Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So about a year or two ago I sold a snake to a friend of my brother. It was a snake I didn't really want to sell, but I was strapped for cash at the time, so...

Well, he was just deployed to Afghanistan, and I offered to take the snake back while he was gone. (I wanted to breed her, and he said ok.)
I went to pick the snake up today...and she is a mess!
Skinny, dehydrated, hasn't really grown much at all, stuck shed...
just awful.

The problem is...I already agreed to give her back when he returns...

What do I do? I really don't want to give her back all healthy (I'm gonna bulk her up and make her better), only to have her end up that way again.

Do I give her back on the stipulation that she needs better care? Do I just not give her back?
Ugh...

Opinions?
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

If it is his snake, I don't see where you have much of a choice but to return it to him. I'm not sure how close of a relationship you have with this individual, but if it were me I would stress to him the importance of proper care how to accomplish it. And if the lack of care continues maybe you could take back off of him if he doesn't have the time, resources or interest to care for it.
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Don't go looking for snakes--you might find them.

Maybe he doesn't know any better.

The direct approach might be best. Explain your concerns about the snake and what you are going to do differently to improve its condition. Maybe along the way you can give him updates and re-enforce what you are doing and why.

When he returns he might have changed either to be ready to commit to do better or be ready to sell the snake back.

Yeah, I emailed him back and told him he needs to take better care of her. I even offered to give him free food for her. (I breed my own rats and I have a ton.)
I can also talk to his girlfriend, and see if she can make sure it's taken care of.

Just bothers me.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

None of us really care about everyone's dirty laundry.

That's between you and your friend. Some situations are private.

LOL...........

You have to give it back. If you care that much, go over there and monitor how he cares for it. Offer to buy it back.

Yeah yeah, just ignore that old comment. I was in a pissy mood that night. It happens. Haha.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

Give him back the snake, find a tactful way to help him to properly care for it without causing too much of a rift in your friendship.

Good luck.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

nihil facimus sed id bene facimus

You're overlooking the most important thing here. Your brother's friend is going to Afghanistan, he may not return at all. When he does, I'm sure he will have a different outlook on life. He may or may not even want a snake, he may or may not be willing to give it proper care, cross those bridges when you get there.

Take the snake and give it the care it deserves, don't mention at this time the previous lack of care.

Whether or not you believe in the wars we are fighting, be thankful that this man and the other men and women in the military are willing to fight for us.

Mike Bell

np

...you now have snake
...you feed snake while dude is in service....God speed!
...you give snake back...

done deal....

if it is not well fed and is a piece of crap....when he gets it back it will still be a POC....just a better fed one....

good luck.....!!!.....

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Wow...
you actually referred to an animal as "a piece of crap."

It's not a car. It's a living, breathing being.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

LOL......

OK......well...I just read these real quickly usually and give an opinion...you said not well fed and skin stuck to it and all I think...something like that,....so......it might be a POC....?

.POC is an animal that you have for 4 years and the thing still didn't lay a good egg yet.....or any egg...or it lays 3 eggs ,,,wheee....3?.....or it lays 10 but only 3 hatch...etc etc etc....I have had all kinds of POC......the mostest-est poc was a jungle carpet that for 10 years would fake an ovulation and go through the motions and never ever -ever lay one egg...not even one dud little unfertilized ovum even....and when she died...(accidents happen)...she was opened up to find 30?...or more ovum in her....small....one inch and less...but 30 at least in there...so...she...the poc...would just not create good ovum and or not develop them properly....why???...

oh...anyways.....yes there are living breathing POC everywhere...I work with alot of them....they are there and get paid...but....oh....that's a different forum...sorry....

......anyways......you feed it and he gets it back and if he does make it back and all....he may grow up and not want to play with snakes anymore.....see......

.....have fun..........good luck.......

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...(______________________)

Always enjoy your posts, John.