Big Problem!!!

[Evilme5229]

Hold on here, they have the snake, they are doing his care but you are paying for the vet treatments that they may or may not even do? Perhaps I'm confused?

Is this a chain type store or a privately owned store?

This is what happened. I bought the one snake that was fine the very next day I bought the pastel. Both about 6 months old. I was told I could put both in the same cage and I wouldn't need another cage. I trusted what the reptile guy told me since within two consecutive days I bought two snakes and trusted his knowledge over my own. When I saw the bubbles I called right away and he told me that the snake would be fine in two days and he just needed to "dry out" because he was in his water dish and he developed a "cold." I wanted to make myself at ease so I took him to my vet to get his opinion. The two snakes stayed together for one night, and they stayed in two separate hide boxes from what I uncovered. After I got the news from the vet and he gave the pastel a culture and a shot (that may or maynot be the right medication), I went straight to the store to figure out what the next course of action, compensation, exchange, see if they stand behind their snake. From the feeling I was getting they would exchange the snake but they weren't going to compensate me for the dr.s visit because they deemed it "unnecessary and that its completely common that they get minor RIs and its normal." Dealing with that type of situation and no extra cage to put the pastel, I was stuck between buying another cage incuring about another $100.00 expense and/or figuring out another arrangement. So right now what seems has been agreed by my vet and reptile store is that the reptile store will house the snake for 7 days unmedicated. In 5 days my dr. will have the culture back determining what RI the snake has. At that time, if my snake is still showing symptoms after the 7 days is still up for debate. I really didn't know what to do!!

This sounds really horrible, but if its still symptomatic in 7 days than I feel like it might be in my best interest to ask for a full refund and compensation towards a bigger tank for Esmeralda (the non symptomatic snake), but if not I see this becoming an uphill battle. I'm just feeling really crappy that this poor snake could have had a really good home if it was taken care of properly. And what happens if Esmeralda gets sick because this reptile store sold a sick snake? The place was not a chain and they seemed perfect. The animals look really healthly and their living conditions look perfect. I feel so bad and upset about my snake right now, what should I really do now?

[dr del]

Hi,

Has the vet spoken directly with the store?

I don't see how they can justify selling you a sick animal if that turns out to be the case once the culture is back.

If it is sitting in the conditions it got sick in for 5 days with no treatment it is almost certainly going to be symptomatic at the end of it if it is indeed an RI.

I have no idea on the procedure over there but if the vet said it is sick and the store disagreed and wouldn't refund/replace after only 24 hours I'd be contacting the animal welfare people, the trading standards people and the police if it came to it.

But until the vets results are in I don't know what would be the best course.


dr del

[Evilme5229]

Hi,

Has the vet spoken directly with the store?

I don't see how they can justify selling you a sick animal if that turns out to be the case once the culture is back.

If it is sitting in the conditions it got sick in for 5 days with no treatment it is almost certainly going to be symptomatic at the end of it if it is indeed an RI.

I have no idea on the procedure over there but if the vet said it is sick and the store disagreed and wouldn't refund/replace after only 24 hours I'd be contacting the animal welfare people, the trading standards people and the police if it came to it.

But until the vets results are in I don't know what would be the best course.


dr del

Yes, I had the guy at the reptile store speak directly to my vet. He proceeded to tell my vet that he basically doesn't know anything and that my vet may only see one snake vs. him who sees them every day. I received a call from the owner of the reptile store asking for my dr.s contact information. I gave him the information and I'm going to call him tomorrow to see why he needed the information as well as his explanation and plans on guarantees with his snakes if its not cured in 7 days. As serious as I'm getting a feeling about RIs I do not think this problem will be rectified nor do I think they can do anything to quick fix the snake.

[bsd13]

I'd love to know the name of this store, etc. Might save someone else a lot of grief.

[Evilme5229]

I'd love to know the name of this store, etc. Might save someone else a lot of grief.

Dark Forest Reptiles. And apparently they have a bad reputation with sending live animals since they are a mail order company as well. The only advantage I have is that they are right around the corner from my house.

[littleindiangirl]

You do not need to buy a whole separate tank for your other snake. In fact, you'd be better off housing him in a nice low sterilite tub. Depending on the size of your snake, which I'm assuming is small, a 12 qt (yes 12) would fit him very nicely.

You put a heat pad like Desert Heat on one half of the tub, and control the temps with a thermostat or rheostat.

You can buy an accurite thermometer/hygrometer from walmart for 12$, they come with a probe that you can put on the hot side to make sure the temps are always around 90 degrees F.

The unit itself should go onto the cool end, and it will measure the air temps and the humidity.

Hot side: 90
Air (ambient): 83
Humidity: 60%

You can give them 1 hide, and put the water bowl on the cool side. You snake will be warm and very comfortable. When you do this, leave him to adjust for a week, and offer him some food.

This same set up will work very well for a sick snake, so no need to go and buy a cumbersome tank that can be hard to control the temps in.

[Freakie_frog]

Having dealt with one or two RI's my self I can tell you that most treatment lasts for at least 10 days and the animal must be reevaluated after that period. If I were you I'd say run very hard and very fast from that pet store and seek out a reputable breeder to purchase you pastel from. You will get a healthy happy snake with none of these issues.

[frankykeno]

If they are the reptile experts they are promoting themselves to be, I'm a bit amazed they told you to house them together quite honestly.

Just make very sure they aren't leading you on trying to get to the end of that guarantee (not saying they are, but still it's not unheard of). If there is a time concern for test results, insist on the guarantee being extended or get your money back immediately.

Whatever you do end up doing I'd be quarantining those snakes in seperate rooms until you are absolutely sure everyone's healthy and then keep them housed seperately. You don't need to spend a fortune on a fancy setup. BP's do very well in reasonably priced plastic tub housing. Even if you prefer to do a glass tank down the road, plastic is best for QT as far as being easy to sterlize and easy on the wallet.

[wolfy-hound]

Check into the caresheets and threads on appropiate sized enclosures for ball pythons as well. "Getting a larger cage" is not always a good thing, so please check into that.
A pet as a impulse item is not a good thing. It's sad that you trusted someone that SHOULD have given you good advice, but instead chose to give you poor husbandry advice, and seems to not be concerned that they are selling ill animals.
I'd insist on a immediate refund for the purchase price. You will not get a compensation on the vet bill. That was your choice(even if it was the correct choice, unfortunately). Then make sure your first python has a correct enclosure, and then think about getting a second one from a more reliable source with a second enclosure.

Good luck, and welcome to keeping herps.