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Bad Guy Russ P. Sold Me a Sick Snake!!! $275.00 gone

Snakeholic

Snakeholic

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Back in April 11, 2011 I bought a female black pine snake (about as thick as wrist and over 5' long) from Russ P. I Received the snake on April 13, 2011. I emailed him that it was really nice looking snake and Im really happy!
On April 14, 2011 Russ responded exact word per word email and last time I got contact with him.
"Chris,
Got you message. Glad to hear she arrived safe and that you are happy. She should be hungry. Do not feed her very large items. Many times when I fed her large rats(what I consider medium rats-adult rats) she would regurge them. But when I feed her extra large mice or that size rat she has no problem. She is hungry right now. She always is lately.
Thanks again
Russ"

The snake was eating fine from beginning (mice), after a week I tried small rat and it regurge it. I stop feeding it for 10 days straight. It ate medium mice but over the course of next few weeks its been skipping meal till it totally refuse food. Last week I took her to a vet and they took blood sample and x-ray, and kept the snake overnight for observation.
Next day the snake is dead from liver failure. A vet test, pics of dead snake, blood samples was emailed to Russ. I had called him multiple times and no response.
Weird how he response immediately on phone calls and emails before I purchased this snake.

IMO Russ P. should have told me that the snake regurge its food and cant be feed larger food item. He sold me a sick snake and did not say anything till I received the snake.

Just a heads up.
Chris
 
Looking at the communication, I see that he DID tell you immediately after you received the email. So, you had the option to send it back immediately. Why didn't you? Just asking because your complaint seems to be the timing of his revelation about the regurging.

Even after he did tell you, you still attempted to feed a known regurger a larger prey item against the seller's advice.

However, you have had the snake such a short time that I can believe that it was sick before you received it if it died of Liver failure. Please attach the doctor's statements and documents to support the cause of death.


Snakeholic said:
Back in April 11, 2011 I bought a female black pine snake (about as thick as wrist and over 5' long) from Russ P. I Received the snake on April 13, 2011. I emailed him that it was really nice looking snake and Im really happy!
On April 14, 2011 Russ responded exact word per word email and last time I got contact with him.
"Chris,
Got you message. Glad to hear she arrived safe and that you are happy. She should be hungry. Do not feed her very large items. Many times when I fed her large rats(what I consider medium rats-adult rats) she would regurge them. But when I feed her extra large mice or that size rat she has no problem. She is hungry right now. She always is lately.
Thanks again
Russ"

The snake was eating fine from beginning (mice), after a week I tried small rat and it regurge it. I stop feeding it for 10 days straight. It ate medium mice but over the course of next few weeks its been skipping meal till it totally refuse food. Last week I took her to a vet and they took blood sample and x-ray, and kept the snake overnight for observation.
Next day the snake is dead from liver failure. A vet test, pics of dead snake, blood samples was emailed to Russ. I had called him multiple times and no response.
Weird how he response immediately on phone calls and emails before I purchased this snake.

IMO Russ P. should have told me that the snake regurge its food and cant be feed larger food item. He sold me a sick snake and did not say anything till I received the snake.

Just a heads up.
Chris
Click to expand...
 
Deborah, A small rat is about the size of a large mouse and the seller did state that she was taking big mice or the equivalent sized rats.

To the OP, Deborah has a point, why didnt u send it back if it was a problem feeder?

Also, post all communication possible, and notify the seller of this thread
 
lucille said:
You need to post the full name of your seller.
Click to expand...

This thread will more than likely be deleted as soon as a Mod see's it. The full name needs to be in the heading. If so, just start a new one. Good luck.
 
His real name is Russel Pascatore, but he goes by Russ P.
 

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IMO Russ should have stated on his post add any issue the snake have. Not after I received the snake. If I return the snake I would lose $160 on shipping cost!
I dont think anyone in there right mind would still buy that snake if Russ had just stated in the add that it had regurgitating issues.

The reason I feed it small rat is because, a regular mouse is too small for such large snake. You cant honestly say, to keep feeding a large snake mouse, when it should be feed regular-large rat for his size.
 
A small rat is not the size of a large mouse, especially considering that many places have different ideas on rodent sizes. My local supplier considers a small rat to be what I would consider a "smallish medium". Despite that, the guy should have told you about this before he shipped it to you.
 
Glad to hear he contacted you.

Yes, I do believe he should have disclosed that information to you before taking money for the snake. Hope this gets worked out.
 
$80 seems like a lot for shipping.


I am happy that he will work things out wit you. Please post the resolution when things are finalized.
 
Honestly $80 isn't that much for shipping. I've generated a lot of shipping quotes lately, including the discount offered by SYR, and shipping using a 12x12x6 box has commonly been in the mid to upper $70 range for even a moderate distance from my location. The price is just getting ridiculous.

Back on topic: glad you're getting some resolution. I completely agree that an issue like regurging even slightly large prey items should have been disclosed before the fact.
 
Snakeholic said:
His real name is Russel Pascatore, but he goes by Russ P.
Click to expand...

Have you notified him of this thread? I would like to hear his side of all this. The snake died after a month and during that time you did not consult a vet?


Snakeholic said:
Update:
Russ P. had jsut got hold of me and will work something out to make me happy.
Click to expand...

Again, if he emailed you to offer a resolution please provide the emails. You have him here on the BOI as a Bad Guy because he allegedly did not tell you of the regurge problems prior to purchase. You bring the issue here, so far he is a no show, and them vaguely report some sort of resolution .
The BOI often acts as a guide to future purchasers. Here, even though you did not put his name in the title, a search will pull up this thread, and his name. The seller has been accused of being a Bad Guy, and future potential purchasers will want more info.
 
lucille said:
Have you notified him of this thread? I would like to hear his side of all this. The snake died after a month and during that time you did not consult a vet?
Click to expand...

The snake died 3 months later, the night the vet had it for further observations, in which they did blood tests, fecal exams, etc. Ill post a positive post for him once everything works out as promise.
He agreed to send me a baby female black pine snake as a replacement from his upcoming clutch.
 
I am not necessarily doubting you, but it would be better if he would come here and post his point of view himself.
 
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