Buyer beware of "bob"

[garterking]

I already posted under another post, but I thought this was important enough that I should start a new thread.

"bob" is back on http://kingsnake.com advertising his cool blue garters again. For those that aren't aware, he has a history of selling sick and unhealthy snakes which is a shame becouse the snakes he does sell are some of the most beautiful around. This is just a warning for anyone considering buying from him, check out the following thread just so you know what it is exactly that you are getting into. http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/urgent-care/383-puget-update-vet-visit-more.html

[Elliot]

Thanks for the heads up.

[abcat1993]

Has anybody else talked to "bob"? Is that his real name or just his login name?

[Blacsmiff]

Can anybody post a picture of "bob's" snakes? I like to see that coloration.

[KITKAT]

Can anybody post a picture of "bob's" snakes? I like to see that coloration.

Click here:

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/498-scale-count.html#post5258

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/498-scale-count.html#post5257

[krystalirelan@southslope.]

as a mom of a 12year old daughter who hates to see anything suffer, is buying these sick snakes a bad thing? with proper nutrition and care can the bounce back?? I realize the risk of buying them but if one survives is it worth it? OR if we don't buy does the guy go out of business and all is well? what about the snakes he currently has? I'm not a pyryah(is that the correct word?) but i have a deaf and blind cat, a dwarfed dog, a 3 legged iguana, a crooked snaked and a 12 year old child that spends every thursday and everyother weekend here, so i'll say sucker is a good word, if you think you can help is it ok?

[Cazador]

I don't like to make recommendations for whether or not other people should buy from someone else, but there is plenty of information about the conditions of these snakes for you to make an educated and informed decision. I know that some of these snakes can be saved with proper treatment, and Kitkat has actually gotten lucky and not noticed any ill effects at all. You should also factor in the cost of vet bills (http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husbandry/475-vet-bills.html) before making a decision. To give them the best chance of surviving, I'd take the snake(s) and the first fecal sample(s) to a vet right away for diagnosis and treatment. Only you can weigh the impact that a dead snake would have on your 12-year old.

On the other hand, I've been in contact with Scott Felzer, and he's bred and is expecting at least one litter of these blue snakes in about 1.5 months. He's selling the babies for $40 each. Hope this has been helpful.

Rick

[Stefan-A]

I'm not saying you shouldn't buy dwarfed dogs or crooked snakes etc., but don't buy them from the people who caused those problems.

The last few years it has been sort of fad here in Finland to buy mistreated or ownerless dogs from Estonian animal rescue centers. Nothing wrong with that, giving these animals a home is definitely a good thing. But in this case, it has (believe it or not) actually created a market for mistreated dogs. Somebody figured out that those crazy Finns pay good money for damaged dogs. They are even prepared to pay more for mistreated ones than for animals raised properly or even in "puppy factories".

I'm ranting again, sorry. Haven't gotten more than a couple of hours of sleep and my back is killing me.

[Snaky]

For me the vet bills are not the main thing, if a vet visit is needed, then so be it.

For me there are some other risks:
-You endanger the rest of your collection if you're not carefull by buying sick/mistreated/... animals. (One of the good reasons for isolation :) )
-You'll be helping the persons selling sick/mistreated/... animals and they won't stop if people will keep on buying from them.

Most of the time there are other persons who do treat there animals good. So why take a risk?

[KITKAT]

... and Kitkat has actually gotten lucky and not noticed any ill effects at all.

And while I did get lucky, I will also note that I gave flagyl during the first month that I had them, and also did a frontline treatment against mites... both as preventive measures... but perhaps these two factors combined to save me those troubles.

In addition, when I got my snakes from Bob, they were adults, because he had sold all the babies.;)

[Cazador]

Thanks Kitkat,

I had forgotten that you treated them because I was so impressed that yours didn't seem to suffer any ill effects. Maybe luck had nothing to do with it ;).

Rick