Hey everyone I'm new to the forums and have been lurking here for a while. I have been keeping reptiles for almost 8 years now and have always gotten my reptiles from shows or rescues.
However, my girlfriend and I have been going to a local pet store for almost two years now to buy food for our reptiles. Ever since we've first been started shopping at this pet store, the same Cali King has been there. It has been in the same 12 x 12 x 18 Exo Terra (the one made for arboreal herps), which it is much too big for. It has also been put on black sand for substrate. I haven't seen it move much at all since I've been going to this store, until last night when me and my girlfriend were there before it closed to buy roaches. Just approaching the glass while it was awake showed that it was never really handled, as it started posturing up and shaking the tip of it's tail in a defense display.
I have been looking at this snake for a while, and I can't bare to see it there any longer. I want to buy it. However, it's $50 and I really would prefer not to spend that much on a snake that I could buy for $20 at a show. Especially one that is so defensive and may have stomach abrasions/infection from the sand.
This pet store doesn't practice the best husbandry, and there has been a time in the past where we have seen some really ill-looking water dragons with serious cases of nose rub and horrendous mouth rot. I remember after a few weeks all 3 had vanished from the store, and I'm very concerned as to what exactly had happened to them. I fear they had been thrown away
I am familiar with Cali King husbandry and have had coloubrids in the past. But how should I reasonably go about negotiating a price on this snake? This pet store is a small-chain based in PA, if you're from here you may already know what the name is. I would really not like to spend anymore than $30, and I feel like that is reasonable considering the circumstances. Feel free to tell me other wise. I don't want to get into a personal conflict with these people. This store is the only way for my gf to get her food and such for her reptiles, because neither of us drive. Eventually I would spend $50 if I must to get the animal, but I'm a poor college student so less is better. Thanks for any advice
Edit: Also, would you consider this a "rescue"?
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