Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As a potential buyer of almost anything, I can't believe some people will post a "for sale" and have snake sh*t in the same photo of the animal they are selling. Not a big sell point for me. If you can't clean up before a pic, do you ever do it? I know pigs roll in their own waste , but I don't want a pic of them doing it on the bacon package!

LMAO!!,....I gotta agree with you on that!

And the "bacon package" thing had me ROLLIN'!..LOL!

Some things are just tasteless and shouldn't be done.....THAT definitely being one of them.

I see that sort of thing all the time too, and just yesterday, some guy had a formal add photo of a snake for sale with a giant bunch of shed still stuck half-way up it's tail. Like the guy couldn't have pulled it off before the freakin add photo was snapped??....c'mon!

In a group pic of a bunch of neonates in a container is one thing, but this shot was just plain tasteless to not bother pulling the big chunk of shed off first.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

For every professional keeper there are many hobbyists that have way better things to do than fuss and fart around with cameras and lighting, etc, etc. There are rules now that mandate pics in the ads, but as a consumer its up to you who you want to buy from. Do you want the ugly snake in a clean nice pic or do you want a smokin hot snake in a bad pic with some poo on the side? And of course you keep snakes so you KNOW that as soon as you clean the cage the snake decides to poo in it because it is clean! Be careful who you judge, often times its the older guys with the better stuff that cant figure out cameras etc that have the hottest stuff. So is the problem really with the people selling the snakes or is it with the people buying them? I know I dont take nice pics, and I recently got some mole kings from someone similar. What his BAD pic taught me was that he has REALLY nice stuff and he takes bad pics. Tell me, when you open the box do you want the snake to look better than the pic? Exactly the same? Or worse?? Because I assure you that over-photoshopped animals are out there.

...I'm gonna have to agree 100% with you on this one. IF there's multiple old turds in the pic it's a dealbreaker, but everyone knows that snakes poop just when you don't want them to.
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Diego

SWCHR

Tell me about it!! Your post has me laughing so hard, and what you say rings so true!!

10 seconds or less, and the seller could simply just wipe up the snake waste to make the appearance of the ad, let alone the snake's living quarters, to be somewhat more attractive. Ya think?? HAHA!!

We all know, those who are sellers and buyers, that snakes crap in their cages. However, cleaning up before representing your " product ", to make it appear that it comes from a clean cage somewhat, is not only acting out of courtesy towards the snake itself at that very moment, but would of course, makes the seller seem like he cares about cleanliness somewhat, which in the long run, has the possibility to influence potential sales. Those who are buyers do not scan the classifieds to see snakes for sale AND their poop. Every snake has that. The snake in the ad itself is an individual, and is the sole reason the classifieds are there to begin with, not snakes AND their fecal matter.

Good post!!

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Genesis 1:1

I don't think a little poop in the photo would bother me; the man I get my pyros from is not comfortable with digital cameras and computers, etc, but his snakes cannot be beat for quality, What galls me is ads that feature knock your socks off thayeri for example but when you contact the company that is not the snake in the picture, just an example. If they can't show the actual snake for sale, regardless of the photo quality, then they wont get my business.

I thought I was the last to stop selling on reputation alone but there are a few holdouts. I understand digital pics has made this a more liquid community but it has nothing to do with the quality of animals. There is one guy who has horrible pics...but some of the best snakes I've ever seen. From now on I wont even bother to ask him for pics! It's nice to be surprised in a GOOD way when you open the box. Too often its the opposite.

jeff-since your first post defended those who advertise with "crappy" pics-i was wondering-if I send you some terrible pics of some really high quality crap and you are pleasantly surprised when you open the box-would you buy more?????????

I had some bad crap pics, hope they see the humor, LOL.

Many breeders are able to offer photographs of the reptiles that they have available for sale so that you may choose the one that you want. It is important to remember that for some this would be an impossible task especially when dealing with hundreds of hatchlings of some species. Where it is possible try to see a photo of what you are purchasing.

A better question is how long have they been in the reptile business?
This is not to say that they need to be in business 5 years before they can be trusted. Great new people start this business everyday and most of these people have had several years of experience with reptiles before they have gone "public". Experience comes with time. Those that have been working with reptiles the longest have the greater experience. Knowing someone has been in the business for many years can give you an idea that the people love what they are doing. Reptiles bought from those that love what they are doing usually are better reptiles. Some people enter the business because they think they can make a quick buck. They are here today and gone tomorrow, usually with your money. Again ask others about the people you are thinking of buying from and you may save yourself a lot of grief later.
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www.Bluerosy.com

Good points.
But cleaning up a house or car or motorcycle to look it's nicest is just common sense. Why would selling a snake be any different?

what makes me ask... ? Is when someone posts a pic and says "sorry it's in shed" Personally I'm looking at the pic to give me the truest representation of what I may be buying because I can't see it in person. taking the pic at a good time before or after the shed is not a lot to ask.

It makes sense to be discriminating. Your spending YOUR money.
Money you WORKED HARD for. Sure there are exceptions but it's not asking a lot.

Us older guys may have nice stuff but we are able to take on computers to get on this forum. Digital cameras aren't all that complex these days. I understand it's intimidating but it's part of the gig if you want to have an easier time selling your animals. If it's necessary for being in the hobby we find ways of doing it. LOL IMHO.

