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Mike Powell Of Virgina Sells Bad Animals

Justin Mitcham

Justin Mitcham

ExtremeHogs
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Few weeks ago I saw a Amazon basin ETB on kingsnake.com for sale for 1500.00 ,I contacted this guy and traded him an 04 albino boa female and 300.00, he informed me that it was a great snake in good condition, no feeding or shedding problems. I recieved the animal and it was thin dehydrated etc.. I contacted him with my concerns and he said it was fine and to give it a few weeks that it ate well and doesn't regurge.Since it was in shed at the time, (shipping a basin in shed is not very bright)I gave him the benefit of the doubt but my gut still told me something is wrong with this animal, a few days later it shed out only it's head and has refused to eat. I have kept basins off and on for almost 10 years now, I am very well versed in there care and husbandry and have never had any problems with the animals I keep.I contacted him wanting a refund that the animal wasn't what he promised no response, I was able to reach him by phone today and was told tough sh!t, that I needed to sell it to someone else if I wanted my money back, too me that's not an option but to him apparently the way the world goes round, "pass the puck" is the name of his game.
 

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Have you taken it to a vet? Isn't it a possibility in these arboreals that shipping them may throw them off their food for a bit? If the deal was a few weeks ago, there was transit time, shed time, so the snake has been off feed for only a few days? Perhaps a little more time, and then a vet visit, is in order before a refund is demanded. After all, if the seller is telling the truth and this little guy has been eating and shedding fine, this may be a minor setback due to shipping.
 
Actually just looked at the calender it's been over a month since it has arrived, no feeding for a month and his shed been stuck on him for 4 weeks now, he claimed it was in the country for a year and has been feeding well ever since, any animal feeding well for a year wouldn't be this thin, basins have a more squarish build than emeralds, this one has no wieght at all. I would love to take it to a vet. but the animal is 4ft and has a horrible disposition, a fecal float would be impossible till it poops(which I will take to the vet as soon as I get one) and the only other thing I can do is sink 100's into bloodwork etc.. for him to tell me I have a bad animal, I wormed(panicure) it myself so that has at least been taken care of.
 

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Wished I could but the bugger is insane, I tried soaking but it was stressing so much figured it would do more harm than good.This guy is no fun at all!!!
1/2in canines hurt, then theres the 6 rows of teeth behind them.
 
a fecal float would be impossible till it poops(which I will take to the vet as soon as I get one)
Click to expand...

A vet can do a cloacal wash and check for parasites that way also. Maybe it would be worth a shot. Poor snake :-(
 
I didn't think about that, much appreciated, the snake is so ill tempered , do you think it would be too stressful to take her to a vet., since we live it the same town any good reccomendations, I usually use Greg Moore but perhaps you know of someone else, this girl is stuck on autofire so I am very concerned about mouth injuries (not to mention my own wellfare and the vets) from the canines and infections that could result, hate to miss a feeding response due to a injured mouth. I feel like I am in a catch 22 here, would really appreciate any advice you can give.
 
Just a thought he may not eat with the shed stuck on him. He is thin you can see it in the second picture. I would really try to get that shed off if not by soaking in the tub or rubbermaid they sell products at pet store's that can help the shed off. I thought we all kept Emeralds because of their huge teeth. :D They look as big as my American Bulldogs teeth ...

Good Luck, Tim Rash
 
sorry to hear.

Just wanted to say I have done bizz. with Justin and talked to him sevral times. I dont think he is jumping the gun,he has some serious knowledge,really knows his stuff,and man does he have some flawless animals. Sorry to hear bout such a big loss Justin,hope all works out and the snake regains it's health.
Pe@ce. Mike Clark...


"karmas got a way of coming back and returning"
"LEGALIZE FREEDOM"
 
Justin,
It doesn't matter how "insane" that basin is you've got to get that shed off. Put it in a rubber maid with a saturated towel on the bottom and then cover it with another saturated towel. keep a heating pad underneath positioned as needed to keep temperature. The towels will give it something to rub on. You may not like having to do it but you may have to assist as well. Right now the most important thing is the snakes health, period. The stress level to get that shed off will be nothing compared to leaving it on and it won't even think about eating in that condition. We have used the towel method with success.

Dogboa
 
wow and i almost got that snake!!!

lol i talked to that guy off and on for a week about getting that snake.....got a bad vibe in the 3rd conversation we had. Ya what a complete bullsh@tter! Is that even the same animal that was in they advertisement?? Goodluck-looks like u saved me some heartache.
 
Four weeks with shed stuck to it is not good. Soak that animal in a bucket, rubbermaid tub, etc.

