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Tim Lofton. Lofton lizards BAD GUY

A

abrevaderci

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Just found out about the BOI last week. But I wanted to recount a situation I ran into. Tim advertised a male hog island male for $125.00. I bought it. He sent it overnight. When I pulled him out of the bag. He was a complete star gazer. Laid on his back, he would not right himself. I took him to Chris Giacolletti and he took one look at him and said get it out of his store. Don't quarantine him. Put him in the freezer and trash him. He has IBD. Of course I called Tim and asked for my money back and I would send the snake back to him. He said no. He said it was healthy when he sent it. It was obvious that this was one sick snake. Its water under the bridge. But at least I was finally able to vent.

John Cook (abrevaderci)
 
abrevaderci said:
Just found out about the BOI last week. But I wanted to recount a situation I ran into. Tim advertised a male hog island male for $125.00. I bought it. He sent it overnight. When I pulled him out of the bag. He was a complete star gazer. Laid on his back, he would not right himself. I took him to Chris Giacolletti and he took one look at him and said get it out of his store. Don't quarantine him. Put him in the freezer and trash him. He has IBD. Of course I called Tim and asked for my money back and I would send the snake back to him. He said no. He said it was healthy when he sent it. It was obvious that this was one sick snake. Its water under the bridge. But at least I was finally able to vent.

John Cook (abrevaderci)
Click to expand...
Is Chris a licensed reptile vet? The stress of shipping and the animal getting over heated could have caused some neurological problems. Some folks are so quick to jump on the "ibd bandwagon" Take your snake to a reptile vet and have a live liver biopsy preformed, quarantine the snake from any others, and make sure to wash your hands in between handling that snake and your others. I've used latex gloves in the past, they work well and a new pair in between snakes is a good habit to get into.
 
When did this transaction take place?

Did you take the snake to a competent vet? And (pardon my ignorance) who is Chris Giacolletti? What is the snake's current condition?
 
No offense intended but Chris Giacolletti gave you the worst advise ever.
The animal needs to see a Reptile qualified vet while still alive or be sent for a necropsy without being frozen if it dies before live examination.
Freezing can ruin all hope of determining exactly what the animal is suffering from. If it dies it should be refrigerated and sent for necropsy ASAP.
 
John E Dove said:
No offense intended but Chris Giacolletti gave you the worst advise (= advice) ever.
The animal needs to see a Reptile qualified vet while still alive or be sent for a necropsy without being frozen if it dies before live examination.
Freezing can ruin all hope of determining exactly what the animal is suffering from. If it dies it should be refrigerated and sent for necropsy ASAP.
Click to expand...

Also at this point you have not proven you even did a deal with Mr. Loften. Do you have any emails exchanged between you? Any vet reports? Any necropsy report? A picture of the snake?
 
According to Google, Chris Giacoletti is the owner of Action Reptiles :shrug01:
Different spelling, though, and the listing is in CA...so it might not be the same person.
 
Laura Fopiano said:
Is Chris a licensed reptile vet? The stress of shipping and the animal getting over heated could have caused some neurological problems. Some folks are so quick to jump on the "ibd bandwagon" Take your snake to a reptile vet and have a live liver biopsy preformed, quarantine the snake from any others, and make sure to wash your hands in between handling that snake and your others. I've used latex gloves in the past, they work well and a new pair in between snakes is a good habit to get into.
Click to expand...

I agree here with Laura. I've got a Central American boa here that has neurological issues from overheating or trauma (no way to be 100% which) during shipping when she was a neonate. She was taken to my vet when I received her and given a clear bill of health outside her topsey-turvey-ness (which really comes out when she gets excited come feeding time). The vet said as long as she eats, sheds and grows fine, there's no reason to put her down. She's now 6 foot and a fatty. :)
 
What is the time frame between your receiving the snake and contacting the seller? Was it within the seller's TOS?
Do you have any written proof of the transaction?
 
This happened years ago. I called Tim back the next day. There was no lapse in time. Could it have happened in transport? I suppose. How much is a persons good name worth? In this case $125.00. Chris and his father have done every movie involving reptiles since Indiana Jones and the lost ark. Last project Chris was on that I know of was fear factor. He is the rather heavy set guy with the gotte that handles all the nastys. You're absolutely right could I have taken him to a vet? yes. Could I have dropped another 200 to 500 dollars for his treatment? easy. Did I want to pay more money? no. Did I want to keep him anywhere near my other snakes? no. I risked my money and lost. What did Tim lose? nothing. Take my post for what it was. A vent.
 
Vents won't do you any good here. You've provided no proof of your accusations (serious accusations since you're claiming IBD). Have you notified Tim of this thread so he can defend himself (and perhaps proof of what transpired)?
 
"Vents won't do any good here"". Funny I feel better. I contacted Tim once. Why would I waste my time trying to track him down now. I tell you what keep responding to my posts so that the thread stays at the top and maybe he'll see it.
 
With no proof of any transaction or wrongdoing over a $125 deal that supposedly happened a couple years ago, it's best to let this one go.

Out of curiosity, how did you just find out about the BOI last week, when your join date is listed as Nov 2005? Do you have some other ax to grind here?

FYI: The BOI is not for venting. It is a tool to help keep people honest and inform people of who is safe to deal with and who isn't. Provide some proof or hit the road.
 
Nope no other ax to grind. I just spend most of my time on Kingsnake. Thanks for your direct response. And regarding me hitting the road.... Go pound sand.
 
Michael,
I wondered that also. He joined almost 3 years ago. Yet, he says he found out about the BOI last week! Yikes! What a LIAR.
So, if he lied about that, he's probably posting a bogus story and has another motive.
Anyway, I don't believe him and he's already proven himself to be a LIAR.
 
abrevaderci said:
Just found out about the BOI last week. But I wanted to recount a situation I ran into. Tim advertised a male hog island male for $125.00. I bought it. He sent it overnight. When I pulled him out of the bag. He was a complete star gazer. Laid on his back, he would not right himself. I took him to Chris Giacolletti and he took one look at him and said get it out of his store. Don't quarantine him. Put him in the freezer and trash him. He has IBD. Of course I called Tim and asked for my money back and I would send the snake back to him. He said no. He said it was healthy when he sent it. It was obvious that this was one sick snake. Its water under the bridge. But at least I was finally able to vent.

John Cook (abrevaderci)
Click to expand...

This really has red flags all over it. John, you joined in 2005 and just now noticed the BOI?
And, you had a snake that was ill and instead of taking it to the vet, you took it to....who? Is Chris an expert in IBD? Does Chris even remember this taking place?
Whether it happened yesterday or last year, if you are accusing someone of misdoing, you need to provide some convincing evidence, which you have not.
 
I can understand the desire to make a bad transaction known to others...but the post has some pretty obvious flaws/flags. If anybody knows contact information for Tim Lofton, I'd be interested in hearing his side.

As for Chris - I've heard the name before, but IBD isn't something that should be diagnosed on a quick look. That said, if you had brought that snake into my shop way back when, I would have wanted it out, too...just in case.
 
hhmoore said:
...IBD isn't something that should be diagnosed on a quick look.
Click to expand...
IBD isn't something that can be diagnosed on a quick look.

Additionally, John Cook brought in the name of a party who may or may not have made that comment about IBD. Somehow I don't think Chris would appreciate his name being brought into a conversation about an event that happened "many years ago", much less quoted as saying the snake 'has IBD, trash him'.

I also agree with Harald .. wasn't too bright of John to take the snake into Chris's shop for a "diagnosis".
 
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