AnalogKid
New member
Hello everyone! I was about to buy a male Eastern box turtle from this Exotic Reptiles Prem Advani guy, and I am glad I did my research first. I had seen that another person on this board reported him as a bad guy last Dec 2002. This was concerning a shipment of DOA snappers that appeared to not be resolved. I took this as a warning, but I figured that maybe he was better now about shipping and care. I sent emails asking about the turtle, pics are on Kingsnake.com of the turtles, very nice looking specimens. I did get a reply saying they were still avaliable and how much. So I sent emails asking about health guarantees and such, no replies, but I thought maybe I did not give enough time, so I called his number in the ads. He said his turtles were healthy and he would give health guarantees in writing in email. I then called back later to tell him I would use paypal, and that I might be interested in a spiny softshell too, but he said those were in a warehouse in California, not at his place? He said he would send pics of turtles in email , and give health guarantees in writing. He said the turtles were kept outside, and he "thought" he had a couple like I wanted out there. (this may be how he did find out about the sick female below, he actually went outside to check on his turtles...) But then, later on tonight, I get no replies, but I see on the Kingsnake Website that he has posted "Help, Sick Eastern Box Turtle Female!!", and the post states that "anyone that can help please take her." And then he has another post stating his website is up for sale, hes getting out of the turtle business, and then he has another posting offering red ear slider babies!!! Any turtle keeper knows that RI is catchy, and if that female had contact with the other turtles, then all could have it and not show signs until stressed or later on, if he could not treat one turtle, he could not treat any. A vet needs to be called immediately, for they usually will not live more then a week when they start showing obvious signs of RI. They need a series of treatments. At the very least, the only good thing about this is that he was asking for help for the turtle, but he does need to take reposibility. So, the previous post about Prem Advani helped me to investigate further, so I am posting for everyone to know what is going on, and to use caution. I love my turtles and torts, and RI is scary, I do not want to see anyone getting a sick turtle, only to infect their healthy stock. It makes me sad and angry to see people that anyone, let alone people that actually sell animals not take responsibility for ones that are sick, wanting others to "bail them out" at the cost of the poor creatures lives. Sad indeed..............Thanks for reading this, I know it is long but I had to report this...........
