Include

[bigguy]

Hi guys

Heres a couple of more experiences of buying sight unseen from interstate and the problems that are often encountered.

Last month I answered a add on the Herp Trader advertising subadult to adult Spineytail Monitors for sale in the NT. The seller agreed to supply the sex ratio I was after , permits were issued and payment made. On the night prior to shipment I was contacted by the seller saying most were missing from his cage, but if I would wait a few days he would dig up his breeders from their pit and send them instead. I agreed thinking these were breeders and would be larger. What a mistake. They were sent , but typical NT flights ended up in Brisbane and I ended up having to go to Sydney airport at 3.30 in the morning. I had ordered 3 males and 4 females, but ended up with only 1 female and 6 males. This has been confirmed by xrays. Were they his breeders, again no. Not one was in my opinion was over a quarter grown. I tried contacting the seller several times, but will not reply.

Second story. Two weeks ago I saw a add on RDU for 6 month old Frillnecks in the NT at a good price. I contacted the seller and agreed to buy. I also enquired wether he could supply a adult female as well. I was told he would send me an adult that had laid eggs last season. I agreed to the much larger price and permits were issued and payment made. Again, they were sent to Brisbane and I had to go to the airport in the middle of the night. Here was a tiny box waiting for me. The alarm bells rang in my head. I opened the box to find only one bag. He had pack the juveniles with the adult . I was glad to find that the adult had not eaten the younsters. The next morning I gave them a quick look over. One juvenile was in good condition, the second was in poor condition and needs a lot of care. Now for my adult female. Its snout vent length was less than 6 inchs and in my opinion was less then 18 months old and far to small to breed for the next few years. On lifting the tail, what a surprise, hemipenes. Its a male. This seller is also ignoring my emails and calls left on his message bank.

Please be careful when buying from interstate, specially from NT, far North Qld, and SA. Some sellers probably feel they are untouchable due to their isolation, and feel they can lie and cheat people out of their money.