Try and save a snake!!

[Ryan]

I just posted over on the Saskatoon Reptile Club message board in responce to a woman that purchased a newborn Ribbon snake from a Petland in Saskatoon. This was a complete impulse buy for a snake that was days old and had never taken a meal, the care being given is far from textbook and to be honest I don't see the snake living very long.

I'm less than experienced with Ribbon snakes so anyone with any knowledge of this species I urge you to try and save this snake by posting there with advice.

To say I'm frustrated with the actions of the pet store is an understatement but of course I'm not surprised as I've yet to find one that cares about the animals they sell. I know there isn't much that complaining and ranting about their shortcomings will achieve but for some reason I think there a few members here that may agree with me. Thanks for listening and if you can help this woman in keeping this snake alive please go over there and try and give her some advice.

Thanks.

[joeysgreen]

I was unaware there were other reptile clubs in Sask. what's the website?

Ian

[Ryan]

groups.yahoo.com/group/saskatoonreptileclub/

By the responce I received from the woman who purchased the snake I'm not encouraged.....like I said I'm no expert on Ribbon snake care but I tried giving basic snake husbandry advice, most of which was ignored. One quote being "Well heck, they would have sold me the mother but I figured even a
novice like me has a better chance than the pet store. At least I'll
try and learn."

So much for being prepared before you purchase an animal, who cares if it dies because you didn't have a clue what you were doing and ignored advice from someone trying to help.

[ekkieangel]

I know Yolanda from another yahoo group....an 'interesting' person to say the least and by the sounds of it she REALLY shouldn't have gotten the snake.

[Ryan]

Yeah she is different that's for sure!! I loved the part in one of her posts where she tells how she collected a garter in BC and brought it here but when she didn't want it anymore she just released it.....what a responsible pet owner we have here.

[Ryan Wunsch]

Oh boy.

I don't know much about ribbon snakes, but I found a caresheet that seems pretty good

www.grizzlyrun.com/Pets/Reptiles/Snakes/Ribbon_Snake_Care_Information/Default.htm

Temperature gradient (85 degrees F. for the warm end and 65 degrees F. for the cool end during the day, 68 for the warm end and 59 for the cool end at night); recommend radiant heat; use an incandescent light or ceramic heater as primary heat source, use under tank heater as secondary source

There are different types of ribbon snakes (from Alaska to Mexico), and I would guess that depending on which one she has the temperature gradient should be a bit different, but still much cooler than a corn snake. (the mountains in mexico are quite cool I guess)

While I haven't been there lately, I remember Saskatoon Petland as being one of the "good" petstores a few years ago.

In my opinion hot rocks are very bad for any snake, but especially babies. For a cool climate species like a ribbon snake, they are probably the next worse thing to put in it's aquarium right after an indigo to keep it company.

It was obviously an impulse buy, and I'm guessing that the equipment sold with the snake cost a lot more than the snake ($40 I think she said). I wish petstores would not carry hot rocks in stock, I can't think of a single case where they should be used, ever.

I have to suspect that the person who made the sale does not know much about reptiles, or has no conscience. I'm not sure if this petstore pays commission, but I think that also is at the root of a lot of problems many times.

As far as her willingness to accept the information provided her, that suprises me because she came to the list and asked for advice. I'm not sure why people do that, if they aren't going to listen to the advice offered.

It's hard to help those that don't want help, some people think they intuitively know more about what the snake really wants than they really do.

Ryan

[saskatchewanexotic]

Yolanda...........

I responded breifly to her post knowing that she would not take any advice given and most likely tunr it into some type of argument as she always does on other groups...I haven`t looked at any of the conversation there after - but will later today and comment accordingly. She will most likey be removed from the group because her actions on all other groups have only caused confrontation & discomfort to the other members.

[Ryan]

I responded breifly to her post knowing that she would not take any advice given and most likely tunr it into some type of argument as she always does on other groups...I haven`t looked at any of the conversation there after - but will later today and comment accordingly. She will most likey be removed from the group because her actions on all other groups have only caused confrontation & discomfort to the other members.

That's pretty much the feeling I got about her after her first response to me trying to help, I just don't understand how people who say they love animals seem to be perfectly ok with giving them sub-standard care and watching them die.