OMG! Craigslist!

[wasuslitherin]

I can not beleive this! Do you think I should get them?
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/pet/2172943510.html

 

[bitsy]

Sadly, only if you can afford to take on all the other snakes from ads like this that appear on a regrettably regular basis.

If they've been kept by someone who so obviously doesn't know what they're up to, they could be in any sort of state and be carrying goodness-knows-what that might find its way into your current collection. It's easy to sympathise with the animals in the ad, but I think your first responsibility is to the snakes you already have. The snakes for sale may be perfectly healthy of course - or they may cost you a fortune in vet bills.

It's sad for the snakes, but in your place I'd avoid them like the plague.

It's easy to say from a distance of course and I'm sure if I was nearer the seller I might experience the same dilemma. This is one reason that I never ever look at the equivalent ads for my area. Not sure my nerves could stand it.

 

[OkeeteeMom]

Bitsy...you are so wise!

 

[Hypancistrus]

I agree with Bitsy. As a high school teacher who keeps animals in my classroom, I get almost weekly requests from my students to take animals that they have become bored with or that their parents want "gone" from the house. It makes me feel terrible to say no, but I've become very good at it-- if I didn't I would be inundated. I still have 4 painted turtles from another teacher who NEVER says no and then ends up handing them off to me when their students are bored with them. I usually try to point the students towards rescues or the local herp store.

Incidentally I find it really funny that Craigslist won't allow "sale" of animals, but "rehoming fees" are okay. What exactly is a rehoming fee for, when it's a private individual and not a rescue?!?

 

[Outcast]

I just sent the poster of that ad an email with pictures showing why most snake owners who know what they are doing, will not cohab. I hope it gets through, though some people like that won't do anything until an animal is dead.

 

[Allalaskan]

Especially when they have a rehoming fee of something crazy like $800

 

[reptile65]

Ads like this are so frustrating. Someone on my local craigslist was recently selling a red tail boa, hog island boa, and a cornsnake, ALL of which were being housed together! :headbang:

 

[airenlow]

He obviously knows that it isn't recommended to house them together. The "I have pictures to prove it" just screams troll to me. I don't even bother looking at CL anymore...

 

[sciencechick]

He obviously knows that it isn't recommended to house them together. The "I have pictures to prove it" just screams troll to me. I don't even bother looking at CL anymore...

It sounds trollish to me too, though I wouldn't think trolls would want to be bothered by phone calls. Maybe the pics are of them "snuggling" to show that they must like being together?

 

[Outcast]

It is a girl who has the snakes. I sent her an email, informing her of the dangers of cohabing, with pictures and this is what I got in return....

My 2 show no signs of aggresstion wats so ever they have been together since they hatched out of their eggs the ball python was a foster child to mother corn so I don't want to hear ur bulls**t no offence but these 2 eat at the same time sleep together and are constantly by eachothers side so I don't wish to hear ur s**t

I just responded to her, saying that "no offense", is not an excuse for acting like a child and not doing research before getting an animal, and that if she does not research her next animal and ends up killing it, that the poor things blood will be on her hands.
I also stressed the importance of separating the two snakes again, and did a little name dropping.

 

[ZoologyGirl]

"ball python was a foster child to the mother corn" ?!?!?

I think that might be the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard.

 

[Outcast]

So, apparently trying to get the right info out there, in order to allow animals to have a good life is grounds for a lawsuit.
Here are all of the emails that were sent between myself and this idiot.

You are extremely lucky that you have not experienced something like this while Cohabing your snakes. I have attached 3 pictures, The corn snake has eaten another corn snake, the BP has eaten another BP. It may be rare, but every time you feed them in the same container, you risk them trying to eat each other. Every day you leave them in the same tank, You risk them eating each other.

I am not saying that you are a bad owner, Just that you have probably been misinformed over the years as to the risks of the Cohabitation of two snakes, especially two of different species.

Like I have stated in the beginning, you have been extremely lucky. I hope that you will come away from this and do the research yourself on the proper care and husbandry of both of these totally different species, and give them a better life.

I do not mean to insult you in any way, I just thought that you needed to be informed of the correct way to care for these amazing animals.

