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Opinions wanted

J

Jeff Craven

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Here is my timeline, what do you think?

On 8/24 I bought a juvenile GTP from a local breeder.

On 8/27 I fed it a pinky mouse

On 8/28 It regurgitated

On 8/30(AM) I noticed that it was acting funny. It was draped over a branch with its mouth agape. I was concerned as you can imagine.

8/30 (mid-day) I called the guy I got it from and left a message

8/30 (PM) I noticed the snake had its mouth agape and was thrashing around until it noticed me.

8/31 Snake was loosely draped over branches but did not look as severe as previous day. Called the guy again.

9/2 - Get call on my cellphone from the breeder. He tells me that the animal was 100% when he sold it to me. He would give me my money back when I return the snake. I dropped the call. When I call him back, I am offered 50% of my money back. I tell him its unacceptable. He then gives orginal offer.

Later that night I get back from out of town and the snake has expired. The snake died biting itself.

I haven't been able to reach the breeder this morning. I had been keeping the snake at 82F and approx. 80% humidity. My question is, am I entitled to a 100% refund? I can't for the life of me, think of what I could have done to cause this.
 
I don't know anything at all about GTPs, but assuming that those husbandry specs you gave are within normal parameters, I would say that you are owed a refund in full.  That animal was obviously sick before it was shipped.  Does anyone else think that the name of this shipper ought to be offered so that other sick animals can be avoided?

Uh, I'd get my money back first, if you can.  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>
 
Sorry!  I didn't read as closely as I ought to have.  I see now that the animal was not shipped.  Still, whether the breeder in question ships or just sells out of his home, and if he had that sick animal in his care for any length of time, it may well be that others of his animals are infected too.  Buyers need to beware.
 
Jeff, I am confused. Did he offer you all your money back originally? If he offered you your $$ back for a sick snake, and the snake passed away before you could return it, then you are due a refund. If you are not 100% certain that the death was beyond your control, then I think you should work with breeder and share the responsibility. If you picked it up, then I assume it appeared healthy to you and the breeder, so in his mind it was 100%. IMHO
 
Sounds like a case of IBD to me. The seller might not have known he was selling a sick animal as it can hit quite suddenly.

Here is a link to a good article on IBD

Inclusion Body Disease
 
I would give you a full refund
The timeline is less than a week[ well maybe a day over]
Whatever caused the death in a matter that you explained had to in my opinion come from the breeder[dealer]
I personally would ask [and get] my money back and go to another dealer, whats to say whatever pathogen that killed the snake isn't through his whole collection.
One question I would like to know is how did you clean the cage before you put the snake in it , I would assume[bad word] you used no harsh detergents and rinsed the cage well after cleaning
 
I am happy to say that I finally got a hold of the breeder and informed him of the snake's death. He did the right thing and offered me a full refund.  For a minute there I was beginning to worry but in the end the right thing was done.

John, I have thought that over as well.  I didn't use anything harsh to clean it.  

Casey, the animal did look really healthy.  I am really puzzled.  However, I have been working with very sensitive species for a while and can't for the life of me think of anything I should have done differently.

Thanks to all that posted.  You helped me keep my sanity!
 
Dude! I hope that animal was quaranteened! If I was you I would be seriously concerned for the rest of my collection. I am not into GTP's but I bet a lot of other people would really like to know who this breeder is so they can take adequate precautions.
 
John,

You better believe it was!  And its cage has been thrown away.

I am hesitant to name the guy because he has done the right thing.  He says he is planning to have a necropsy done on the corpse.  Furthermore, I don't think he intentionally sold me a bad animal. The more I think about it, I think the stress of the show,etc. caused whatever it had to flare up. Just a thought.
 
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