Sure but if today I decide to sell a snake and it happens to be in shed, so be it. Pic taken. It always goes back to reputation. And you dont always have to be the most likable guy, there are plenty of unique individuals in this hobby. Be sure to seperate out the keepers reputation with the animals.....with that of personality. LMAO!

I see your point Jeff. It's one way of looking at it.Most times if we sell animals we've been thinking about it for a while before posting it. Also why pay for an ad for 3 weeks when a decent good pic gets the same quality animal sold in 3 days?

Whether we like it or not people gravitate to the tables that show off the animals well with lights and good eye pleasing display cases and patient, polite staff. Do you luck out sometimes and find a cool animal at a plain table with a dozen plain old deli cups? Sure you do. But you can't ignore these facts if you are trying to be proffessional and sell animals. More people will visit and buy from those nice tables. We can grump about it mumble about quality but it is what it is.

yeah, the other breeders and dealers buy from the no-frills tables....'cause they know who has what.
Marketing is a big key to success in any business for sure.
Personally, I don't like any pix of dirty animals or cages, etc. and out of focus shots for some reason, always give me the impression that something is being hidden from me, whether intentional or not.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

>> What galls me is ads that feature knock your socks off thayeri for example but when you contact the company that is not the snake in the picture, just an example. If they can't show the actual snake for sale, regardless of the photo quality, then they wont get my business.

I generally prefer to see individual pics myself. HOWEVER, there are exceptions. For instance, I hesitated for quite awhile before buying corns from Don Soderberg (South Mountain Reptiles), because he doesn't provide ANY individual pics of his available hatchlings. But I'm very happy that I finally gave in and bought from him, because he does have fabulous animals!
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (Arco, Olho)
0.3 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Hari)
1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (Coatl)
0.0.1 Mexican black kingsnake (TBA)
2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, Uce, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters

Well, I do have the option of actually driving to the store, although it is a few hundred miles from either Escondido or Oceanside from my place...tempted, though...

that's funny.....

......you have a point.....

yet.....

......depends on the snake species...some stuff, like kings, will defecate like every 32 seconds , so ...you know...it's hard to catch a clean pic in the time it takes to take a pic...

...balls...defecate once a month....them people have NO excuse....

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......JY

np

I know proper English is "Those persons have no excuse"?

....them peoples sounds so much more....let's say...redneckish?

LOL

...it's true...ball people take pics...the cage is like total disgusting...paper with 6 urate deposits on it...a defecate pile....2 stains from breeding and a dumped or empty water bowl...they say....they were breeding and I didn't want to disturb them?.....oh...and a shed skin also....?...disturb them....they haven't been cleaned in a month from the look of the paper....?....I have spot cleaned while they were copulating.....new water also all the time....except during thwe actual feeding process....other than that you can "disturb" them....

and kings do defecate like 3 times an hour or more....garters 4 times as much...and stinks....

....(I have kings ,milks,and a pair of garters>>....so don't sweat my words.....)
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......JY

Not making fun! Thought it was great!

Your post was good stuff slimlv. I personally would like to see the fecal matter before I decide to buy. I'm not talking about sh! everywhere but just a dropping. It gives you a good indication if it's eating and you can judge by the coloration if it has any digestive problems. Steve

I personally would like to see the fecal matter before I decide to buy.
LOL! Every photo should feature a gob of poop as well as the snake!

I wouldn't have given your snake's a second thought before, but after seeing the "feces included" photo, I simply MUST have those snakes!!........HOW MUCH?????

LMAO!!!!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

These snakes are not for sale, but I do have a goodly supply of snake fecal material if anyone is interested.

.....throw in just ANY type of snake in with the fecal material (with a photo of course),.........then SOLD!!

hard to pass on THAT killer deal!..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>Your post was good stuff slimlv. I personally would like to see the fecal matter before I decide to buy. I'm not talking about sh! everywhere but just a dropping. It gives you a good indication if it's eating and you can judge by the coloration if it has any digestive problems. Steve

$4it inspector, eh?

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

Yeah, I guess I kind of set myself up as the sh!* inspector but I'd rather have a snake that I bought have a nice brown stool rather than a gray one. Haven't you learned this John? J.K.

>>Yeah, I guess I kind of set myself up as the sh!* inspector but I'd rather have a snake that I bought have a nice brown stool rather than a gray one. Haven't you learned this John? J.K.

LOL....I was just messin with ya.......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

John, I know you were joking but there are people out there who will clean the cage just for a picture. It's almost like going to a used car dealership. Yeah, they washed and waxed it and it looks GREAT! Then you bring it home and a week later the transmission dies! Thats where the poop reference came from. I'm not a breeder, (commercially), I just bred kings for the first time this year,not for money but to learn. Also, I'm sure NO ONE cleans the cage as soon as a snake does its duty.

>>John, I know you were joking but there are people out there who will clean the cage just for a picture. It's almost like going to a used car dealership. Yeah, they washed and waxed it and it looks GREAT! Then you bring it home and a week later the transmission dies! Thats where the poop reference came from. I'm not a breeder, (commercially), I just bred kings for the first time this year,not for money but to learn. Also, I'm sure NO ONE cleans the cage as soon as a snake does its duty.

If you have OCD you will.....LOL
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

If you have OCD you will.....LOL
Or if you have bull snakes! What the eye can overlook the nose will still suffer.

Absolutely SPOT ON there Spaulding! Look for my new ads in the classifieds!