Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was browsing the local pet stores as I usually do looking for interesting drop offs and came across an adult male (I sexed him myself) BRB. He is in HORRIFIC shape. Seriously retained shed, very thin. They had him on aspen with a heatlamp and a shallow rock like water dish, no hides, it's very dry in there.
Well, I made a few suggestions but doubt they'll follow them so I'm planning on purchasing him this coming weekend. They have him at 300.00 and in his condition I doubt they'd get 50.00 out of him however I've wanted another BRB and I know they don't have drop offs like them regularly so I'd prefer to get him out of there. I've brought back Balls from bad health but not a BRB. Any suggestions or advice?

i can see the nobility in rescuing an animal, but if it is so far beyond help, spenidng 300$ dollars seems a little much for me. if it is truly a "drop off" i would pressure the store owners to take it to the vet and have it humanely euthanized.

an animal in this type of shape would make a pretty poor introduction into the world of rainbow boas.
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1.4 west papuan carpet pythons
2.3 brazillian rainbow boas
0.7 ball pythons
0.2 jungel carpet pythons

I would have to agree with Jeff, sounds like this animal is in pretty poor condition. The $300 could just be the tip of the iceberg and the animal could very well not make it anyways. Not to mention supporting the pet store in selling animals in that condition. I and many others on this forum have healthy babies for sale most of the time. Did I mention HEALTHY!!!!!!!
And Usually around half of the $300.

I understand the desire to "save" this animal, but "saving" it by purchasing it just propogates the inhumane treatment by petstores. And/or petstores accepting unhealthy drop-offs just to sell them.

That said, I too rescued a BRB female two years ago. ($250) She was NOT in really bad shape, just not been in the proper environment. Was dehydrated and crusty eyed from lack of humidity. Took several sheds to clear up the dry skin and crusty eyes. She also has a few rat bite scars. But she is a fabulous animal. Mild mannered and outstanding color. I could see her outstanding color even with the dehydration and figured she would be worth the risk.

Here's how she looked this summer, sorry but don't have before pics. If you look closely about a head and a half length back you will see one of the rat bite scars on her left side, it's the white spot:

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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I should learn not to post at 3 a.m.
I currently have a pair of BRBs so it's hardly an introduction to this wonderful snake. His condition is horrible IMO however he shows no signs of an RI, no scale rot and he is suprisingly alert when handled, I don't believe he's ready for euthinazia quite yet. He hasn't eaten for them (three weeks) but in those conditions I'm hardly suprised. This place never orders snakes such as this in, however when they are surrendered they are more then happy to milk for money. I have to blame the prior owner of the snake rather then the pet store for allowing it to come to this, the store has had him for three weeks, it's condition didn't come about in that amount of time.
I will be talking to them about his condition and price, I'm sure something can be worked out. It's not necessarily for nobility or just to 'save' him but what can I say, my bleeding heart occasionally overcomes my common sense. Luckily, no one else is in my quarantine room.
Thank you both for your thoughts, if I get him I'll let you know so you can either say 'told you so' or see how he turns out.

If he was a drop off, NEGOTIATE the price to near nothing. The petstore has little to nothing invested, point out he is inj poor shape and will require lots of TLC to return to good health. Maybe take some pics of your healthy BRB's with you as an example?

Not uncommon for a BRB to be off feed when dehydrated. Work on the water first, large surface area water dish will help. Close off the ventilation to almost nothing. Misting will help if the water is trapped. Make it very damp and clean OFTEN. If the door has condensation....WOOHOO, humidity is very high.

I sold a baby to a petstore and told them clearly what they needed to set up for him. They ignored the breeder that rasies hundreds and put him in a screen topped 10 gallon with heat. DUH, he dried out and wouldn't eat for them. When I pointed it our to them the reply was we mist him twice a day. My immediate reply was yeah and it rains in the desert sometimes but that doesn't make it humid. Long story short, breought him home, rehydrated him and wow, he started eating again.

