underground reptiles

[Samurai]

I'm not trying to run them down. I've seen plenty of unboxing videos with good reviews. But just on my experiences with them. I have bought a Green tree python and an Indonesian tree boa from them about three years apart. They both stayed alive long enough to make it past the guarantee. Then died. I have had several snakes, lizards, and tarantulas. And none have ever died in my care. I'm not saying they shipped me an unhealthy animal. But...
And I still look at their website and there's a lot of animals that I look at and it says out of stock. But yet they post a ton of videos on Facebook. Pretty hard to sell if they're not updating the site to get rid of the out of stock sign.
But I don't really blame them. I'll maybe one day buy something from them again. And that Rian guy seems pretty cool. But who knows...

[Bogertophis]

I've had no dealings with them at all, but just one thing comes to my mind: were the snakes you bought captive-bred, or wild-caught? Makes all the difference
in the world! W/C snakes are often heavily-parasitized, and if not treated properly & promptly, they're not going to thrive. In fact, when a snake comes from
the wild & you start feeding them better, their internal parasites do "better" as well. Even if they have a preliminary treatment before you get them, you need
to plan on doing lab work (fecals) to keep them clean.

[Samurai]

I've had no dealings with them at all, but just one thing comes to my mind: were the snakes you bought captive-bred, or wild-caught? Makes all the difference
in the world! W/C snakes are often heavily-parasitized, and if not treated properly & promptly, they're not going to thrive. In fact, when a snake comes from
the wild & you start feeding them better, their internal parasites do "better" as well. Even if they have a preliminary treatment before you get them, you need
to plan on doing lab work (fecals) to keep them clean.

They were claimed to be "farm bred".

[Bogertophis]

They were claimed to be "farm bred".

How long was their guarantee? A necropsy would have been useful (esp. to argue for a refund).
"Farm-bred" from W/C animals perhaps? Pretty sure I'd buy elsewhere in the future.

[Cheesenugget]

I live about 15 min away so I visit their store regularly for feeders in the past. I also bought my king from them.

I would not recommend them for anything.

Half of their staff gives out bad advice. Ryan is okay, probably one of their most knowledgeable employees but he was caught making mistakes too. Their animals are housed from okay to being outrageous. They sell domestic mammals as well such as pigs. The last time they tried to sell them, they housed the babies in one of their large reptile cages that is way too small for pigs, with no enrichment at all. They were immediately criticized for this and they moved them into the back, out of sight, which does not guaranteed the conditions were better. Their snakes in the display tanks mostly have no hides, some in not good condition either.

Their frozen feeders were mostly skin and bones, crushed against each other, and the incompetent staff always give me the wrong size. They breed and euthanize their own feeders.

I got lucky with my king. She was a surrender and lived in the back for 30 days, then put on display for awhile before I got her. It was a huge risk and I would never do that again.

A common complaint is if your animal is sick or dies, they are very reluctant to give you a refund, and will request for proof of the set up.

[Samurai]

How long was their guarantee? A necropsy would have been useful (esp. to argue for a refund).
"Farm-bred" from W/C animals perhaps? Pretty sure I'd buy elsewhere in the future.

More than likely going to stay with CV Exotics. Have thought about Dynasty Reptiles. But will do CV the most

[Jellybeans]

I've had no dealings with them at all, but just one thing comes to my mind: were the snakes you bought captive-bred, or wild-caught? Makes all the difference
in the world! W/C snakes are often heavily-parasitized, and if not treated properly & promptly, they're not going to thrive. In fact, when a snake comes from
the wild & you start feeding them better, their internal parasites do "better" as well. Even if they have a preliminary treatment before you get them, you need
to plan on doing lab work (fecals) to keep them clean.

ALWAYS take a suspected wild-caught to the vet for a fecal

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[Bogertophis]

...
I would not recommend them for anything...

I think I remember others not happy with animals they bought from them too, but I was hesitant to say that...thanks for adding your personal experience w/ them.

As for the OP's bad experience with their animals, even "if" they were captive-bred they were likely exposed to other sick animals on the premises.

[Samurai]

I was just trying not to make any waves with the people that had good dealings with them. They say the animals are visually healthy when shipped. So I didn't say anything to them either time cuz I know they are going to just find any reason to blame me. So I just take the $400 loss and move on.

[Bogertophis]

They were claimed to be "farm bred".

You don't usually hear captive-bred snakes described this way & "farms" are generally outdoors: makes me wonder where the "farm" actually is & if one needs a
passport to see it.

And "visually healthy" is only as good as that person's "vision". It takes lots of experience to recognize a healthy snake with any degree of accuracy...just saying.
Sorry about your losses.