Rescuing a girl...Only JUST found out how bad her situation is =[

[JLC]

Seems to me like a lot of very negative assumptions are being made based on nothing more than the fact that the guy doesn't "speak the language" that we usually use in our little reptile cliques.

One of our admins here has fully grown, breeding ball pythons that eat nothing but mice. They're perfectly healthy and plenty big enough to breed safely.

I'm not defending negligent practices, just suggesting that folks relax until there's actual evidence that such practices are taking place.

Also keep in mind that she may not be gravid at all. The seller may be assuming she's gravid just because he's seen her locked with the male, or even just because they've lived together for a time.

Don't fret too much about the transfer. They're not THAT delicate. Find an insulated container to carry her in such as a small cooler. Even a cheapo styrofoam cooler from the corner market would be fine. Put some padding at the bottom, bagged snake in the middle, and some padding on top. If it's really cold (seems unlikely in southern Cali) you might tape a heat pack to the inside of the lid...but if the container is insulated, she should be just fine on the short trips from house to car to house again. Keep the temps in the car on the warm side, but don't leave the container right beside a heat vent, and don't leave it in the direct sunlight if it's a warm, sunny day.

Get your enclosure at your own place set up for her and ready to go. Don't worry about her substrate, just use what you use. Use whatever hides you think best. Have the temps dialed in. Make sure it's in a quiet place where she won't be disturbed. Pick her up, bag her, transport her, and then set her in her new enclosure. Handle her just enough to check for injuries or signs of illness.

And you should decide ahead of time what you want to do if you go in there and find a sick snake blowing snot and terribly under weight. Decide ahead of time if you will reward that guy with $100 to "rescue" his snake. If so, then do it. If not, be prepared to walk away. That decision is entirely yours to make. It'd be good to prepare yourself mentally for the worst, but don't go in ASSUMING the worst just because he doesn't communicate well.