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Bad Guy Reptilian Paradise

T

ToreinNichole

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I'm going to admit, I have very little evidence for my claims. Because I'm new here, I don't even know how to upload pictures. But this is something EVERYBODY should know before shopping here.

I recently bought a 6 year old, 4' female ball python from Reptilian Paradise. I knew her eye caps were impacted, but I was told it was no big deal and that they'd come off with her next shed. Well, that was 3 weeks ago and she is still in one of the most horrific sheds I have ever seen. In any case, within the guarantee time, I realized she was going to be more work than I could handle due to the fact I could tell she was already having horrific sheds and I was concerned that there were more underlying problems they had lied about. I called to say that I wanted to bring her back, but because of my work, I wouldn't be able to make it in for a couple more days. They said that was fine, and to bring her up. I brought her up and they refused to give me even store credit or take her back claiming she was "healthy". After closer inspection, it is clear she had mites and was treated (which I wasn't told about), she has some minor but definitely developed scale rot, once the shed came off on her face I noticed a burn on her nose, her eyes still won't shed, she's been shedding in 1" bits and on top of all of that she is gravid. I just bought a male who isn't even breeding age yet so it was NOT mine. Because of the stress of moving, her pregnancy has been complicated.
HORRIBLE experience, NEVER going there again, and I wouldn't advise you to either.
 
ToreinNichole said:
Because I'm new here, I don't even know how to upload pictures.
Click to expand...

When you post or reply to a thread, underneath the area where you are posting are several sections. One is 'manage attachments', click on that. Then, click on 'choose file'. Go to photos, if that is where you stored your pictures, and select the photo you wish to use, and click on it, then click 'upload', close the window, and you will have it here.
 
Honestly.... This type of occurence is so prevalent in "Pretend a Breeders" so much so that I am having a real tough time 'staying in' this hobby. I'm sorry this happened to you in reality. Learn from this experience without doubt, because only I/we/you can stop clowns like this in the business!

These are the folks who are jobless, hanging on by a thread, borrowing, robbing, stealing, scamming just to get to their next flip. They're stains in the hobby and need to be exposed 2 by two.. Ask questions, post pics, listen to Lucille and pull the cloak off these peeps. I'm patiently waiting. Get some stuff in writing to show they are liars as well. That's all I need these days.
 
How did you determine that she had been treated for mites? How did you decide she was gravid? Prior to purchasing her did you do any research into keeping ball pythons?
 
Tom Pecanic said:
Honestly.... This type of occurence is so prevalent in "Pretend a Breeders" so much so that I am having a real tough time 'staying in' this hobby. I'm sorry this happened to you in reality. Learn from this experience without doubt, because only I/we/you can stop clowns like this in the business!

These are the folks who are jobless, hanging on by a thread, borrowing, robbing, stealing, scamming just to get to their next flip. They're stains in the hobby and need to be exposed 2 by two.. Ask questions, post pics, listen to Lucille and pull the cloak off these peeps. I'm patiently waiting. Get some stuff in writing to show they are liars as well. That's all I need these days.
Click to expand...

Tom,

To convict a particular store only because you perceive that misdeeds are prevalent in many stores is an injustice to stores that may be doing right by their customers.
In addition, it is in essence the same judgmental practice as those many people who condemn all reptile owners because they have heard about the irresponsible behavior of the few.

You called my name, so I want to explain that my post was for the purpose of showing the OP how to provide the photos that she implied she has.

I was not judging one way or another, as there is no proof and we have not heard from the store, who I notified by sending a link.

While it is said that proof is optional, I want to wait for the photos and for further explanations (what does the OP mean by a complicated pregnancy?) and hope that the store will come post here as well.
 
I'm assuming this is the ball python since she only has pics of this one and a baby pinstripe on her profile:

Bad shed.jpg
 
Briana, it is good that you sent her here after reading the ad below. I have to ask the professionals here, how one knows that a snake has been previously treated for mites? The Facebook pictures do not seem to capture all these ailments.




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Need Help With Ball Python

Date: 2012-09-23, 1:01AM MDT
Reply to this post [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

I just recently purchased a 6 year old female ball python. Now, within 72 hours, I realized that she was NOT healthy and tried to take her back. Of course, I called the store (an hour away) and said I couldn't bring her back until Friday (2 days later) due to my work schedule & they said that was fine. When I got there, they proceeded to tell me they would NOT take her back and that she was perfectly healthy. After talking to a professional I trust, we have discovered the following things about her: she used to have mites, was treated and they never told me; she has scale rot, she has a burn on her nose (which was covered when I got her by unshed skin), she has impacted eye caps (1 layer over 1 eye, 2 layers over the other), she has a horrible time shedding (she's been shedding for 3 weeks now) and they sold her to me gravid which is causing complications. I was told she doesn't have a respiratory infection, but I question that. I don't think she does, but I would not be surprised to find out she did. The burn on her nose is about 1/4" in diameter, and I tried putting repti aid on it, but she won't let me within 2 feet of her face with it. Her eye caps are wrinkly where they're impacted. Her shed has been coming off in one inch sections.

I hadn't owned a snake in a couple of years and honestly had just trusted getting a healthy snake. Now I have a snake who I cannot afford to take to the vet for all of that. (A singular problem, sure. A couple problems, probably. All these I cannot afford). I'm wondering what to do here? It has to be fairly cheap. I'm wondering if it is just better to give her to a rescue (I've never experienced most of these problems with a snake before), or try to treat her myself or what to do at all.

Also: never go to Reptilian Paradise. Ever.

IMG 1: her scale rot isn't that bad, but it also is spread along 10 or so scales on her belly
 
That is something she will have to tell you, I just pointed her here from that ad hoping she could get some sort of resolution or at least warn others about her experience with them. Th
 
I have no idea how one would tell the snake had had mites & had been treated for them, unless there is still mites (dead or not) under the belly scutes. Or if the infestation was bad enough, the snake could still be a little anemic. I do know if it had a bad infestation, that would send it into an early shed (from my experience).
 
I am very sorry to hear about these issues. Sadly all of the reptile stores in colorado are pretty bad. Most of the time a person can go in and find atleast one dead animal in the cages. Dirty cages and no water is garenteed also. I hope this doesnt turn you off of the hobby but next time if anything looks like it might be wrong you should wait till after the shed to purches the animal. If the person actually cares more about the animal and costumer than making a sale then they wont have an issue. I my self have had several bad experiances and now try to stay with breeders rather than store than mass purchas animals and only care about how much money they can make in a day. I dont know if they have a fauna accoount but has the OP informed them about this thread?
 
ToreinNichole said:
I'm going to admit, I have very little evidence for my claims. Because I'm new here, I don't even know how to upload pictures.
Click to expand...
If everything that you're saying is true, there should be plenty of evidence and it will be very easy to prove with a few pictures. Lucille told you the best way, it's very similar to uploading attachments through Craigslist. I noticed that the picture in your ad isn't yours either though, it's from a 2006 RepticZone thread and should be on the first page of Google after doing an image search for "ball python scale rot". I know you never claimed it was yours, I'm just wondering why you don't include one of your own since you do know how to upload pics there. It could really help your case.
Is that snake pictured in the Facebook screenshot the one that's stuck in a horrific shed? If she was shedding poorly in tiny bits for three weeks, I'm also curious to know what you provided during that time as there's the possibility it may be husbandry issue. Usually a retained eyecap doesn't make it look "wrinkly", but low humidity could cause it to dimple.

I'm not trying to attack you, so I must apologize in advance if I'm coming across that way, I'm just trying to better see things. Like what makes you question whether she has an RI and how you can tell that she used to have mites? A lot of snakes I see in pet stores have noserub, could that be the burn? Can you please explain how you know she's gravid and what complications she's had with it? I get that your male is too young, but if they haven't been kept together then that would say it all as well. She should probably be in quarantine...
I generally disapprove of most pet stores too, but not without reason, so I want to be sure. You say that you aren't familiar with these problems, so are you certain about them all?

