I do not like the fact that he wanted you to ship the snakes before the cold, hard cash was in your hands. Sounds like a rubber check, maybe? The kind that bounces I think that you're lucky to be done with this deal. Yes, Paypal is great for buyers.. but I really don't like it that much after hearing what a friend went through. He sold an eBay item to someone out of the country.. they paid Paypal. And then after they received the item, they complained that the seller my friend, never shipped it. And openly emailed my friend telling him this. They ended up with the item and the money.. (my friend gave up eBay and is now a forensics photographer.. go figure!)
Kudos to you for nipping this one in the bud. Even if the funds were all there.. rushing you to ship is uncalled for.