Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,

I'm going through an experience that I think would be beneficial to share with those considering purchasing a pet snake.

Last spring I bought a couple of adult female brazilians to bring some new blood into my breeding group. Both were sold as captive bred animals. As soon as the snakes arrived, they went sraight to the vet for a check-up and passed (no cultures were done). One has given me no problems so far (knock on wood). The other stopped eating after her third meal with me. She developed an irregularly shaped abdominal mass which turned into three abdominal masses. Just got back from the vet and he's pretty sure it's some type of tapeworm. Gave her an injection of Drontal and she'll go back in three weeks for another. I think she'll be O.K. but here's the point:

If you're going to gamble on an animal whose history is uncertain be ready to spend a little more cash with a qualified reptile vet. In my case, I didn't want to wait 4 years to raise up a couple of unrelated females and now I'm paying the price. I'm pretty sure the guy lied about this snake being captive-bred. When you buy captive bred from a reputable breeder, a lot of the risk is eliminated for you. It's worth a couple of bucks up front to save yourself some headache in the long run.

People who are new to this: BUY CAPTIVE BRED!!!
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

Tapeworms can be found in captive bred animals as well. An animal having parasites doesn't mean it is wild caught. It may have been exposed to a wild caught animal or just another animal or environment contaminated with tapeworm eggs, migrating mites, etc. which is picked up and either never noticed by the previous owner or never treated for it.

Hence why effective quarantine methods should be practiced with all incoming new snakes (and other animals for that matter), wild caught or captive bred.

To prevent novices(those new to the herp hobby, I'm a novice, but that's when it comes to rainbow boas heehee) from misunderstanding what's going on, I'll make it plain and simple for them. STICK WITH CAPTIVE BRED. THEY ARE GENERALLY MUCH HEALTHIER AND ADAPT BETTER TO CAPTIVITY. IF UNABLE TO OBTAIN A CAPTIVE BRED SPECIMAN, GO CAPTIVE BORN!
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1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon (Irwin, R.I.P.)

I agree that it is possible for captive bred animals to become infected with tapeworms and other parasites. This wasn't really my point. I may have picked the wrong title for my post.

My point is that if I would have bought this snake from a reputable breeder chances are very good that I wouldn't be dealing with tapeworms now.

I've seen lots of people buy animals from importers or larger retailers in order to save a few dollars. If people are going to do this they should be prepared to pay for it in the long run. Not to say that you can't get a nice animal from a large retailer or importer. But, it's a safer bet to spend a little more cash initially on something that has come directly from a breeder.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

In my experience, purchasing a snake from the person who bred it has ALWAYS resulted in Superior, Healthy animals. Not to say all breeders are 100% top notch. But I have yet to be dissapointed in an animal I bought directly from the breeder.

Also, I'd have to say most of my best looking animals have come from the breeder. Of course that includes my own holdbacks

Rarely will you find a spectacular animal for re-sale without a spectacular price tag.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
12.24 BRB
11.13 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats