Pet Store Outrage

[lokai99]

I visited a pet store this past week just to see what snakes were being offered and if I'd luck up and find a nice garter. This is what I found a small plastic aquarium filled with now less than 8 eastern ribbon snakes. The owner was reluctant to let me handle them saying that "Oh they are not used to anyone but me". I remember how some garter keepers have commented that their snakes recognize them, so i thought ok, that's possible. It seemed to me that these snakes had never been handled by anyone. They were in panic and musking at any human approach even his. So, does it seem like someone is catching native snakes and selling them to unassuming customers at pure profit with no regard to the stress to the snakes?

[guidofatherof5]

What size were they?
Did they look like they were being fed properly?
How much was he asking for them?

[lokai99]

They looked thin. He said he only feeds them fish and that none had pinkies in their diets. He was asking $33 dollars for them which was kinda shocking bc he also had a eastern Kingsnake that he was selling as a California Kingsnake and was selling this snake at $200. I just had this feeling that these little ribbons had just come out of brumation just to be snatched up and sold. Am I jumping the gun here that all his other snakes would be priced so hi, while this group of ribbons were being sold rather cheaply. I also had reservations about why a native Eastern Kingsnake was being sold as a California King

[drui9201]

99% certain that they're wild-caught with no regard for the snakes well being or any parasites/mites/etc they may have. He probably didn't let you handle them because upon closer inspection you may be discouraged to buy them.

He's lying about the Kingsnake because it's probably illegal to sell native species in your area. The Ribbons, and King, are overpriced; especially considering the Ribbons are almost certainly in terrible condition. Never trust pet stores about their animals unless they can provide you proof of their origin and/or vet papers. I've gotten too many pet store animals loaded with parasites, blisters from water, and more mites than you can shake a stick at.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, and that's the captive bred ones. If you're certain that king is an eastern (some CA kings can look much like an eastern) I would sick the law on them if they are mistreating/overcrowding them. Those prices are ridiculous. I'm thinking they know they are finished and want to reel in as many suckers as they can before that happens. A normal CA king shouldn't be more than $80 on the east coast. Ribbon snakes really shouldn't be there at all but it's possible they are legal if they western ribbon snakes or otherwise not native to the state. Ribbon snakes go for $5-$10 around here, and normal kings (CA, easterns, brooks, florida) go for $30-40 albinos around $80.

IF you can get an law enforcement investigator down there, they will end up having to give up any animal in violation of the law and possibly in addition, ANY animal for which there is no proof of legal origin. It took a couple of decades and a lot of complaints but we finally got pecto's ship together and got rid of the really terrible reptile shops entirely around here. The only reptiles in shops around here are in shops that always had everything done right or have changed their ways dramatically. The rest are now out of business.

[lokai99]

Just wanted to update you guys. I complained enough and there was an investigation opened up, so if he doesn't have the paperwork and the game warden is able to see what I saw, and comes to the same conclusion, then hopefully something will be done.

[gregmonsta]

Fingers crossed ;)

[guidofatherof5]

Just wanted to update you guys. I complained enough and there was an investigation opened up, so if he doesn't have the paperwork and the game warden is able to see what I saw, and comes to the same conclusion, then hopefully something will be done.

Nice job. Thanks for following through and doing something.:)

[lokai99]

I think that once you fall for snakes and not just want to own one but want to better your life and its that you then owe something to the entire serpent family.

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, drui9201 :)

[infernalis]

well done!! calling it in is the best thing you could have done.