OK,
So the snake "didn't" die while in transit?

That fluid coming out of the mouth sounds more like it was over heated to me. Even if he left it in the car, it's cold there right now. It wouldn't have killed it. You'd have to ask the buyer what temps he had the snake at. Of course, that won't matter. If he did put the snake in a place that was too warm, he wouldn't admit to it. A snake that's "over heated" will convulse just prior to death. It will release what ever is inside it. If there's water/fluid in the stomach, that's what comes out.


I know the snake is more important than the money, but the buyer is only interested in the money, since the snake is dead. If he takes it to the vet, he'll expect you to pay the vet bill. Once the snake has been frozen it's harder to tell the cause of death.

There's no easy way to get justice for the snake at this point. If you're willing to pay the vet fees for a chance of "maybe" finding out what killed it... That's up to you. If it were me, I'd just give the guy a refund and call it a day. I'd bet money that the buyer did "something" wrong. Not intentionally, but he messed up and that caused the snake death.

I'm sure you'll probably be kicking yourself for ever having parted with your favorite, but what's done is done. It's hard to lose an animal, but it's even harder to lose one from someone else's stupidity.

[ Show Entire Thread ]