My bro-in-law was over...

[MATT FISHER REPTILES]

sounds like you are spending his money before he has told you it is ok. before i spent a dime i would of asked him how much he wanted to spend. and if you know that are not that well off any money you have spent is a donation. at the end of the day it will be relly messed up if he asks for his snake back and you hand him a bill of things he didnt ok.

[rabernet]

sounds like you are spending his money before he has told you it is ok. before i spent a dime i would of asked him how much he wanted to spend. and if you know that are not that well off any money you have spent is a donation. at the end of the day it will be relly messed up if he asks for his snake back and you hand him a bill of things he didnt ok.

I didn't read where he said he would be charging him for what he spent? My impression is that he's doing this for the welfare of the animal out of his own pocket.

Maybe you can approach your BIL and tell him that you've grown very attached to this particular snake and would he consider selling him to you. Maybe if that's your approach, he'll be more likely to accept, especially if you offered him say - $100 for the snake - which would be hard to turn down if money is tight for them.

[ChrisBowsman]

I know that anything I spend is gonna be out of my pocket. That's pretty much what I'm trying to avoid, especially when it would be likely for nothing.

He has something of a reputation for not taking anybody's advice, so there is really no reason to think he would follow a care sheet. Luckily (for me) they are short of money often enough that he might sell it to me. He adores that stupid 75 gallon tank, so if I told him I didn't want that, it might sweeten the deal a bit.

EDIT- I would actually be willing to go above market price for the snake, as (against all odds) it appears to be healthy, it eats very well, and I already have it.

(It's the snake in my avatar)

[rabernet]

Do you think that if you offer $100 for the snake, tell him how attached to the snake you've become and give him the tank back that he'll go for it?

[ChrisBowsman]

Do you think that if you offer $100 for the snake, tell him how attached to the snake you've become and give him the tank back that he'll go for it?

I know this is gonna sound kind of rotten, but if I hang back for a minute, and make the offer at the right time (ie, when they're broke), he probably will. They've been known to pawn all sorts of stuff, so turning a profit on the snake should be kind of a no-brainer.

[rabernet]

I don't see it as rotten - how long are you keeping this animal for him? You're simply waiting for the opportune time to make the offer - you know him best and what is likely to trigger him.

I'd keep any discussions of his care of the animal out of it, and simply focus on telling him how attached you are to the animal.

[Ginevive]

I would let him know that sometimes, in the reptile hobby, books can be outdated. If they are strapped for cash, and I were you, I would make him an offer for the snake and setup; if he refuses, I guess that there is not much you can do, because some people are bound and determined to do things wrong and cannot be reached.

[Ginevive]

I'd keep any discussions of his care of the animal out of it, and simply focus on telling him how attached you are to the animal.

Actually, that is a great idea
Waiting for an opportune time to ask, does not sound rotten at all, to me. It sounds intelligent.