Need advice on this situation...

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">do you guarantee that he has appropriate body weight for his size </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

The problem with asking the above question is that you're just asking for an "opinion". Most people agree that the snake is underweight, as do I, but it still is just an opinion. I would hate to say someone lied to me because of their opinion differing from mine.I hope you two can work it out.

Bobby Douglass

Jonathon,

Really, if you're that suspicious about the animal's health to the point that you don't think he'll make it, just swap back with Drew and quarrantine the animal you get back. &nbsp;That would be within that boundaries of your original agreement. &nbsp;However, since you are the one originating the "re-swap" I'd say that you are responsible for the shipping charges. &nbsp;

I'd say Drew ought to pay half because he did misrepresent the animal's health, but if he doesn't want to do that, you don't have much choice. &nbsp;You're either going to have to pay those charges or help the snake you have in your possession through the mess its in.

Jonathan,

FWIW, I've taken in two snakes (a ball python & a Colombian rainbow boa) that were both in much worse condition than the pictures you posted and now both are doing quite well. &nbsp;I do agree that the snake you received is by no means a good weight for its size but I also think that it can be remedied because it doesn't appear too far gone. &nbsp;Both of the snakes I took in would initially eat while in shed because of how hungry and emaciated they were. &nbsp;

I'd give him a few days to adjust to the new environment (2-3 would be my wait in this case) and then try just one of the f/t rats. &nbsp;You may need to leave it with him overnight if he doesn't immediately go after it. &nbsp;Occassionally some of my snakes just will not eat within a reasonable time like the rest and I leave them in their feeding tub or enclosure overnight and the rodent is almost always gone in the morning. &nbsp;If he eats the first one immediately, then offer the 2nd. &nbsp;If he doesn't eat it until left with it overnight, you can try a second rat then or wait a few days and offer it. &nbsp;With the two I mentioned, I fed them 1 or 2 prey items every 5-7 days until they began to put some weight back on, then spaced the feedings to every 7-14 days.

It may take a while, the Colombian rainbow took a good six months before he got to an appropriate weight for his length. &nbsp;But he's a real beauty now and just as plump and healthy as you please. &nbsp;I did have vet bills - checkup, fecals, supplements - but it was well worth it in my book.

Best of luck.

I think that you should just keep what you have. <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

OK I just want to make sure I have what you want straight.

If he wants to trade back, to make you happy, you want him to pay all shipping, even though YOU are the one who wants to trade back.

If he doesn't like that option, you want him to send you $100 and guarantee the snake forever or until you think it's healthy. &nbsp;And if for any reason, other than your house burning down with the snake in it, the snake dies while in your possession, you want him to give another $250 and pay for the necropsy.

All this, on a trade you initiated, and after you said if there are any problems we'll just trade back. &nbsp;We'll just trade back, is a whole lot different than want you now want.

Jonathan, again I mean no offense by any of this, but you are being very unreasonable. &nbsp;There was no guarantee given on this animal other than if you're not happy we'll swap back (in fact, I don't even know if he agreed to that). &nbsp;It is obvious to me, you will never be happy about this trade, so contact him tell him you would like your animal back. &nbsp;Pack the boa up and send it back him. &nbsp;Wait quietly by the door for the UPS man to bring you back your snake. &nbsp;Yes, you will be out the cost of shipping twice, but consider it a lesson in internet herping, and move on. <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

Good body weight is just an opinion (as someone else already said). &nbsp;Reguardless of picture size, that snake looked thin in those pictures. &nbsp;If you are going to be working with more advanced species like this, you need to be more aware of things like that BEFORE you get this deep into it. &nbsp;Yes he was totally wrong about the snake having "good" weight, but again that's just my opinion. &nbsp;My other opinion is that you need to get out of this trade quickly because that Guyanan will cause you nothing but stress. You are obviously not comfortable w/ it so send it back.

too late, already gone.

whoa, that sounded bad. &nbsp;he's not dead, he's headed back to florida. &nbsp;that kind of gone. &nbsp;sorry.
we each are paying shipping back to each other. &nbsp;he was supposed to ship my snake back to me today, but didn't and said he will ship monday. &nbsp;i offered to let him keep him for $150, we'll see what he says.
thanks for your input and concern. &nbsp;also, i don't consider this an advanced species if you buy an established CB like i thought i was getting.

Well, a lot has happened over the past few days. &nbsp;Since that last post, I had a past customer of mine contact me and tell me that he would purchase the brb. &nbsp;So, I told Drew to ship to him instead. &nbsp;Well, he was supposed to ship on Monday, didn't happen (big surprise). &nbsp;I was beginning to get worried that he was just going to keep both animals and I would be screwed. &nbsp;Well, Tuesday came and he didn't ship until a couple of hours after he said he would. &nbsp;He also used a beat up box to ship it and didn't package and secure it properly. &nbsp;So, Airborne Express opened the package up thinking it could be a security threat. &nbsp;Well, they saw it was a snake and went ahead and delivered it to my customer telling him to inform the shipper of the situation and not to do it again. &nbsp;You know Drew, you are just scoring points all over the place. &nbsp;Not only did you manage to piss me off, you also upset my customer and an entire shipping corporation and you made the entire hobby look incompetent in the process! &nbsp;Good job!

Ok, this is the last thing I’m going to write about Drew. &nbsp;Personally, I will never do business with him again. &nbsp;I honestly represented my beautiful, extremely healthy Brazilian rainbow boa to him (which he called average even though he had to ask me how to take care of them which means he has no experience with them and obviously doesn’t know that he is not looking his best at this age and he still looks better than the vast majority of rainbow boas out there) and he sent me a most likely WC Guyana redtail with poor body weight that is declining based on the pictures, and dry brittle skin. &nbsp;He told me that this snake was in perfect health except for a healing rat bite and that it was CB (which I can’t blame him for that because he said that was what he was told but he thought better of it). &nbsp;To me, here comes another analogy, I asked for and was told I was receiving a perfect oven and instead I received a beat up toaster without an electrical cord. &nbsp;I asked him to pay return shipping because he sent a beat up toaster in place of an oven and it was not MY fault and he essentially told me to make due with my toaster or be responsible for his * mistake * and incur the return shipping costs myself. &nbsp;I offered him several reasonable options to fix HIS mistake and he shot them all down. &nbsp;He offered me additional snakes to make up for his mistake, but I ask you, why would I want another broken toaster?
All in all, this was an extremely bad experience that I wish I could go back and just avoid. &nbsp;But I have learned a valuable lesson… trust your instincts. &nbsp;If you think something is wrong, it probably is and you should do a 180 and run! &nbsp;And if you think something is wrong and the person offers you the chance to get out of the deal, they know what they are doing is wrong and you should do a 180 and run even faster.
So, I guess I paid $60 to learn not to trust certain types of people. &nbsp;People who are selling sick animals don’t care about their reputation or their animals and they will screw you for a buck.
I have sent this link to Drew so that he may defend himself as he sees fit. &nbsp;I have said my piece and I am absolutely finished with this situation and I will never think of it again except to remember the lesson I have learned.

Here is Drew’s information in case you need it for reference:

Andrew (Drew) Kosdi
Gator Reptiles
8500 Belcher Rd
Pinellas Park, FL &nbsp; 33781

Email: GATORREPTILES@aol.com also used to go by junglefever123@aol.com
Phone: 727-545-2898

I have given you the information, make up your own mind…