I don't think you taking him back is wrong - if that is what you mean.

You could explain to him the relative wealth of information NOW available regarding good herp husbandry - maybe gently pointing out thsi info was not available when he became set in his myth-laden ways (3x body girth, huh?).

Maybe you could even point him to the site and let him have an epiphany here. A lot of time folks are more resistant to change when they perceive it as comign from outside themselves, as if to admit being influenced by someone else is a weakness or something.; If we feel more personally responsible for those changes we are less resistant to them.

There - that's all the huggy-schmuggy holiday-bear caca you're going to get out of me. I'd have a hard time giving any of our heprs away before being assured the homes they were going to had a clue what they were doing.