me think IBD, I still plan to go up and look at them, for sure get a real story.

I'm just stuck, its too good of a deal to pass up but its for sure not worth the life of my snakes. Any other advice?

[RideRed12]

Anyone have any other input?

[RobNJ]

I do believe the hatchlings died because of improper care as the husband passed about a month ago.

So if a group of hatchlings die off in just a month due to improper care, what makes you think the rest of the snakes will be fine?

I'm just stuck, its too good of a deal to pass up

This in of itself is often a good reason to pass on a deal.

And putting your concerns of IBD aside, as IBD is not the only reason for quarantine, even buying from the most reputable of breeders, quarantine is not something to be swept under the rug. Another thing to think about if that if at first glance the snakes seem fine, you buy them, bring them home, they end up not being fine...are you prepared to have 10 snakes that could possibly need vet treatment? And by not quarantining, are you prepared for your snakes to all possibly need vet treatment?

[RideRed12]

That has all crossed my mind, it would'nt take long to improperly care for them. So what should I look for, or are you telling me if you were in my position its not even worth the risk. Because I'm halfway in between.

[RideRed12]

I need more info on the hatchlings, that strikes me as really odd.

[RobNJ]

I would not personally go for it. If I were able to go against every initial instinct and buy them, they would be in quarantine for a good amount of time. I would, in that case, actually look to keep them in someone else's home. No offense, but I would really have to question where your head is at if you bought them, knowing that they've not had the best care for at least a month(I would wager longer if babies just started dying off) while knowing that you can't properly quarantine. I'd really hate to see a thread a few months down the road that all your snakes are getting sick and you can't figure out why...I'd feel for your situation, but would not feel bad for you.

I'm not saying don't buy them...I'm saying it just does not sound like a wise move on your part if you buy them and cannot quarantine them.

[The Serpent Merchant]

when you come back from looking at the collection, wether you buy anything or not, take a shower and change your clothes before you go anywhere near your established snakes.