Reptibid??

Silvermoonfox · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 12:27 PM

Hello and merry meet all,
I was doing some searching and came across a reptile auction site called Reptibid.com. Was just wondering if anyone has had any experiences with them and if they were good or bad. Looking around, it appeared that most sellers were actual breeders. I just want to be sure this is a good site before I place a bid on any animals. If you've purchased through this site how was the shipping handled, and did your animals arrive in the condition that was specified, i.e. docile, eating well, etc. etc.? Thanks for the help guys.
Benedetto sia

Stormyva · #2 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 02:14 PM

Reptibid itself is only a site for the auctions.... the snakes being sold are by individuals. As with any online purchase there are going to be risks. Before buying you could try to search on the Fuanaclassifieds.com board of inquiry for any references of the sellers name.

What is it you are looking for... chances are someone here may have it or know where you can get it.

JuliusSqueezer · #3 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 04:23 PM

I stumbled in there the other day and found an ad for 2 "colored" "cooks" amazon tree boas. I wish I still had the link to that ad. It was pretty messed up on soooo many levels.

First of all, there is no such thing as a colored cooks tree boa. They are all garden phase.
Second, There are only maybe a dozen true cooks tree boas in US collections and none are for sale that I know of and certainly not for 60 bucks and DEFINATLY not fresh imports. I am in the dark as to why this guy thought "fresh imports" was a selling point anyway but if they were freshly imported "cooks" then they were smuggled illegaly..
Third...The photos of the "2 snakes" were obviously, even to an untrained eye, of the same exact snake, laying almost in the exact same pose with the head slightly shifted to one side being the only difference other than the color shift in photoshop.
fourth...speaking of colorshift....The first photo was fairly close to what seemed like accurate color of a very plain looking gardenphase amazon. The second photo was of the same snake with the head moved to a different position as mentioned before. But the whole photo was color shifted to make it look yellowish. Like noone would notice that the reptibark turned yellow too.

I'm sure some decent people use reptibid ...but I also think that the decent breeders don't really have to as they will have people seeking them out on their own sites. I didn't look at very many ads but from what I could see it was pretty heavy with scams, flakey deals, people selling off things that probably aren't feeding and about to die on them....Personally, I wouldn't risk it and I certainly wouldn't trust any JoeBlow off the web to properly package and ship a snake even if it were a great deal. In fact... I don't even trust myself to ship anymore! lol

NicoleRussell · #4 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 04:36 PM

I would not trust this source at all.
You *might* be able to get a healthy animal but many people have gotten sick or in many cases NO animal, after paying good money--and there is no recource after you get ripped off.
Just go to a reputable online breeder--or adopt from a known rescue

Silvermoonfox · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 05:04 PM

All your replies are kind of what I thought. Thanks a bunch

NicoleRussell · #6 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 05:09 PM

what type of animal are you interested in getting?

Silvermoonfox · #7 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 06:09 PM

My husband and I are looking for a young (under 4feet) albino burmese. Unfortunately in my area there are no breeders for this kind of snake and I'm very leary about purchasing over the internet unless I'm positive of the source.

Ravenspirit · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 06:20 PM

May I suggest you go to Albinoburmese.com to inquire from Craig (who owns the site) as to whether or not he has any albino 66% labs left for sale? I believe they are for sale around $ 250 which you might think is pricey but I GUARENTEE ( as does he) that they are healthy in every way. I myself am getting a albino lab from him in 2 weeks.

Ed_r · #9 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 06:30 PM

If your looking for an Albino Burm Of course educate yourself on what your getting into (Hey i like beating dead horses ok?)

Second Check your local herp society, I KNOW they will probably have a source for you to get one. I know CHS usually has 3 or 4 on the list that need homes. Save an animal thats had a tougher go at it, than looking to tak a new one in and pay allot for it. Just my oppinion.

As far as reptibid goes, I have seen and heard of fraudulent people on there. people on there make "deals" on the back side for how much you will be wiling to pay for the animals. Which would lead me to believe if they do that sort of stuff on an auction site, that can you really be sure of what you'll be getting?

