Tokay Buyers Beware

[Soma]

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I'm not sure if I expect too much from online companies selling tokay's but this is just uncalled for. Take a look at these pictures of a Female Tokay I bought from ****. Although there customer service is very good it's still very terrible how they must of handled this animal. I've bought my male from there and hes big and strong parasite free, but this one is just a terrible sight.

Note: Shes not dead shes just biting my finger lol.

Shes still very aware of here surroundings. She has use of that specific arm but cannot climb glass.

This is just ONE example of why Tokay's that are sold should be CB ONLY.

I've been applying specific creme as directed by my Vet, but she said theres not much more I can do.

The company has offered to send a replacement but that is besides the point. Hopefully she will get better.

[bambichik39]

wooow I'm sorry for your bad experience. That is VERY uncalled for, and looks very painful for the animal. I hope shes doing alright, and pulls through with that injury. I don't think I could ever order an animal online- seen too many people unsatisfied (never anything this terrible though).. Anyways, I'm getting off the point..that sucks and I'm sorry for you and the animal. Keep us posted!

[Riverside Reptiles]

Soma, let me first say that I edited out the name of the company from your post because we do not allow "bad seller" type posts on here. People can feel free to PM you though and ask where you got her.

But on to the subject at hand, it's an atrocity that anyone sell animals in this condition. And, as you said, it's a good lesson on why to buy captive bred animals. I recently bought a wc tokay because it was a color morph at a price I couldn't pass on and he came to me VERY thin and dehydrated. But, I didn't complain to the seller because I knew what I was getting into by purchasing wc...and thus, the cheap price tag. Lucky for me, he has acclimated well, eating like a pig, and is putting on weight at a steady rate. However, it's one thing to sell a malnourished, dehydrated animal and wholly another thing to sell an animal with an obvious open wound. It saddens me to know that people make a living doing that...and worse yet that they can sleep at night.

She really looks as if she should have that sutured. Did your vet talk about that? What type of "cream" does he have you putting on her? Good luck with her. She looks rough but hopefully you can get her turned around and give her a better life.

[Riverside Reptiles]

I don't think I could ever order an animal online- seen too many people unsatisfied

I've been buying herps online for many years and had mostly good experiences. It's all about WHO you buy your animals from. If you stick to well known breeders that have a reputation for selling high quality animals, that's what you're likely to get. If you go for the guy you've never heard of with the cheapest price, you're going to get what you pay for (usually crap). I also tend to stay away from the big named online importers as well (which is where this animal came from). Most of those guys only care about numbers. Not quality.

[aquapimp]

Wow... that poor gecko is WHIZZED!

[MauricesExoticPets]

I'd talk with my vet about the potential use of medical glue to close the wound. I'm sure there are risks involved in any measure ment to deal with that particular injury, infection being the greatest I can think of at the moment.

I have viewed fresh shipments of tokay geckos, and the plain and simple fact is there is a very high percentage that come in dehydrated, under or simply not fed, injured, dead, and simply in bad shape.

The cause starts well prior to the wholesalers and importer who in my experience try as best they can to move reptile out of their care as soon as possible (granted an animal in this condition should not have been sold in the first place), it is my feeling that the exporter has a great deal of the blame resting on their shoulders because they hold reptiles in large numbers and close quarters till an order is placed (feeding is not a priority), and some blame can be leveled on the people who do the collecting for doing so in a manner that is not in the best interest to the reptiles.

It is my feeling that imported reptiles should only be sold to breeders who in turn supply the market need however great or small that may be. This would in my opinion correct a lot of the issues we have in the exotic pet trade.

Sorry for drifting off topic I'll quit now.

Maurice Pudlo

[Soma]

Thanks for all your kind words.

I've had great service before with that company, I knew what I was getting into voluntarily and I am obviously paying the price.

The wound is very deep deep enough that the vet wants me to consider getting her arm taken off.

Right now I'm nursing her on antibiotics and baby food or applesauce.

I hope she pulls through It's terrible seeing my male looking at here wondering why she cant come up on the mushroom tops with him.

Ill post some more pictures later I'm taking her to the vets again.

[Soma]

Sad to inform that the Tokay passed.

[Riverside Reptiles]

Sad to inform that the Tokay passed.

That's really a shame. Sorry to hear about your loss. At least you did what you could to try to give it a better life. We have several breeders here that produce some really nice captive bred babies. I'd suggest putting a "wanted" ad in the classifieds for your next one.

[Phantasticus]

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OMG, that poor thing! She must be in a lot of pain... I hope she heals up. Best of luck!

**Edit**

Just saw the update post - I'm so sorry. :/ I'll be buying mine from expos from now on. O.O;;