I'm sure you probably already know most if not all of this. More for the lurkers, you know who you are

Good luck with this and keep us posted, like in my previous note, My prize BRB was a rescue. And have LOTS to compare her to.
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

you should go talk to the store manage or atleast call the local animal authorities. that really is pathetic.

....Saving that snake is the right thing to do but it should not cost you a whole lot of money. You could spend $300 for the snake then spend several hundred more dollars on vet treatment and still lose the snake. The store owner is definitely NOT doing the right thing keeping the snake too dry and trying to sell it for $300. You can buy a very healthy adult BRB for $300, sometimes less and not have to worry about spending a pile of money on vet bills and then possibly losing the snake. IMO you should not pay the store owner $300 or anywhere near that amount for the snake. As others have already posted, it would only reinforce the store owners "doing the wrong thing" behaviour.
....From your description it sounds like the snake is dehydrated. That is probably caused by being kept too dry but could also be the result of internal parasites. I would soak the snake for 30 minutes every day until it started looking less dehydrated. Check it closely for external parasites. I would keep it in a sterile clean humid cage. Offer food every few days. The snake could be an import that has never been switched to dead prey. In my past experiences with imported and rehab BRBs they will always start eating if you get them rehydrated and have them in a humid warm cage with dark places to hide. They will often eat small live rodents before they will eat anything dead or large. If the snake passes a stool look at it and if does not look "beautiful" you may need to have a fecal exam done on it. If no vet is available you may want to treat with Flagyl and Panacur.
....Let us know how things go and if there are any problems we may be able to help you with them. There is a great deal of "pride of ownership" in owning a nice snake that you saved from death at the hands of stupid people.
Good luck,
Jeff

>>I was browsing the local pet stores as I usually do looking for interesting drop offs and came across an adult male (I sexed him myself) BRB. He is in HORRIFIC shape. Seriously retained shed, very thin. They had him on aspen with a heatlamp and a shallow rock like water dish, no hides, it's very dry in there.
>>Well, I made a few suggestions but doubt they'll follow them so I'm planning on purchasing him this coming weekend. They have him at 300.00 and in his condition I doubt they'd get 50.00 out of him however I've wanted another BRB and I know they don't have drop offs like them regularly so I'd prefer to get him out of there. I've brought back Balls from bad health but not a BRB. Any suggestions or advice?

Well I just thought I'd offer an update. They refused to come down on the price at that time. The manager told me 'he's fine, they always look like this when shedding'. So I gave her a printed care sheet. I've been stopping in when I have to be in town to check up on him and let her know I'll take him off her hands when she agrees to a more affordable price. I talked to one of the workers and he did exchange the water dish for one he could soak in and he was in it both times I've checked on him so it's a start. He's still refusing food for them and they haven't done anything about the heat or humidity but it's one thing. I have to go into town tomorrow and I'll see if there's anything new to update then. Thank you all for your observations and suggestions.

I'm sorry to hear the owner is still refusing education. If he thinks it's fine and sellable in that condition, he'd just do it again if given the chance.
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB)
2.7 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (adult breeders)
2.5 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (sub-adult from 2004)
4.8 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (sub-adult from 2005)
2.1 Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 Het for Hypomelanistic BRB
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)
1.0 BCI albino het stripe
1.0 BCI salmon hypo
0.1 BCI ghost

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I've been in your shoes...

I am currently rehabilitating a BRB from a pet store (see my thread forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1032644,1032644.

In my particular case, this snake has cost over $300 in vet bills (which the store is paying for...). She's getting better, but she's still thin and gaining weight slowly.

I am caring for this snake, but I refuse to purchase it (even though I have grown QUITE attached. I want this animal to cost them money so that they learn their lesson.

What's unfortunate is that if you purchase this snake, the store makes money without having to actually care for an animal, so they'll do it again. Why should they learn proper care? They don't care WHY the animals sell, as long as they do.

Good luck with whatever you decide.