Unfortunately this is something in this hobby that does happen with unscrupulous irresponsible sellers. I feel extremely sad for the animals themselves that are involved with this, but it in your best interest to avoid these animals at all costs in my opinion. I would also fully agree with you and bet a dollar to a donut that this person never set foot into a vet's office with this snake, and is all a fabricated lie to make it "seem" a bit more promising.
Thing is, you could save the snake's life, OR you could be wasting time and money needlessly. It is purely a "crap shoot" as to how this would pan-out.
This is one aspect of this hobby that is truly sad. The poor animals are always the ones that pay the price..
~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing" 
