DD10 is in tears

[SCHBR'smom]

Well, Snake 2 from the pet store just died. DD10 is VERY upset about it. It had a 15 day guarantee, so we're about to go back to Petco and see what they say. Today is day 10 that we've had it. I feel pretty bad for her. We had other stuff to do today, but we'll take care of the snake first. I actually wanted nothing to do with it, but I hate to see her with a broken heart. Let's hope this one lasts longer.

 

[java]

You can come on over to my backyard and pick up a snake or two!
Now I can relate- my daughter was into frogs for awhile. *which by the way are disgusting. I stick to furry pets now.

 

[momof1princess]

perhaps you could persuade her to get something a little more likely to live? and less disgusting and creepy? like a guinea pig or hamster? good luck!

 

[lillygator]

what kind of snake?

 

[Jestocost]

My DD had a gerbil die just a few days after purchase and we received a refund from Petco. You have to take the actual dead pet back to the store to get said refund, however, which makes the experience extra special. We discovered the dead pet at night after closing too, which means I had to find something to do with the thing overnight.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Aw Kerrie, I'm so sorry. I'm sure she's just devastated. It'll sting for a while, but I'm sure she'll bounce back in a few days.

 

[dawson5]

be careful with the hamsters (not sure if it effects gerbils or not). When we got our first one, we noticed his rear was wet and we washed it off, dried, put him back in his cage...look in a while later, wet again. Did some research, they can get something called wet-tail that can kill them pretty quick. We have had 4 hamsters now and as a matter of course we give them the wet tail medication for something like the first week of owning them. We've never had another problem like this and luckily all of our hamsters have lived for 2 to 2 1/2 yrs.

Good luck with the snake and it's hard when it's your munchkin's pet and they are attached. My kids have been begging me for one for years, can't bring myself to do it though. Have you researched it? We've had all kinds of little animals and one of the things we do is head to the library to get out books on ownership--pretty helpful after reading about a lizard they almost talked me into. Have you tried petfinder or your local humane society? You might be able to get one that is a bit more older, established and easier to care for. I worry about the conditions that some of these poor things are forced to live in at the pet store, not everyone is conscientious about taking care of them at the store because they view them as creepy and not as a living creature.

 

[Pakey]

Kerrie, sorry to hear about Snake2. It's always tough to lose a pet. Hopefully the store will have a replacement snake for you and be able to give you some insight on what happened so that Snake3 lives a long happy life with your family.

 

[laurie31]

My DD wanted a snake too, and we actually went to buy one, but the pet store reptile guy talked us into a lizard instead. He said the pet store snakes weren't very healthy. (I think he meant the ones they had RIGHT THEN, not in general). He's been a really good pet. She's had him 3 years now. He's a bearded dragon, and he's fun.

I hope your next snake does better.

 

[Serena]

May I recommend going to reptile shows instead. You talk to the people, get to know them, how they treat and raise the snakes and decide from there.

 

[coles1mom]

Kerrie for your daughter

Do you have a new one yet?

 

[SCHBR'smom]

What a day!! The dead snake was not in the best of health. Other cornsnakes are much quicker than the one we had. So, we take the dead one back and replace it with another. We get home, and DD goes in first. As I'm bringing in the baby, I hear lots of noise. The new snake is on the floor and NOT happy. I threatened to step on it. We got it in the cage. I called DH and said there was something wrong with this snake. Cornsnakes are not aggressive and this snake was. No aggressive animals are staying in our house! We leave it alone till DH comes home. Sure enough, it tries to strike at DH (the last one loved to be held and was actually sweet, for a snake). Back to the pet store. The guy there says that in all his years working with snakes, this is only the second aggressive cornsnake he's ever seen. They can't sell it, they'll have to adopt it out. Luckily, the cashier adopted it. She has other cornsnakes. So, new cornsnake, again. This one is quick, healthy, and nice. Cornsnakes are the closest to tame that you can get in a snake. Hopefully, our bad luck with snakes is done.

Oh, and DD2 did her best to talk Daddy into a bird. He didn't go for it. But she did get a betta, all her own. She named it D. I tried getting her to name it A so as it was replaced we could go throught the alphabet, but she insisted that its name is D.

 

[kacaju]

http://www.kingsnake.com/
Go to this site, look up their events and find a reptile show near you. Do not buy reptiles from the pet stores.

Sorry your snake died and the other one was aggressive. We have a mexican black kingsnake who is so tame. My girls handle him all the time and he just hangs out with them.