help please, Bought a Piebald from Petsmart, something is not right.

[BallPythonNewbie]

and I appreciate all the quick responses!! Thank you!

[AbsoluteApril]

is the substrate moist? it could be transferring color onto the snake?

[BallPythonNewbie]

No one is trying to place blame. We have plenty of anti-PetSmart threads on this Forum already.
What we're trying to do is get to the bottom of what might be wrong with your snake so you can get it some help.

and I thank you! I wasn't accusing- just making sure it was clear that I wasn't placing blame. My title sounds a bit "blamey" but I'm just trying to give all the info! lol

[BallPythonNewbie]

is the substrate moist? it could be transferring color onto the snake?

Yes it is moist, but this was there when I took her out of the box last night. They were using some sort of wood shavings at the store in her enclosure.

[BallPythonNewbie]

Honestly I would really consider returning the animal for a full refund. I know PetSmart has their 14 day return policy with living (and dead) animals.

To be honest, you probably overpaid by a heck of a lot because its a retail store. I know you want to fix it, but that shouldn't be your responsibility especially if you are the they sold it to you like this. If you keep it, chances are you will end up spending at least $100 if not a lot more to get proper medication that may or may not work.

If you want big chain stores like this to step up with their care of animals, people like you (nothing negative implied) need to tell them that it is unacceptable, and you need to return it.

Forgive my complete ignorance, when I registered as "ball python newbie" I wasn't exaggerating lol. Aside from the health issues, can you tell me if I overpaid? I paid $429. I'm prepared for the truth (squinting and holding breath) lol.

[Caspian]

I recently purchased a '14 Pastel Pied male for $400. For a normal pied, I think you overpaid by about $100, but prices range from a quick glance at Kingsnake.com for a Normal Pied female from just under $300 to over $400 - so it's all a matter of what catches your eye. As to the marks on her, I don't know enough to be willing to venture a suggestion, for the risk of being wrong.

[O'Mathghamhna]

For some reason I can't see your pictures when I click the links, but if these folks are saying it looks like burns, I would trust them. The people that have been around a while on this board are very knowledgeable!

As far as spending money to make your snakey better, I would (again) refer to everyone's advice here on the board and go ahead and return it. For one, I believe you overpaid, and for two, pet store snakes generally aren't cared for all that great. A reputable breeder is probably going to be your best bet as far as getting a new (healthy) pet.

I work in wildlife rehabilitation (have my whole life) so I totally understand and empathize with the need to help everything you can... However sometimes when something is beyond your scope of care (even baby birds need special diets!), it's best to start over with something healthy. A common animal-lover's mistake I see all too often is people who either find or take on a sick animal that unfortunately they know nothing about, and they want to learn how to care for the animal or nurse it back to health. This always leads to lots of money spent by you, and an even worse-off animal, if it survives at all. So keep your chin up, and keep your excitement about snakes--they are truly gems of animals to have the honor to care for. But what I would do is return this one since it's not healthy, do LOTS of reading and research, and get a perfect enclosure set up. THEN buy a healthy snake from the right source. I promise, you and the snake will be better for it!

Thanks for coming here, and continue your quest for a great snake and the wonderful hobby of caring for it!

[Caspian]

Wait for people to get a look at the newer pictures you've put up before rushing that little Pied back to the store. Just a thought - those more extensive pictures give a better look at the situation than the first pictures did.

[LittleTreeGuy]

Yea, the recent photos you posted look less like a burn to me, and more like a discoloration... like color from something else "stained" your snake.

You can find good quality male pieds at expos starting around $250, and females starting around $350. Like said above, it's all about your personal liking. Some pieds are in the 3k-4k range, so it's all over the place.

[Caspian]

Here - let me see if I can post those pictures for you...