I was offered a collection from my neighbor. Help?

SuperSleuth · 05-25-14, 03:22 PM

Last night I was talking to my fellow herper neighbor about having him build me a display cage and he offered to sell me his entire collection of Balls. I don't own balls myself (I have a red tail and two BRBs) but I know he's offering me a spectacular deal for his whole collection. He said he doesn't have the time for them anymore and just wants to sell them all, but I'm concerned because he said that one of them is very picky and she hasn't eaten in a year (she's four years old I believe). At what point would you force feed a snake? Certainly after a year goes by? I'd hate to buy his collection and have some of them die on me... Though the supplies, racks and display cages alone would cover my investment anyways. I'm sure I could give them a better home than they are in now, he said he hasn't even been in his snake room in a couple weeks. Wow.

Anyways, he wants $500 for everything which includes a Pied, a 100% het pied, a 66% het pied, a cinnamon, a normal, and he said his breeder friend is caring for a pair of 100% het pies that are also his and would talk to the guy about throwing those in as well. As far as supplies, he has three 36" display cages (like Boa Master's), two small snake racks, a third (partially unfinished) snake rack, a Herpstat 4, flex watt heating panels and the overhead type heating panels (I can't recall the name of), etc. I know there is more stuff that I just can't remember.

Anyways, would this be too much of an undertaking to take on? I'm mostly concerned about the snakes themselves since they haven't eaten in so long. He said he tries to feed them once a month but they haven't eaten in a long time. Most of them ate in November and I believe one of them are in February, but he said they are all pretty picky eaters except the Pied. I don't need all the supplies, especially all the extra racks, so I'm assuming I could sell them on Craigslist or something? If I do take them, is there possibly someone here in the Austin area that would be interested in looking them over for me to see whether they appear healthy or would need to see a vet?

jpsteele80 · 05-25-14, 03:39 PM

I'd be interested in that collection for that price, that herpastat 4 alone is worth at least 3 hundred dollars, I live about an hour and 45 minutes away from Austin, if I were you I'd grab it for that price but I'd also be worried about snakes that have not eatin in almost a year and some that have not eatin in weeks, if you didn't want them all you could nurse them back to health and then get rid of what you didn't want, I'd make the trip just for that herpastat

FWK · 05-25-14, 03:51 PM

Same, I'm about three hours south of Austin and I'd jump all over that. I'd pay that just for the equipment. I've taken in a couple craigslist rescues and in both cases I was told the snake was a very picky eater and would only eat live mice and only if left alone with the prey for 20-30 minutes. In both cases once I got the snake settled in and the husbandry issues fixed they not only took a F/T rat the first time it was offered they both hit it hard and took it right off the tongs. I'm not saying there are no picky eaters but I'd be willing to bet the problem is more often husbandry issues than a truly picky snake.

FWK · 05-25-14, 03:55 PM

If you do take them in be sure to quarantine them properly.

jpsteele80 · 05-25-14, 03:58 PM

I'd be willing to bet it's husbandry issues, especially if he doesn't feed them but once a month, sounds like he just doesn't care about them

JWFugle · 05-25-14, 04:19 PM

sucks hes treated them so poorly. id atleast try and take it. get with these guys maybe split profits sort of thing for help with the animals if they are that bad off... my 2 cents

SuperSleuth · 05-25-14, 04:24 PM

Definitely quarantine them... No reason to have them anywhere close to my boas anyways. I'm super paranoid about spreading mites or disease. I'd move the boas out of my office and set all the balls up in there as a total quarantine room (no one goes in there but me).

I'm going over there Monday to look at everything and hope the balls are healthy. He said he'll have to check and make sure they're all alive still... Really?! He doesn't do anything for them for humidity so maybe that's part of the eating problem. He had a 7-year plan to breed panda pieds and I may or may not continue on with that, depending on whether or not I want to invest the time and money in it. I'd rather them be healthy.

wrecker45 · 05-25-14, 04:34 PM

I have a normal ball. Started eating a week and a half ago after seven months. Three rats in a week and a half.

FWK · 05-25-14, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperSleuth

Definitely quarantine them... No reason to have them anywhere close to my boas anyways. I'm super paranoid about spreading mites or disease. I'd move the boas out of my office and set all the balls up in there as a total quarantine room (no one goes in there but me).

Awesome man, you'll have to keep us updated on their progress.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperSleuth

I'm going over there Monday to look at everything and hope the balls are healthy. He said he'll have to check and make sure they're all alive still... Really?! He doesn't do anything for them for humidity so maybe that's part of the eating problem. He had a 7-year plan to breed panda pieds and I may or may not continue on with that, depending on whether or not I want to invest the time and money in it. I'd rather them be healthy.

This is what happens when someone cares more about potential profits than the animals themselves. I've seen it over and over again. And not just with reptiles.

SuperSleuth · 05-25-14, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWK

This is what happens when someone cares more about potential profits than the animals themselves. I've seen it over and over again. And not just with reptiles.

Exactly. I show Great Danes, so I'm well aware of the world of breeding for profit. Animals aren't ATM machines, and even though snakes aren't dogs, they're still living, breathing animals that don't deserve the abuse. Snakes are even worse off than dogs, they can be relegated to inadequate living conditions their entires lives and most people won't ever find out or care. Even if they did find out, I highly doubt the consequences would be bad enough to make an example out of anyone.

JWFugle · 05-25-14, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperSleuth

I highly doubt the consequences would be bad enough to make an example out of anyone.

and even if they did it would just make snake breeders look even worse

SuperSleuth · 05-25-14, 10:09 PM

My husband doesn't want me to get them. I feel awful for the snakes... He's doesn't want to waste the money if they are just going to die or if they have any diseases. He told me to go look at them tomorrow and we'll revisit the conversation... But right now it isn't looking so good. I'm looking for suggestions on how I can talk him into getting them. He said I can't save every animal (I'm a sucker for sick pets) but I don't feel comfortable leaving them there. Him not going in there for weeks is reason enough to get them out of there. You know they can't possibly have any water or anything in there.

jpsteele80 · 05-25-14, 10:22 PM

Understandable you want to save these animals but a snake that has not eatin in almost a year ( from neglect and poor husbandry I'm guessing) might be really hard to get back on track

**Tsubaki** · 05-26-14, 04:00 AM

I would consider this though, if you don't buy the animals.. what will happen to them? Will he dare to bring a neglected collection into the market? And what kind of person would even buy them? - Would that be someone just after the equipment and 'get rid of' the snakes in whatever way they deem fit? Also.. If he does not sell them to anyone else.. If he can neglect them for weeks, whats stopping him from just throwing them outside? Even taking them home, putting the really sick ones down and only focusing on the ones that have a real shot to live would be a better option. - Just my personal opinion.

FWK · 05-26-14, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

I would consider this though, if you don't buy the animals.. what will happen to them? Will he dare to bring a neglected collection into the market? And what kind of person would even buy them? - Would that be someone just after the equipment and 'get rid of' the snakes in whatever way they deem fit? Also.. If he does not sell them to anyone else.. If he can neglect them for weeks, whats stopping him from just throwing them outside? Even taking them home, putting the really sick ones down and only focusing on the ones that have a real shot to live would be a better option. - Just my personal opinion.

Agreed. But if y'all decide you can't take them on I'm willing to make the drive to pick them up. I'm very confident in my ability to rehab all sorts of neglected critters having taken in many over the years (rabbits, dogs, birds, fish, reptiles etc.). Assuming jpsteele80 passes his dibs, he did post before me. Keep us posted.