My First Ball Python! - Page 2

Albert Clark · 06-01-16, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysticmoon

Update: they emailed me back, said they were mistaken. He eats live small-medium rats.

@Albert do you suggest not handling so as to keep him less stressed and more likely to eat?

That's correct. The shipping process is very stressful on animals. So, yeah it will be a good thing to offer just the right husbandry for about a week w/o any handling. Just go in to change water and spot clean. It will be hard but is the right thing to do in getting him acclimated/ established. I would wait about the same amount of time to attempt any feeding but that is controversial. Good luck and kudos for the acquisition.

tastybeets · 06-01-16, 02:39 PM

Cute! Grats on your snek and graduation!

Karilyne · 06-01-16, 06:34 PM

Congrats on your graduation and new BP!

mysticmoon · 06-02-16, 11:36 AM

Hey guys, I'm a bit concerned about him. It looks like he got a little beat up in shipping, he has a cut on his lip that looks a bit swollen. The shipper also told me he was shedding, but it looks like he's already shed and retained an eye cap, unless that's an eye injury which I'm hoping it's not. He seems to be okay, he was moving around checking out his tank last night. What do you think? Will he be okay? I misted the bedding to keep it humid so he can get the eye cap off, if that's what it is. I'm a bit upset, not really sure if the company is to blame or not.

mysticmoon · 06-02-16, 11:39 AM

Another pic of his eye. This pic is kind of relieving, if you look close you can see his brown eye and pupil underneath. Stuck eye cap??

mysticmoon · 06-02-16, 11:45 AM

His good side

mysticmoon · 06-02-16, 11:50 AM

I'm hoping he is okay, he is a very beautiful snake. I'm happy with his coloring, just wish he didn't arrive all beat up

albertagirl · 06-02-16, 12:32 PM

Best grad present ever, congratulations! So sorry he arrived looking like that though. Even his good eye doesn't look quite clear, are you sure he shed already? Definitely concerned about both the chin and the other eye, great pictures documenting it, but can't hurt to get a vet to look at it too in case there is any need to provide documentation in future discussions with the breeders. If you haven't already, I would also send these pictures to the breeder immediately, just so that there's no leeway for them to say that this happened to him in your care.

I don't have the experience to guess at what might have happened to him or what else to do about it.

Albert Clark · 06-02-16, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysticmoon

I'm hoping he is okay, he is a very beautiful snake. I'm happy with his coloring, just wish he didn't arrive all beat up

Wow mm! Definitely send the pics over to the seller to make him aware. i bet that's a rat bite or rat claw from a bad wrap plus the retained shed. You shouldn't have to accept a animal in that condition as much as you want him there are plenty of healthy pastel butter het genetic stripe. I ship animals to customers all the time but would never have shipped a animal in that condition. Consider sending him back right away. If you did paypal you should file a claim. This is just IMO. XYZ apparently had to see this condition prior to shipping. In the meantime i would remove all the substrate and put the python on paper towels. XYZ should send you a shipping box and shipping label so you can return him at no cost to you and replace the animal. Sorry about the rant but i hate to see big time breeders taking advantage of customers.

mysticmoon · 06-02-16, 12:54 PM

Thanks albertagirl, I have contacted the breeder. They said he didn't shed yet, but I see little tiny flakes and pieces left over on him. Also why such dramatic difference in the eyes? Unless he hurt himself. I am considering a vet, I will wait a couple days and see if he sheds. This is the somewhat confusing convo I had with the breeder....

Me: Hey guys, I picked up my snake from fedex yesterday and when I unboxed him he looked a little beat up. He has a cut on his lip and looks a bit swollen, his eyeball also looks kind of wrinkly. Stuck eye cap? Or injury? I remember you guys said he was shedding.

Breeder: He is still in shed. Let's wait and look at him after he sheds. He was kept alone in a container so he would not have interacted with another snake. Send pics after he sheds please

Me: So it's probably just a stuck eye cap then? because it looks like the rest of him has already shed. I will send pics after/if he gets the eyecap off, I misted the bedding to keep it humid

Breeder: Ok. He will be shed in the next 4 days
Me: Alright.

So according to them he hasn't shed yet, I guess.

mysticmoon · 06-02-16, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Wow mm! Definitely send the pics over to the seller to make him aware. i bet that's a rat bite or rat claw from a bad wrap plus the retained shed. You shouldn't have to accept a animal in that condition as much as you want him there are plenty of healthy pastel butter het genetic stripe. I ship animals to customers all the time but would never have shipped a animal in that condition. Consider sending him back right away. If you did paypal you should file a claim. This is just IMO. XYZ apparently had to see this condition prior to shipping. In the meantime i would remove all the substrate and put the python on paper towels. XYZ should send you a shipping box and shipping label so you can return him at no cost to you and replace the animal. Sorry about the rant but i hate to see big time breeders taking advantage of customers.

Thanks Albert, I'm pretty upset and seriously conisdering returning him. In my last comment I posted my conversation with the breeder, he was really unclear/not helpful. I sent him the pictures I posted here. It would make sense that he got a rat bite, considering they feed live. Next time I'll have to make sure I order from someone who feeds frozen thawed.

Albert Clark · 06-02-16, 01:10 PM

That conversation is absolutely a fabrication on the sellers part. That is a bad shed w/o a doubt and that is a rat bite or rat claw. Don't let them sell you a ill animal. You are a customer with rights and you shouldn't have to take their animal to a vet. Don't settle for XYZ's shenanigans. This is actually a BOI complaint if they don't honor your wishes to return the animal.

albertagirl · 06-02-16, 01:13 PM

I'm pretty concerned at their lack of concern. If you do decide to keep him for now, make sure to document everything. But I would consider Albert's advice as well to simply not accept an animal who has been shipped to you in poor health.

mysticmoon · 06-02-16, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

That conversation is absolutely a fabrication on the sellers part. That is a bad shed w/o a doubt and that is a rat bite or rat claw. Don't let them sell you a ill animal. You are a customer with rights and you shouldn't have to take their animal to a vet. Don't settle for XYZ's shenanigans. This is actually a BOI complaint if they don't honor your wishes to return the animal.

I'm a bit stumped at what to do right now. If it's just a bad shed and a bite, I think I can get him through it. Unless you think it's bad enough that he needs medical attention.

Either way I'm very disappointed with xyz and will probably never order from them again. That's too bad, I'd heard and read a lot of positive things about them.

Albert Clark · 06-02-16, 01:18 PM

Listen, if you want a reputable breeder, i know a few! Garrick Demeyer, Ralph Davis, Corey Delong and Deborah Stewart. Somebody has that animal (pastel butter het genetic stripe) in a healthy status. Bob Clark is another reputable breeder who is customer friendly with quality animals. You should really demand a refund. They are being more than less than honest.