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Ray Strickland - Phantom Reptiles - Be Careful

P

Pardalis55

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I purchased 6 female ball pythons from Ray. He said that they measured 1500 grams and above. When I received the snakes, all but one measured less than 1000g. I specifically told him that I was purchasing them for breeders this year. I tried to discuss the discrepancy with him via email and cell phone. Although I had previously had no problem contacting him by cell phone or email, I couldn't ever get him to return my calls or emails after I received the snakes. At least I received 6 snakes and they were ball pythons. However, if you're expecting to get exactly what is described by the seller, you may be disappointed when buying from Phantom Reptiles.
 
How did you hear about this person!

Also what was the method of payment! Apparently this was a "no guarantee sale"
 
I just was looking at another one of his sales and want to be sure that the animals are at least healthy and eating and NOT wild caught. Are the other 5 the correct size and sex?
Mike Heinzer
 
He told me that his cousin had 6 cb females that his cousin raised from babies. He told me that they were all over 1500g and that he weighed them. Not one of the snakes was over 1100g. Only one was over 1000g. Two of them weighed less than 800g. None have eaten. They've been offered mice and rats. As far as their appearance, it is fine. There are no scars or health issues that would indicate that they aren't cb. The most blatant misrepresentation was their small size. Hopefully they will eventually eat. I definitely would not purchase another snake from him. I could never get him to return my calls or emails after I received the snakes.
 
He is a crook.
Here is the exchange between us when he was advertising 50% het pastels and 75% het burgandy's. His replies are in red.
Steer clear of him.

May I ask, what do you mean by "50% pastel and 75% burgandy"?

mother was a pastel father was a straight. father was burgundy mother was a staight......

If the mother was a pastel and the father was a normal, then these offspring are normal. Not 50% pastel. There are no hets since pastel is a dominant trait. A pastel to a normal will produce 1/2 pastels and 1/2 normals in the clutch. By calling them 50% pastels you are implying they carry the pastel gene which they do not. Calling them normals who are siblings to pastels would be the best terminology to use so as not to confuse anyone.
I'm not even going to try and figure out how you came up with 75% burgandy. That one doesn't even make any sense.

even if you have different parents you would still have both genes present,,one might show one might not...75 %burgundy meaning one was full the other half (meaning the parnets//!!!!!!!!!

Then the 50%'ers are really just normal. The pastel gene is dominant. They either have it and visually express it or they don't.

As far as the 75%'ers go, if you bred a 50% het for burgandy (which is a simple recessive trait) to a normal, you would have 33% hets. Not 75%'ers.

The animals are really all normals and a few possible hets for burgandy.
 
ball pythons

from ray at phantomreptiles---i sold 6 cb ball pythons to that guy he said he wanted 1000 gram females and thats what he got !!! i also told him if he wasnt satisfied i would refund him his money ,,,he said no, he was very happy with them..i think that for him to put bad info on me is a real shame,,i shipped these snakes to him before i even got all of the payment,,and that was even short!!!!lies,lies lies, its pretty sad,,hey you jerk off,,send them back,,why havent you called me?????????????? stop lieing to all these people my number is 954-319-0424 Ray~~~~
 
what are you a doctor in snakes ???or just some who thinks they know it all???? get a life man!!!! just because they miss the gene doesnt mean they dont have it in their blood line..are you stupid,,if your mom was black and your dad white and you came out black,,you still would have white in your blood line!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
please read my reply..he only called me one time,to tell me that his order was great,,...ask him to weight them and send you the pictures!!he wont !!!they were all beautiful ball..all females!!!and i said i would stand by my reptiles..and offer him his money back if not satisfied--he has never called and asked for his money back!!954-319-0424=Ray ,,tell him to call !!!!thanks
 
Ray,
If your serious about the genetics of Ball Pythons, then you have a lot of reading and understanding to do. 50% Het for Pastel? Not one person who knows anything about genetic mutations could even look at you without laughing right about now. So I would lay off the attitude and maybe try to learn something before you misrepresent genetics to possible customers.
Tom Baker
 
the point i;m trying to make is ,why would people trash talk you when i've never dealt with them!!!scott hager called me once..he go just whst i sold him,,6 1000gram female ball pythons..even shorted my money..and then posted lies!!!why????
 
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