Info TexHiss Jimmy Horton - Poor Animal Condition, Bad Shipping Practices

[Kuamata]

Someone else, elsewhere, had asked about a health guarantee, as some breeders offer a 7 day guarantee(and he passed in 5 days), but I checked his site again and it just says satisfaction guarantee, nothing specifically. This is the screen I took when I was asked about that.

 

[AbsoluteApril]

Did the OP provide a TOS?

*I meant seller, not OP

 

[tim brophy]

This breeder/dealer is dishonest and unethical. You paid for a dying snake, simple as that. You did not kill it. He killed it via starvation or an illness characterized by regurgitation. My assumption is this guy's business must be on its last legs. Otherwise he would quickly send you a refund. He is trying to milk everything he can before his business implodes. I am betting he will not be around in six months. Herpetoculture is a wonderful hobby, but guys like this breeder piss all over it.

 

[Kuamata]

I got bored, sitting at work, and decided to review over his site a little more. I usually just check the live arrival guarantee on breeders before purchase, ask about prey item, etc... Then check customer reviews... I'm still fairly new to receiving shipped animals, I guess I could of stood to snoop around some more...

Noticed he has a tab on there that says 'Snake Room', and another that says 'TexHiss Friends'. I know some people were interested to see his set up and had concerns about his connections with what I assume to be unsavory people(I don't really know), so I figured I'd share. Feel free to check for yourself at his site, http://texhiss.com

I know I see no hides and water bowls too small to soak in... His hatching rack and other systems seem to lack info sheets such as weight, length, feedings, etc recorded. I do see white papers on some, may be folded... I'll post the pics here in the event they're removed from the site.

 

[April Homich]

On the necropsy, even without a blood test, there will usually be inclusions in the tissue that are diagnostic of IBD. I'm also guessing that this isn't IBD either, just a horribly undernourished snake that was too far gone. I hope you get reimbursed for both the snake and the necropsy charge.

 

[Kuamata]

One more screen directly from the site and the original images seen on the Snake Room tab.

 

[Kuamata]

More from the Snake Room tab. Also not sure how old these are.

 

[Kuamata]

Two left after this...

 

[Kuamata]

Last ones.

 

[Kuamata]

On the necropsy, even without a blood test, there will usually be inclusions in the tissue that are diagnostic of IBD. I'm also guessing that this isn't IBD either, just a horribly undernourished snake that was too far gone. I hope you get reimbursed for both the snake and the necropsy charge.

Ahhh, that's right! Causes a lot of internal damage, yes? I have bad memory and usually forget details until someone brings it up. I'll be sure to mention that to them, got my little sticky note! I'm sure they know, and the receptionist disn't, but just to be thorough.

 

[owlbear]

Sad to hear, a local breeder I'll sure *never* do any business with. Horrendous. I would be livid if an animal was shipped to me that way - I've received spiders that were packed more safely than that. This makes me angry just to read, but I appreciate you sharing, so I know who to avoid at local expos as well.

 

[Black Adder]

Sad to hear, a local breeder I'll sure *never* do any business with. Horrendous. I would be livid if an animal was shipped to me that way - I've received spiders that were packed more safely than that. This makes me angry just to read, but I appreciate you sharing, so I know who to avoid at local expos as well.

Which is the whole point of the BOI, to let people out there know
Very sad though when it gets this far and a dead animal is the result that could have and should have been avoided!
Also very telling that Mr Horton has NOT bothered to make any further comments here or to the seller since being informed that the animal died
Yes one to avoid I would agree

 

[meowmeowkazoo]

Honestly the snake room doesn't look terrible to me, and doesn't explain why your snake was in such poor condition. I just recently added labels to my snake room, because I keep records on each animal anyway, and remember them all by name.

The fact that they all seem to have some form of water makes me think more that this was a badly treated regurgitation, which was what Diem said originally anyway, and she is very knowledgeable on boas.

Either way, snake shouldn't have been shipped out or even sold in this condition. The fact that he claimed it was healthy shows he is either out of touch with the health of his animals, or just plain in denial.

 

[tim brophy]

Snake room photos are moot. Also, undated.
Focus should remain on the fact she paid for what was essentially a dead snake. She could have gotten that for nothing by just scraping one off the road.

 

[ShadowAceD]

I rarely use hides, I only use water bowls large enough to drink from and I do not track food, shed or defecation without cause except in newborn babies for sale.

It does not mean the animals are neglected just because of those things.

 

[Kuamata]

Ah, okiedokie. I just know I prefer hides if their enclosure doesn't have opaque walls, and the option to soak if possible(hard to do with burms and retics in a tub unless it's a huge enclosure). Since I discovered iHerp I've been tracking mine there.

I took him in today. The receptionist said that I'll be sent a basic overview sometime tomorrow(basically anything of interest), and then the thorough, complete profile will be ready in 7 - 10 business days.

 

[Kuamata]

For some reason my attachments didn't show up... Maybe I goofed.

 

[Kuamata]

The rest of the pics.

 

[meowmeowkazoo]

Good documentation. I don't think anyone here can question that the boa did die and has been sent for necropsy.

 

[Kuamata]

Ok, it appears they didn't find anything off the bat that was of interest. Looks like they took 6 samples and are sending them off for testing.