Alright, without posting links I would like to add some information, as *my opinion* is that this should be a buyer beware situation. I've just spent about 9 hours (over two days) reading everything in this thread, as well as threads on the corn snake forums and here is what I have found.
Obviously we have the first incident, the person who posted this thread (thread #1) about how multiple snakes purchased from Dr. Darryl G. Walker are dying, have died, or died in transit. (Let's call him person #1) (and so far I have read 6 snakes dead) And that the replacement snake was so small it was scary, and eventually died. And basically most of the snakes purchased have been wasting away to their deaths with absolutely lost attempts to save them. This person was hesitant to come here to "bad mouth such a big name in the industry" and was rightfully so - others came here and called him a liar, as well as a lot of name calling, and back and forth nastiness happened.
Incident #2 - If you search "3 dead snakes from same breeder - coincidence?" you will find the thread in question (thread #2). Someone asked if three dead snakes from the same breeder was a coincidence, and talks about the situation, which is similar to the one here. (I'll call them Person #2) They are not new to keeping snakes, but new to corns, however corns from other breeders have not died, though all of these did. Cryptosporidium is thrown around as a possibility and people say a Necropsy should be done. People get angry that the poster isn't coming to the BOI, for his reasons "I'll just let someone else do it" and that they did get a refund from the breeder so this is not really needing to be resolved, just curiosity that needed satisfying. Statements are made that this happens from time to time, even to good breeders, but if they were that good breeder, they would be getting involved to fix things or at least find out what caused this.
Now in this thread (thread #2), another person, (person #3) comes forth and says he bought 7 snakes and 4 died - 1 upon arrival and 3 later on. But will double check to make sure it is same breeder. Turns out it is. But person #3 hesitates to come here. Even though no names are named people come around and saying this is happening to multiple people and people connect the dots to Dr. Darryl G. Walker and the other mysterious dying corns. Then there is talk about how people are afraid to go to BOI about him.
Now in this thread (same thread #2) yet another person (I'll call them person #4) comes forth and and says that he is one of the five parties that bought snakes from Dr. Darryl G. Walker and they all went downhill and died (3 snakes). He said he had no bad feelings about the breeder but would send him a PM about this. He states that he is definitely not new to snakes with 35 years worth of experience and records.
Person #1 (this thread started) comes back and everyone talks about people really should come here, but the speculation is is that they are afraid of the nastiness that will come because of what they have already seen in this thread.
Dr. Darryl G. Walker comes to the thread, apologizes, and gives his side of the story.
At this point, I'm not going to lie, it gets very hard to follow due to the different situations, and it's horrible trying to follow this one through all the name calling. I recommend writing things down and keeping notes. LOL. But in all seriousness if you write notes and follow along there are some discrepancies here and there that do not at all add up at all between all these buyers and Dr. Darryl G. Walker.
There is a lot of back and forth bickering (I'll be honest it's childish, just like it was in this thread #1), and then Dr. Darryl G. Walker says about person #3 that it is difficult to talk to them, as they can't speak English (person #3 uses a lot of U's instead of "you" and "R"'s instead of "are" however, in my opinion, you can still clearly understand them and what they are saying.) Dr. Darryl G. Walker says that he won't bother going on as he is exhausted, and doesn't reply for the moment. A MOD now steps in and says that the thread doesn't belong on Cornsnakes.com, but instead here on BOI, and if it goes on it will be locked.
Bickering then continues between multiple buyers and Dr. Darryl G. Walker. Dr. Darryl G. Walker apologizes for coming back to this thread after a MOD told everyone to stop. But it doesn't stop there - he, and the other two, are still at it. Dr. Darryl G. Walker makes a statement about how he does not want to risk losing all that he has invested into snake keeping and (now this is a direct quote) "If anybody would just take their snake to a Vet and get it examined, then all this Slander could come to a halt. I would like the Mystery unfolded too."
Then it comes out that Dr. Darryl G. Walker has refunded Person #2, Person #2 - the thread starter, confirms it. A few people (not any of the people who had the issues) now chime in that they will not hesitate to order from Dr. Darryl G. Walker in the future. Since the original poster (Person #2) and Dr. Darryl G. Walker resolved their issue, the thread is closed. At this point, Person #1, Person #3, and Person #4 still have not had resolutions from Dr. Darryl G. Walker.
Now pops up Thread #3 - search "I need help ASAP!". Person #5 comes forth and stated that one snake died, and another is heading that way. They don't understand it as they have raised snakes before and it hasn't happened. Questions are asked if it is the same breeder, and Person #5 says it is, and that they are a great guy (though no names are said). It is asked why Person #5 hasn't asked the breeder this, and this isn't answered. Info comes up that these snakes were isolated from the rest of theirs, and it is just these dying. Person #4 wonders if this is a specific group that was mentioned before on the forum, and Person #5 says it is. And now snake 2 that was showing signs, has died. Person #5 is in a rural area with no vets that have herp knowledge so there is talk about having Person #5 send out for a Necropsy. Person #2 now pops into the thread and asks if Person #5 has spoken to Dr. Darryl G. Walker about this? And that it is probably best that Dr. Darryl G. Walker checks things out on his end.
People are concerned and tell Person #5 to keep us informed. Person #5 says he cannot afford the $400 Necropsy and testing and tells us in great detail about what has happened from the beginning. It's a little hard for me to follow, and at this point I am tired so what I can gather from it is out of 5 hatchlings and 1 adult, most are dead, and the rest are going this way. Someone comes in and says that they can provide a very discounted necropsy.