It would really help if you could add some details and pictures. Same with if you still need advice on what to do for her, try the "general health issues" section of the forum. Best of luck, I hope she recovers well~
 
Yes, I did research and in fact, had owned one before, it had just been such a long time.
I determined she was gravid when a breeder felt her belly and noted her follicles were WAY to low for how pregnant she would be.
I determined she was treated for mites when her chin skin came off and the nasty dirt and dead mites were underneath, with a little help from the internet. I then checked her thoroughly for mites and kept an eye on her and there don't seem to be any alive left.

Before I go any further, YES THAT IS MY FACEBOOK PAGE. I don't want it to seem like I'm denying anything. She overall, does look healthy in her pictures. I took them right after she had soaked and she was still wet, not to mention her nose burn was then covered by unshed skin. I have complained about her conditions before, but as she is only my second ball python, I hadn't known what to look for when I bought her.

I might add, in the past few days I've been working to remove her shed and she's almost done now, mostly just the stuff on her neck is left. Since I have been treating her scale rot, it looks much better after the shed. The burn on her nose, unfortunately, I just got access to as she just shed that skin a couple days ago.

I tried to take pictures of everything, however she wouldn't let me take pictures of her eye caps and I was worried that the flash would hurt her eyes. She made it difficult enough to take the pictures that I did get. I did, however take pictures of the scale rot (now - after being treated) and you can kind of see her eye caps. I also took pictures of the burns, which I have been treating.

I THINK i figured out how to upload pictures, so bear with me if it doesn't work right off the bat. (Thanks Lucille)
 

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~Just Curious~ said:
If everything that you're saying is true, there should be plenty of evidence and it will be very easy to prove with a few pictures. Lucille told you the best way, it's very similar to uploading attachments through Craigslist. I noticed that the picture in your ad isn't yours either though, it's from a 2006 RepticZone thread and should be on the first page of Google after doing an image search for "ball python scale rot". I know you never claimed it was yours, I'm just wondering why you don't include one of your own since you do know how to upload pics there. It could really help your case.
Is that snake pictured in the Facebook screenshot the one that's stuck in a horrific shed? If she was shedding poorly in tiny bits for three weeks, I'm also curious to know what you provided during that time as there's the possibility it may be husbandry issue. Usually a retained eyecap doesn't make it look "wrinkly", but low humidity could cause it to dimple.

I'm not trying to attack you, so I must apologize in advance if I'm coming across that way, I'm just trying to better see things. Like what makes you question whether she has an RI and how you can tell that she used to have mites? A lot of snakes I see in pet stores have noserub, could that be the burn? Can you please explain how you know she's gravid and what complications she's had with it? I get that your male is too young, but if they haven't been kept together then that would say it all as well. She should probably be in quarantine...
I generally disapprove of most pet stores too, but not without reason, so I want to be sure. You say that you aren't familiar with these problems, so are you certain about them all?

It would really help if you could add some details and pictures. Same with if you still need advice on what to do for her, try the "general health issues" section of the forum. Best of luck, I hope she recovers well~
Click to expand...

I believe she was kept badly before, hence the nose burn and dimpled eye caps.

I haven't uploaded my own pictures before as I was worried about agitating her (she's been so irritable) and my camera only works with flash.

I'm not familiar with several of these problems, although scale rot I am. Before her shed she had 10 or so darker scales and one that looked like it was gone.

She hasn't been peeling for 3 weeks. She has had a bluish sheen and her skin has been loose. In the pictures, she was wet, which took most of the blue tint with it.

The skin under her chin came off, and there were TONS of little mite bodies.

I assure you, they are not kept together. I'll be honest, I don't think it's a great idea to keep a 14" and a 4' ball python together in any case.
 
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