My bro-in-law was over...

[ChrisBowsman]

.... on Christmas, and went downstairs to see his snake.

(If you missed my other thread, due to moving, I'm keeping his BP for an indefinite amount of time)

First off, it irritated me that he got out the snake without me being there. I know it's his, but for all he knew, it could've eaten that afternoon. He commented that the tank was hotter than it had ever been (98 on the hot side. Inside his hide rock stays about 5 degrees cooler). I told him that the 70 degrees he'd kept it at was way too cold and should've actually killed the snake. He seemed surprised, and said that his book said 70-95 was acceptable

He then started poking the snake in the head. I said that they really don't like that, and he was stressing out the snake. He then tells me that his book said to handle them daily, and make sure to pet their heads to eliminate their head shyness. He also asked why I'd put a piece of cardboard in the middle of the tank (it's a huge aquarium. I haven't had money for a new enclosure yet), and why I'd taken out the vines and logs (the snake still has two hollow rock hides). After explaining that BPs don't really climb, and all the wood stuff was just soaking up humidity, he kinda laughed and said he'd just put all that stuff in because it looked good.

Now, here's the question.... what is a fair price to offer him for the snake? I obviously cannot let him have it back in good conscience.

[littleindiangirl]

Tuff situation man. Is there any way you can teach him about proper husbandry? I know it sucks trying to tell someone they have been keeping their own animal wrong, but considering he was asking you why you did all these things, perhaps bring a current caresheet to him from VPI or nerd. It would be easier instead of telling someone they have been wrong without them first asking about your actions.

[MATT FISHER REPTILES]

at some point as a keeper we all come across people that keep there animals wrong. the only thing you can do is tell them what you think to be a better way of doing things. at the end of the day it is his snake and he can do what ever the heck he wants with it. this is just the sad truth.

did he tell you he wanted to sell it. if not you might want to take a step back and realize that there is nothing to gain. what i am saying is there are thousands of bp's in the us that are kept in crapy conditions and unless you plan on buying all of them this one is a drop in the bucket. your best bet is to buy him a better book.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...python-manual/
here you go. only 6 bucks and is a great tool.

[Reptilian]

Well it is his snake, so I really dont think you should be charging him to take it back. If you want to charge him still, have it be for the feeders, and whatever changes you've done to the set up. That way you still charge him and make him think if he wants the snake back.

Secondly, I agree with Connie. Print out a care sheet and give it to him, also give him the URL to the site here. Just tell him you found some information that seems conflicting with what he said and you want him to read it.

If you really want to keep the bp then offer to buy it off him for a family discount. That way you know it's in good hands. Keep in mind he might just go off and buy a new snake, so I'd still give him the caresheet and stuff.

[littleindiangirl]

your best bet is to buy him a better book.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...python-manual/
here you go. only 6 bucks and is a great tool.

Great point.
You give a man a fish, he eats for a day.
Teach the man to fish, he eats for life.

[LGL]

How big/old is it? Male or female? I'd say $25-$50 for a young BP. For an adult, I'd say $75-$100 for a male, or $100-$200+ for a female depending on age and size. Although, if he doesn't even know how to properly care for it, he probably doesn't know what it could be worth. I'd just offer him $50 (or less) and just get the snake. Where'd he get it and how long ago? If he got it semi-recently (and at a petstore), he probably paid that $99.99 price (or $79.99) and might remeber that.

Another route is when your in a room all alone with him, just look him right in the face (and have a very serious look on your face and speak in a very serious tone) say to hime something like, "What do you want for the snake?" If he gives you a reasonable price (or just gives the snake to you), just say OK, but if it's pretty high, make him a lower offer.

I'm not sure which way would work better since I don't know you, your brother-in-law, your age difference, how you interact with each other, or anything like that. You'll have to see which way would work best.

That's so sad, though, that he is so oblivious of how to properly care for them and doesn't seem to have a true concern for his snake's health or general well-being...

Good luck!

Wow! I'm a slow typer! Look at all the replies already. Sorry if I said something that someone already mentioned...

[MATT FISHER REPTILES]

i usually give one of those books away when ever i sell a bp of 100$ or more. they are a great tool. i refer back to them all the time.
the only reason i say to get him a better book is because he is talking about the last book like it is gold. so tell him to throw the other one away and give him a new one.

[ChrisBowsman]

Well, I'd thought about that, but when he was initially interested in a snake, I told him the little bit of info I knew at the time, and he pretty much did the opposite of all of it.

I said not to get too large of an enclosure, and to use something like newspaper or indoor/outdoor carpet for bedding, and to put some time into researching them and be choosey about getting one. He called the next day, and said that he'd bought one and was putting it in either a 55 or 75 gal tank, and got some weird substrate that I have to remove because it now has something like spiderwebs growing in it.

[MATT FISHER REPTILES]

that substrate is proabbly bed a best and that is not spider webs it is mold.

[ChrisBowsman]

I just saw everybody's replies, so let me clear up some stuff....

I'm not trying to charge him for the snake, but get him to sell it to me rather. I am going to have to put some money into it (UTH, thermostats, thermometer/hygrometer, etc...), and they are notorious for griping about being broke. Asking them for money for those things could likely cause unrest amongst the family. At the same time, I'm not too eager to dump too much money into it if he's gonna take it back in a few years or whenever, and go back to not keeping it properly.