I purchased a carpet python cross for $400 that was advertised by Vinny on Kingsnake. I received the snake on April 23, 2009. Like always, I quarantined the snake in another room, in a cage that was pre-treated with Provent-a-Mite. About a week later, I noticed many dead mites in the cage and water bowl. I sent Vinny an e-mail, just to let him know he should check and treat his remaining animals. To his credit, Vinny responded immediately, and sent me $50 to purchase more Provent-a-Mite, for which I thanked him. (I had asked him to cover the purchase of one can, plus shipping, which was $25).
After letting the snake get settled in his new environment, I offered a f/t prey item about a week later. He ate, but not with normal carpet enthusiasm. About 5 days later, he passed a small amount of liquid stool. I wasn't overly concerned, and offered a second meal about 10 days after the first. He ate, but again, not the way my other carpets eat. About 5 days later, he again passed liquid stool, but no urates. I called my vet, and he said to wait a few more days, and offer a meal again. I did as instructed, and the snake refused. I also saw that his lower abdomen was starting to swell. I called the vet, and was advised to bring him in, which I did on May 30th.
The vet did a fecal exam, and gave the snake Flagyl orally for a protozoa infection. He also gave a mineral oil enema, and fluids orally and subcutaneously. An x-ray was also taken to determine the extent of impaction. Charges for that visit were $211. I e-mailed Vinny to let him know what happened, and he basically said there is nothing he can do.
I took the snake home, and soaked him in warm water for 3 hours per day, as instructed by the vet. There was no improvement after several days, and I took him back to the vet on June 6th. The vet tried to move the mass manually, but it wouldn't budge, and the snake appeared to be in pain. The vet said he could remove the impaction surgically, but gave only a fair-to-poor prognosis, and a price estimate of $450. We both decided that the best decision would be to humanely euthanize the snake. Charges for that visit were $116. I sent Vinny an e-mail on June 7th, with copies of my receipts, photos of the x-rays, and a post-mortem photo. I did not receive a response. I sent another e-mail 4 days later, which he did respond to.
I was offered another carpet python that he said was similar to the one I originally purchased. I looked at the photos, and the animal was not like the one I purchased. I asked for lineage information, and Vinny said he didn't know. It appeared to be a coastal/IJ cross, with a value of $150-$200. I told Vinny that it was not acceptable to offer me that snake in place of the one I paid $400 for. I sent another email asking if he had any others to offer. He never responded.
I am now out $677 for this transaction. I asked Vinny several times for a refund on the snake. I told him I would absorb the cost of the vet bills, but said it would be fair if he would refund the purchase price for the snake. He refused. My vet offered to have Vinny call him, and he would explain that the level of impaction was too severe to have happened with only 2 feedings from me.
A very expensive lesson for me. Be very careful if buying from this person.
Kathy Robbins
After letting the snake get settled in his new environment, I offered a f/t prey item about a week later. He ate, but not with normal carpet enthusiasm. About 5 days later, he passed a small amount of liquid stool. I wasn't overly concerned, and offered a second meal about 10 days after the first. He ate, but again, not the way my other carpets eat. About 5 days later, he again passed liquid stool, but no urates. I called my vet, and he said to wait a few more days, and offer a meal again. I did as instructed, and the snake refused. I also saw that his lower abdomen was starting to swell. I called the vet, and was advised to bring him in, which I did on May 30th.
The vet did a fecal exam, and gave the snake Flagyl orally for a protozoa infection. He also gave a mineral oil enema, and fluids orally and subcutaneously. An x-ray was also taken to determine the extent of impaction. Charges for that visit were $211. I e-mailed Vinny to let him know what happened, and he basically said there is nothing he can do.
I took the snake home, and soaked him in warm water for 3 hours per day, as instructed by the vet. There was no improvement after several days, and I took him back to the vet on June 6th. The vet tried to move the mass manually, but it wouldn't budge, and the snake appeared to be in pain. The vet said he could remove the impaction surgically, but gave only a fair-to-poor prognosis, and a price estimate of $450. We both decided that the best decision would be to humanely euthanize the snake. Charges for that visit were $116. I sent Vinny an e-mail on June 7th, with copies of my receipts, photos of the x-rays, and a post-mortem photo. I did not receive a response. I sent another e-mail 4 days later, which he did respond to.
I was offered another carpet python that he said was similar to the one I originally purchased. I looked at the photos, and the animal was not like the one I purchased. I asked for lineage information, and Vinny said he didn't know. It appeared to be a coastal/IJ cross, with a value of $150-$200. I told Vinny that it was not acceptable to offer me that snake in place of the one I paid $400 for. I sent another email asking if he had any others to offer. He never responded.
I am now out $677 for this transaction. I asked Vinny several times for a refund on the snake. I told him I would absorb the cost of the vet bills, but said it would be fair if he would refund the purchase price for the snake. He refused. My vet offered to have Vinny call him, and he would explain that the level of impaction was too severe to have happened with only 2 feedings from me.
A very expensive lesson for me. Be very careful if buying from this person.
Kathy Robbins
