but I think over three months is time enough to give someone a chance to get their act together. It started when I purchased an adult female DH Snow boa from Moe. Even though I overnighted payment of $2,200 for her to be shipped via the airlines same day service Moe took a few weeks to get the animal out. The airlines screwed things up and the animal didn't arrive until the next day after having been sent (not Moe's fault). When I finally did open up the contents in front of the airlines personnel I was pretty embaressed when a cockroach climbed out from the box. Right then and there I knew I was in trouble. I then proceeded to see the styro box cover with an adult mite crawling on the OUTSIDE surface of the lid. Now I thought to myself, if this guy's on the outside I can imagine what the inside must look like. Sure enough upon opening I saw quite a few more mites and only verified the animal was alive before leaving.
When I got home I immediately opened up the contents and can honestly say I've never seen such an infestation in my life. I left everything about 100 feet from my home except the snake which I took straight to the bathtub for treatment.
Amazingly enough the animal was otherwise in good health with good body weight and nice looking. When I told Moe via e-mail about the mite infestation he exploded saying it was not possible and he had no idea where those could have come from. He also stated I was just trying to get some money back and this was just a ploy to do so (I never asked for any compensation).
To top it off the original paperwork from VPI to verify the het status of the animal was not included as promised. I requested this be sent and Moe said although he couldn't find it anywhere he swore he had it, would find it, and send it soon.
After waiting patiently for a few more weeks I wrote Moe again and received the following read from bottom to top.:
----- Original Message -----
From: Barry Morrison
To: Barry Morrison
Sent: November 12, 2003 3:53 AM
Subject: Re: Het Dcumentation
I found the <font color=red>[bleep]</font>ing paperwork brother......Its outta state and was in my brothers snake papers for some reason..I just wanted to let you know that I'm still here and as soon as I get the papers I'll send them to you...... Moe
----- Original Message -----
From: Barry Morrison
To:
MATRIXNINJA70@aol.com
Sent: October 07, 2003 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: Het Dcumentation
Greg
I'm still looking for the paperwork,I know its here because the boa really came from VPI and is 100% dou-het snow...You will get your paperwork, the original paperwork from Dave and Tracy Barker..I know its bothering you,its <font color=red>[bleep]</font>ing killing me...I also found a few mites in my collection,and found them on some rats I had purchased from a local petshop...So I'll send you some money for your trouble and my mistake....I'm sorry about that and this paperwork,but I'll get you squared away as soon as I can .........please bare with me........Moe
----- Original Message -----
From:
MATRIXNINJA70@aol.com
To:
jbmor@earthlink.net
Sent: October 07, 2003 9:36 AM
Subject: Het Dcumentation
Moe,
I'm still waiting for the paperwork on this female. You promised you'd send it weeks ago. Please get it to me immediately.
Greg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice that in one letter Moe admitted to having found mites in his collection and says he's going to send me some cash along with the paperwork for my troubles. Well, after three months of being pateint I think I've waited long enough so I'm bringing out the truth here about my transaction with Moe. It looks like the only way I'm going to verify this het is to prove her out which one of my males is working on doing right now. If I paid $2,200 for a normal female adult Colombian needless to say I'm going to be very upset. I won't know until she hopefully bears offspring months down the road
Good luck with the rest of you. I have a feeling your animals are most likely being treated for mites or cockroaches so maybe it's just as well you haven't seen them yet.