More snakes from Person #5 go downhill. At this point people are very confused, and concerned that 5 people, who purchased multiple snakes from Dr. Darryl G. Walker have all had the same symptoms, and died, and everyone is offering help nicely, and they just want answers. Person #5 comes in and says that he is keeping Dr. Darryl G. Walker up to date about things and Dr. Darryl G. Walker has said that if it was something on his end, he would split the cost of the Necropsy with Person #5.
At this point multiple people make the connection, and multiple people comment that it is very interesting/weird that so many different people (5) have had the same issues and there was one common factor - the breeder, Dr. Darryl G. Walker. There is talk about this being suspicious, and now others who have bought from Dr. Darryl G. Walker are very concerned it might happen to their snakes.
Now this is how and why I have become interested in this all. I was in the cornsnake business years ago and just as things were really taking off with me my ex and I broke up and it was a very messy, life changing breakup. I had to move back in with my parents and they didn't allow my snakes. I sadly gave up my collection and tried to pick up the pieces of my life. Slowly I have gotten my life on track and I've missed the snakes dearly but never went back to it just yet. I was engaged, and just got married, to a new wonderful man and unfortunately due to his job we moved around a lot. I didn't want to do anything, snakewise, until I knew we'd be settled and roots would be in place. We've settled down in Maryland and we just put an offer on a house a few weeks ago and it was accepted, we are in the closing process. I've been back online now and looking at snakes for sale to start up my passion again. Now the first purchase I made was a VERY expensive $2000 pair. I've looked around for more and saw that Dr. Darryl G. Walker was selling a huge amount of snakes and the best part - he was local to me! I was ecstatic. I commented on a few of his threads and expressed interest in multiple snakes. I also contacted him and basically said - I would LOVE to rebuild my collection and wanted to know if I could come to his place with a huge amount of cash (for the curious, I was going to budget $2000-$3000 on over 40 of his adults and hatchlings) and go on a shopping spree.
I was alerted, by multiple people, to investigate into this and search these threads and do some research before I continue with things. And this is where I have ended up. Now, and this is purely my opinion and not fact, I find it very concerning that 5 different people who purchased multiple snakes have had the same issues, and that Dr. Darryl G. Walker has (to the public's knowledge) only resolved the problem with one of the people (person #2) and that every single one of these people (again, just what is written in this threads) no one has said that they would do business with him again. This whole situation doesn't make sense. I told Dr. Darryl G. Walker about these threads, and that I was very spooked to go through with it all (as I wrote above, I just purchased a $2000 pair, I definitely do not want any diseases hitting those two). I mentioned to Dr. Darryl G. Walker that his name as a reputable breeder is on the line, that he is going to lose business (speaking for myself) and if I were him, I would step in and immediately shut these people up by offering to do the Necropsy. Again, this is just what I would do - if nothing was wrong, I as a breeder would be proved innocent, and if something was wrong, then I would be alerted about it and would hopefully not lose thousands of dollars in snakes). I thought that there was nothing out of line about me suggesting this to him, especially because of the direct quote I quoted above - where Dr. Darryl G. Walker said he wanted to see the snakes at a vet because he too would like the mystery unfolded.
Dr. Darryl G. Walker responds to my PM (and I WILL share screen caps and cut and pastes if need be) he doesn't mention anything about doing necropsies or clearing his name. He only explains 3 our of the 5 situations. He implies (this is just my opinion) that these people are having issues because they are new to corns and unexperienced. He talks about how none of these people went to him first about this, and instead went straight to the forums (this is true from what I have read in public). Dr. Darryl G. Walker says he refunded with out proof or evidence of dead snakes to one person (I think this is true, based on what I have read again). Dr. Darryl G. Walker states some things that I can see are true - he has sold over 300 snakes yet only these 5 people are having these issues. (I counted myself, at least 17 dead, many more going downhill. So this is a what 6%-7% mysetery death rate? That's just in these threads, maybe more we don't know of??) and that it no "big breeders" have had issues with his snakes dying, or are trashing him (from what I see, this is true too). He gladly offers for me to come over and check his snake keeping himself.
Now, I'm very torn. On one hand these are all just too coincidental - in my opinion. Are these people really all that inexperienced to have this happen multiple times, to multiple snakes? And as much as I would like to start over and Dr. Darryl G. Walker can provide a very quick way to do that while I have a business networking opportunity with him, I just purchased $2000 in snakes that I in absolutely no way would want to risk infection to, if this is indeed what is causing this. If you were in my position, what would you do?
I didn't come here to badmouth Dr. Darryl G. Walker or anyone and if I have, I apologize for this. I am stating the facts that I have painfully read in over a collective 56 threads. I did want to state that (in mine and others opinions) this is not a sole incident in this thread #1 and eerily similar situations, all connected to Dr. Darryl G. Walker have occurred. I would love to buy MANY beautiful snakes from Dr. Darryl G. Walker BUT I want answers before I do (like others do) and no one is really stepping up and offering to do them. That is why in Thread #3 I have offered to pay for the necropsy that Person #5 can't afford. Because until there is hard evidence I am very hesitant to risk loosing so much money - as I think any good, reputable breeder would be cautious about as well. As much as I want a lot of snakes from Dr. Darryl G. Walker, I am being a worry wart and overly cautious. If this was your money wouldn't you?