Thank you,
Aaron

My 2 show no signs of aggresstion wats so ever they have been together since they hatched out of their eggs the ball python was a foster child to mother corn so I don't want to hear ur bulls**t no offence but these 2 eat at the same time sleep together and are constantly by eachothers side so I don't wish to hear ur s**t

I have done my part, as a good pet owner. You did not listen, and instead cursed at me. You are not a respectful person, and honestly do not deserve to own any type of pet. I have given you examples of what could happen, and all of my thoughts are backed up by people who have 30+ years of experience with both BP's and corn snakes. Have you ever read the Corn Snake Manual, by Bill and Kathy Love... Well, I know them, they have been around since the beginning, and know what they are talking about. Don Soderberg, also a big name in the snake business, also talks against cohabing snakes, especially of different species. I suppose what they have to say is BS too? You are an idiot and I hope your snakes find a home with someone who actually knows what they are doing with the animals.

I have provided you with enough evidence to prove that what you are doing is wrong, and now am telling you the names of a few people who have been in the snake industry since the 80's, I was also very respectful to you, and you flat out disrespected me and say "no offense" You need a lesson in ethics.

I suggest you start to take advice, and stop acting like an adolescent child. You should also do a little bit of research before getting whatever animal you do get next, because if you keep up doing things without the proper information, you are going to end up killing your pet. And, that blood will be on your hands.

Aaron

Ok seriously you need to stop emailing me and for ur info I have 2 birds a monitor and fish along with 2 dogs so yeah go screw urself?! I have raised snakes all of my life and never had a issue?! Besides you the heck are you to me what I can and can't do?! Sooooo LEAVE ME ALOOOONE DO You UNDERSTAND I have ur email address I will report you for harrassement?! So don't push me I have a family that is a long line of cops and they already have ur info sooo this is a warning to leave me alone NEVER contact me again?! Cause I'm starting to think you might hurt me?!

So, being the concerned pet owner, and getting upset because of the foul language that was directed at my knowledge of the animals, I am causing her to "think you might hurt me!"

I will follow this with the pictures she sent me of her snakes "getting along".

 

[Outcast]

This is the picture she sent as proof that her snakes "love" each other. Poor creatures.

 

[reptile65]

I'm really not surprised that she reacted the way she did. Unfortunately, people can be very defensive and stubborn when it comes to how they care for their pets. People seem to think they know everything and can't take constructive criticism. I find it really sad that the animals have to suffer because their owner didn't do the proper research.

We can only hope that someone rescues these snakes and separates them and gives them the care they deserve.

 

[RavenSpirit360]

When I first read the craigslist ad my first thought was this person is just posting this to get a rise out of people.. And I am still not totally convinced that this is not their motive.. I would just leave them alone, they are either looking to start something or are totally idiotic and immature.. Either way, you cannot save every critter out there, but if you really feel you want to, go ahead.. There will be many many more cases like this unfortunately... I once rescued two bally pythons that where being housed with two red tail boas and a baby burmese.. Yeah.. And the guy wondered why his ball pythons would not eat..

 

[bitsy]

This is the picture she sent as proof that her snakes "love" each other. Poor creatures.

It was a brave try but contact with the seller isn't going to help. She's clearly not going to take advice. We occasionally have people come here to ask for opinions about similar situations and we get the same response - and that's when it's been asked for. An unsought opinion will get an even more hostile reception, as you've seen.

The exchange of communication won't benefit the snakes and that would be the only reason for carrying on with it.

For your own peace of mind, you need to let it go. The one consolation is that the current owner is selling them. They at least stand a chance of ending up with someone who will keep them properly.

 

[Outcast]

Yeah, well I stopped communication after she threatened to have her family that is full of cops come after me. It is not the first time someone has pulled that card on me, The first time was when I told a girl to stop picking on my sister when I was in high school.

I did not feel that trying to push the issue would get anywhere, so I stopped talking to this woman. I thought I would try, just like when I am at work I let people know the dangers of cohabing snakes.
Her reaction just surprised me. Going from trying to help her and her threatening to get me arrested.... It is pretty interesting what people will do in order to make themselves feel better.
I kept the emails, just in case she decides to follow through on her threats, though I do not expect her to.

 

[dan803]

This blew my mind. I could only see that kind of behavior coming from a stupid 12 year old, not a full grown woman.