Dont get me wrong there ARE allot of GOOD people on there, just as the old saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Good luck

JuliusSqueezer · #10 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Unfortunately in my area there are no breeders for this kind of snake

I fail to see how this is unfortunate. On the contrary, this is VERY fortunate. Burmese Pythons have been tossed around like goldfish at a carnival since they ever hit the US pet trade. With all the thousands and thousands sold every year, where are all the adults now? It is sickening how disposable these animals have become. Pop into any classroom at any school with a snake presentation and ask how many kids have had a pet snake? "my brother had a python but it got big and we had to turn it loose" ...We had a burmese python but my dog killed it" ...We had a big python but it bit my sister and my dad had to kill it" ..."We found one living in the basement of the house when we moved here. Mom killed it with a rake" ..."We had one but it froze to death last winter" ....

If you are looking for a burm breeder with morals, you are in for a ride. Think about it. A burm lays 50+ eggs at a time. Can you think of 50 suitable homes for a burmese python? Sure, lots of people will take them when they are small...but I mean homes for life. I've been doing this stuff for over 30 years and I can't think of even one! Anyone who "can" likely already has all they want. Sure there are breeders who will take them in but this only fuels the fire and adds more animals to senseless suffering and death. and the closest thing there are to "moral" burm breeders won't just take any animal off the street anyway. There are too many diseases floating around for that that will wipe out entire collections.

My suggestion is if you want a burm, adopt one. There are plenty in need of homes. Albinos come along from time to time too but you have a much better chance at getting one that is healthy if you consider the normals. Besides, you can take the normals out in the sunlight!

Silvermoonfox · #11 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 09:53 PM

Of course you're correct about the lack of breeders being a good thing. I put that in the wrong context, I apologize. We've been actually looking at adopting through Colorado Reptile Rescue, I'm just trying to explore all my options. The primary problem is the shipping, the idea of shipping a snake, especially a larger one just concerns me a great deal. My husband and I have definately done our research regarding these large (HUGE) pythons so you need not worry on that account. I don't consider any animal I take into my home to be disposable, all my pets are precious to me and I have the utmost respect and love for them. I would never go into something like this with the attitude of "Well, when it gets too big I can get rid of it." Such an idea is absurd to me, frankly. I do appreciate all your comments and help. And I will definately look into some of the aforementioned links. Thanks so much.

Silvermoonfox · #12 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 09:55 PM

And Ravenspirit, $250 doesn't sound overly pricey to me. Many people sell burms for a lot more, at least ones I've seen.

haroldo359 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 10:06 PM

yeah. the baby albino burm at the pet store here is $240.

JuliusSqueezer · #14 (**permalink**) 08-15-2004, 02:38 AM

If (when) I get one in here, it's free of charge if you want it. Long drive to Atlanta though lol. I don't ship live animals any more. I have 2 males and have no intention of ever keeping more other than how long it takes to find them homes. The 2 I have are here for life.

Freakzilla6942 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-15-2004, 08:06 AM

Quote:

I know CHS usually has 3 or 4 on the list that need homes

^^^^ I have 5 tanks empty....i've amassed them over the past 2 years...4 were found at the local recycling center..perfect condition..one still had all the fish tank equipment with it..1 i brought for 20 bucks at a garage sale. 3 20 gallons a 33 and from what i'm told a 33 long..Longer then the other 33 but a little shorter...perfectly good homes...you know of any snakes need one...still trying to start a rescue locally.hitting my head against a brick wall...so far all i knnow is the "dangerous" snakes go to riverbanks zoo and the rest go to local animal shelters...where who knows what happens to them...

Freakzilla6942 · #16 (**permalink**) 08-15-2004, 08:07 AM

Quote:

If (when) I get one in here, it's free of charge if you want it. Long drive to Atlanta though

you ever need a home for a rescue i'm not that far away....

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