Two words for you... .WELDER'S GLOVES.

A vet isn't going to be able to get the shed off. So I'd get the shed off, then go to the vet.

From this post it looks as if you are just going to stand by and let this animal die w/o even trying to help it.

Karen
 
I know how ya feel....

i would definately do a fecal sample. i am not sure of the laws in your state but some states have laws that if the animal is proven unhealthy (must be proven of course from a letter from the vet)after purchase i believe the owner has to refund your money or take the animal back by law. if the snake is positive for a tape worm, or any other internal parasites i believe you have a case. some locale pet shops may not tell you this info of course. but i know in NY state and a few other states i believe it is 30 or 90 days after purchase. i hope things work out for you. i know i;ve been screws a few time. some guy sold me two adult melanistic eastern hognoses(supposedly CB and taking unscented Mice and healthy. :( Well it turns out they were obvious wild caught. would only take toads, both had blister disease, bumps on the scales, and tested positive for 3 diff worms. Well they stayed in quarantine back and forth to a herp vet and never left the warm garage for a year until they finally recovered, and were healthy and winded up giving them to a friend with all the previous info. sorry i had to vent, i hope things work out for you, let me know what happens, dave
 
its probably not the best idea but

you may have to force feed him to get a good fecal sample. i know its not the best idea, because of the stress. or you can wait a little longer for him to adjust and try to feed him a few more times, dave
 
the good thing is

that it looks like the head/eyecaps are completely off. i would soak him in warm water with the Shed Ease product. this has worked very effective for me with green tree pythons it really softens the skin and allows the shed to slough off in one piece, . i think the stress soaking him is a lot better than the stress for him trying to shed. Karens right use the welding gloves. since his head has already shed hold him behind the head after being soaked and then slide the shed off. make sure to completely dry him off so he doesnt cathc a chill. i would definately recommend he is sent to the vet for fecal. was he sold to you as a Emerald Basin? good luck and let me know how it works out,
 
Karen get lost, I would never let an animal die, but having it bash it's head and roll relentlessly for 1 hour when I tried soaking the 1st time was a bit unnerving, especially when I find it belly up head underwater and disoriented from exhaustion and canines sticking through his lip binding his mouth together, stress like that will kill them in minutes.this thing will not tolerate being put in a small box , container anything. Shows how much you know, welders gloves are like paper to this guy, there only thin leather, 1/2 in canines are no joke.
Tomorrow I will be trying a mister and some pipe, will mist him for several hours in warm water non stop then somehow thread his head through a pipe and peel him, kinda like the same technique used in sexing venomous.Also will try some aloe vera lotion, and will see if that helps.Only problem is he's so thin that if he stuggles too much he could likely snap his own neck, ribs etc... this is a very delicate matter that most wouldn't be able to understand unless you were here.
 
Sorry, not getting lost. Just posting what I think. Still a free country ya know.

If you had posted the way the animal reacted to the water in your first post, then I would not have posted what I did. In your posts it sounds like you've done very little to aid this animal in shedding. It's not going to eat until it sheds.

Maybe you should raise the humidity in it's cage??? You should have done this a month ago.

Welder's gloves are not like paper. Sheesh, I've used welder's gloves on several of these animals. I also wear a long-sleeved shirt and a jacket in case of a bite to my arms.

They usually don't bite the glove and when they do I try to make sure it's near the ends of the fingers of the gloves as my fingers don't go all the way to the end.



Karen
 
Justin I could'nt agree with you more!

Justin I think you said it best in your last post........ I also feel you are doing the right thing. I feel the pipe thing will work. I know you know what your doing,even being when you come on here and ask for 2nd opinions sometimes ppl like to act silly.. I must say I have had one of these b4 I know what kind of bite they pack, but if "I" were in your shoes If I had to I'd grit my teeth take some bites and get that shed off there. As I st8ted b4 I know how much knowledge you have and I feel you'll do the right thing no matter what....! Keep us posted. Pe@ce & chicken grease... Mike Clark......

"karmas got a way of coming back and returning"
"LEGALIZE FREEDOM"
 
Just curious(since I recently got my first tree boa): what DO y'all use when handling them? After all, I know everyone realizes that having a snake is more than putting it in a cage and tossing it some rodents once in a while, surely y'all have to have a setup to safely handle them when cleaning the cage and etc.
I have no welder's gloves but was thinking of getting some for myself, they seem pretty sturdy.
 
If you really want an "insane" basin, go ahead in put it in water. All I keep are emeralds and have found the method I mentioned previously to be the least stressful to both snake and keeper. I have had to use it on several occasions with newly imported animals, both basins and northerns.

Dogboa
 
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