BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

found this one on kingsnake at
http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=116&de=866355

of course this is a total opinion post but Ive got to say.

he wants $325 for "her" and his "male" merauke (as a breeding pair) plus shipping... Im gonna make a total assumption here and say this is why people need to do their homework before going to some reptile exo and picking up some impulse bought animal; I mean at least look up some care once you get home. Im really saddened to think this skink was left in this condition for "a few years". I dont know the guy and im sure he had good intentions but i mean there was some time that passed before this skink got into this condition. Thats just not ok. i mean just look at the shoulder joint, IMO if this was a dog its treatment would be against the law in some states. Hope the poor guy gets a better life from here on out if he survives.

this makes me sad. I wish i could save all of them but that wont help the problem. My goal (when I retire) is to open a reptile sanctuary for poor little guys like this

This is going to be a sad fact of life as long as imported animals are offered at reptile shows for low prices. Some person that knows nothing about the animals buys them at a cheap price at some reptile show, and then continues to give it the same lack of proper care that it was getting when it was in the hands of the importer, whosaler, jobber, or husstler that had previously owned it. Then they decide that it is time to make a profit and sell them (in this case 2 unsexed BTS of different species that are both more than likely wildcaught imports) at a price that one would pay for captive bred animals. I agree, it is sad, and it makes me ashamed to even be part of a hobby that would make this kind of thing possible. sooner or later changes are going to have to be made to the way things are being done.

Well said, James.