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Bad Guy Ernest Szaflik - Underweight Gecko

A

Agoralyx

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I recently contacted Ernest Szaflik about the geckos in this ad: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=476308
I wanted more information about the female pinner and contacted him through email. I wanted to know lineage (which was Pangea) and weight (which he supplied as being 30-35g, since she had just laid two eggs) Long story short I ended up purchasing her and two juveniles for $400 shipped.
ScreenShot2014-06-12at94917AM_zpsefacfbb6.png


I sent him the payment via Paypal and received this in reply:
ScreenShot2014-06-12at95114AM_zps2092bc50.png


A few delays with varying reasons (which I cannot confirm as being true or not, so won't bother bringing up beyond this) later the geckos were shipped! I received them in a standard ReptileExpress box but upon opening she was in one deli cup and the two babies were together in another. Both cups had a piece of screen over top and were secured with a hairband and a piece of screen. The babies were in reasonable shape, 2.6g and 3.9g each but the female hopped out of her tub looking like this:
20140612_090312_zps4df2c24e.jpg

Needless to say she was not 35g. Nor was she 30g. She was, in fact, 20g. Now, no health guarantee or contract was agreed upon before purchase so I'm not going to make a stink about getting my money back. But I feel that this animal was grossly misrepresented and could be suffering from health issues beyond her obviously being underweight.

I'm not looking for compensation or to send the animals back (wouldn't feel comfortable doing so, honestly) but between the condition of the animal and the assorted warning signs he displayed throughout the transaction, I wanted to put up a red flag for anyone else considering purchasing one of his animals.
 
Correction: "Both cups had a piece of screen over top and were secured with a hairband and a piece of screen. "
should read as: Both cups had a piece of screen over top and were secured with a hairband and painters tape. (as seen in the picture)
 
I do agree that the gecko is much thinner than he stated, but it doesn't look like it's dying at all. If it did just lay eggs, I would guess that she'll put the weight back on quickly. I'm hoping it was just an honest mistake because of not having a scale. He obviously guessed on the weight. I don't know if he lied on purpose. I don't breed crested geckos, so maybe I'm missing something healthwise with the picture. I don't see any serious signs of mbd or anything. I know crested geckos without a tail breed at a smaller weight than one with a tail.

What really bothers me is the note about sending paypal payment using the friend option. It's against paypal policy to send it that way and you lose all protection. Sellers need to learn to eat the fee and not complain. Add it to the price of the gecko or shipping, etc.
 
What really bothers me is the note about sending paypal payment using the friend option. It's against paypal policy to send it that way and you lose all protection. Sellers need to learn to eat the fee and not complain. Add it to the price of the gecko or shipping, etc.
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I agree. I won't do business with anyone that insists on doing this.
 
Crested Geckos shouldn't breed until at least 35g, ideally 400 with tail so without tail that's around 30-35g. She should only have lost 3-5 g laying so she was too small to breed in the first place. Size wise I have 40 - 50g females who are about as long as her. But like I said, and you guys mentioned, her weight wasn't the only issue with the whole interaction.
 
She was bred WAY. To. Small!

Disgusting.

Great looking gecko, unfortunate that it is probably not feeling great.
I'd throw her into cooling, start feeding her well and maybe even mist her with a little pedialite. It can't hurt.

If she is trying to put on good weight while she continues to lay eggs, it's going to be a tough road! I've experienced this before and I really would recommend trying to cool her somehow.

I wish you all the best and feel free to pm me if you have a question.
 
Do you know if it was her first clutch? I would definitely try to beef her up and hopefully she won't lay any more then. Unfortunately I see people breeding animals way too small to try to make money. Glad you have her now and hope she recovers from breeding and shipping.
 
He claimed that she was proven and had laid eggs for him what would now be about two weeks ago. Whether that means she has produced fertile eggs or was actually bred last season as well, I don't know.

I currently have her in quarantine at 70F to see if I can cool her off, have her with a bowl of Pangea, a bowl of calcium and a bowl of Pedialyte/H20, will be supplementing with phoenix worms and see how quickly I can get the weight back on her. Taking her to the vet after I'm paid tomorrow for a fecal and to see if she needs a calcium shot.

This was his reply when I expressed concern over her condition. I appreciate his concern and sympathy, but I'll let his husbandry speak for itself.
20140612_090312_zps4df2c24e.jpg
 
disgusting also oh well I been to busy.. just improve her care.. less stress, observe her more, less competition for food and she should rebound in no time..

Ok so how does that prove your point "I do care for my animals" proper??

not only does the seller seem to think oh well lie to PP and give up some of your rights, so I can save $20.. Seems well you know.. my time is valuable.. I am a very busy person.. up to you to fix what I did not have time to deal with too..
 
misthold said:
Ok so how does that prove your point "I do care for my animals" proper??

not only does the seller seem to think oh well lie to PP and give up some of your rights, so I can save $20..
Click to expand...
Agree.
And as far as I'm concerned, lying to PP is theft. If one uses their services, they should get paid. (Unless you truly are a friend or relative as they describe).
 
misthold said:
not only does the seller seem to think oh well lie to PP and give up some of your rights, so I can save $20..
Click to expand...

Lucille said:
Agree.
And as far as I'm concerned, lying to PP is theft. If one uses their services, they should get paid. (Unless you truly are a friend or relative as they describe).
Click to expand...

PP rule breaking requests should be considered red flags. What other rules would the seller be willing to break...
 
Have to throw in my $0.02, though I've been on the road since last week so I apologize in advance! This gecko looks really thin, and it might be worth getting a fecal on her for E. invadens in particular. I am not saying she has it - I am not a veterinarian, just a lowly scientist. But it's always worth it to get a new animal checked out.
 
So he said that she was stressed and lost weight while he had her? Why would he think that shipping would be ok?

I didn't realize the weight was so bad, but from what I'm reading, it obviously is. A lot of times my 60 gram leopard geckos drop a good 15 grams while breeding, so I wasn't sure if crested geckos were the same.

I hope she ends up being healthy at can gain the weight back and stop laying eggs. Thank you for the warning.
 
I'll be taking her to a vet to check her calcium levels and have a fecal done, so I'll be sure to mention checking for E. invadens. I'm hoping it's just a matter of actually paying attention to her needs (like he so wisely suggested!). :rolleyes: But I'm not chancing getting my other munchkins sick by gambling on it.
 
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