Sick Borneo Blood

[medicinhed]

Went to a local Big Box petstore for some substrate and other supplies. Normally, they have little in the way of snakes I'd look at. Mostly I would check them out just to see that they were healthy.

Saw a Borneo and stopped. Gorgeous.

The guy working there didn't know much about them. I asked to handle it and I saw right away that it jut wasn't "right". Behavior, attitude, looks.

You know, all the health and welfare checks you do when you inspect and handle your animals. I told the guy it was sick or something that that they had to have a vet check him out.

Went back today to check on him. Good News. The Asst. Manager had sent the baby blood to their vet.

No hygrometer. Sparse substrate. Inappropriate hide. Bright lights and no privacy. Poor guy.

I'll only go to a specialist herp store for any livestock.

[Aaron_S]

Why go to any when there's breeders around for half the cost?

[Pareeeee]

Wow, a pet store that actually LISTENED to advice??

[medicinhed]

Why go to any when there's breeders around for half the cost?

Well I go to my local herp store because I'm a fan of my local place. They don't alienate customers with condescending attitudes. They deal with the breeders and I get my guarantee from them. They are a local company owned by local people. Sometimes breeders will sell you what they want gone. Not necessarily the animal you should have.

[Azrael]

Wow, a pet store that actually LISTENED to advice??

Is shocking revelation, no?

Seriously though, I'm amazed that they listened. One of the pet stores out here has a pair of co-owners that just know EVERYTHING about the animals they carry, and can't be told otherwise.

[medicinhed]

Is shocking revelation, no?

Seriously though, I'm amazed that they listened. One of the pet stores out here has a pair of co-owners that just know EVERYTHING about the animals they carry, and can't be told otherwise.

I was pretty insistent.

[medicinhed]

It was too beautiful to let it suffer. How this place ever got anything like that in stock is a mystery.

[Aaron_S]

Well I go to my local herp store because I'm a fan of my local place. They don't alienate customers with condescending attitudes. They deal with the breeders and I get my guarantee from them. They are a local company owned by local people. Sometimes breeders will sell you what they want gone. Not necessarily the animal you should have.

You aren't dealing with the right breeders then.

I personally prefer the breeders guarantee over the pet stores especially since it costs me far less than the pet store price.

[medicinhed]

You aren't dealing with the right breeders then.

I personally prefer the breeders guarantee over the pet stores especially since it costs me far less than the pet store price.

Very true. I'll admit to some bad luck with backyard BP breeders. You know, get a 2 random BPs, stupidly stick them in the same enclosure. Oh look eggs. Let's sell them. etc.

You also get nailed on the shipping. For the extra 50$ I could get a much better specimen. Finding a quality breeder, with the species you want, within driving distance. Makes it hard sometimes. I have some local breeders for BRBs that I am willing to do business with. But as far as other kinds of snakes? Hard to say.

[Aaron_S]

Very true. I'll admit to some bad luck with backyard BP breeders. You know, get a 2 random BPs, stupidly stick them in the same enclosure. Oh look eggs. Let's sell them. etc.

You also get nailed on the shipping. For the extra 50$ I could get a much better specimen. Finding a quality breeder, with the species you want, within driving distance. Makes it hard sometimes. I have some local breeders for BRBs that I am willing to do business with. But as far as other kinds of snakes? Hard to say.

You need to do some more digging into their reputations. There are great breeders and poopy breeders of ALL species.

It sucks it's in ball pythons a lot of the time, or at least it's shown it's ugly head more. I really dislike how those people who produce a single or two clutches call themselves a "breeder".

Anyway, shipping isn't too bad. Up here in Canada it's easily $100 wherever you go so feel special on the $50! lol. Just hunt for better locals. You can look up names on the BOI at faunaclassifieds.com

[medicinhed]

You need to do some more digging into their reputations. There are great breeders and poopy breeders of ALL species.

It sucks it's in ball pythons a lot of the time, or at least it's shown it's ugly head more. I really dislike how those people who produce a single or two clutches call themselves a "breeder".

Anyway, shipping isn't too bad. Up here in Canada it's easily $100 wherever you go so feel special on the $50! lol. Just hunt for better locals. You can look up names on the BOI at faunaclassifieds.com

$100? And you're economy is better than ours. Well, at least Saskatchewan, and Alberta because of the oil fields. I used to drive into Vancouver when the exchange rate was a buck for a loonie.

Exactly. Unless you have a business, and have been doing it for years, have an established customer base, etc it's hard to pony up $150-$400 to someone who is not a pro.

I'm finding more luck with "specialty snakes." Like Cliff Earle or Dave Collings for BRBs. Got a connection for Woma Pythons now. After handling that Borneo Blood, and seeing how gorgeous one could be, well that's been added to the List. This forum does make it hard to set limits on your herp collection.

[Aaron_S]

$100? And you're economy is better than ours. Well, at least Saskatchewan, and Alberta because of the oil fields. I used to drive into Vancouver when the exchange rate was a buck for a loonie.

Exactly. Unless you have a business, and have been doing it for years, have an established customer base, etc it's hard to pony up $150-$400 to someone who is not a pro.

I'm finding more luck with "specialty snakes." Like Cliff Earle or Dave Collings for BRBs. Got a connection for Woma Pythons now. After handling that Borneo Blood, and seeing how gorgeous one could be, well that's been added to the List. This forum does make it hard to set limits on your herp collection.

Yeah our shipping is high because Air Canada sucks. We don't normally use ground and even the company that does do it, is still kind of pricey.

I'm glad you have found good luck with certain species. Just check out the BOI for anyone, even the other species so you aren't screwed. You just never know.