Fish Haven owner pleads guilty to abuse of three snakes kept at his pet shop

The owner of “Australia’s largest” snake shop contributed to the poor health of three snakes and failed to provide adequate heating lights for them before they died.

The owner of a pet shop dubbed “Australia’s largest aquarium and reptile centre” caused three snakes to suffer from respiratory issues, and he was operating the store despite previously facing court over mistreatment of a horse.

The details emerged as owner of Para Hills West’s Fish Haven Clive Faggotter pleaded guilty to the ill treatment of the snakes.

Mr Faggotter was charged alongside his wife and former Liberal candidate Kerry Faggotter in relation to the mistreatment which happened between July and September in 2019.

The couple were charged by the RSPCA with five counts of ill treatment, but the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Wednesday heard a resolution had been met ahead of a scheduled trial.

That resolution saw Mr Faggotter plead to one count of ill treatment relating to the abuse of two Moriela jungle jag pythons and an albino carpet python, while two charges against him were withdrawn.

Fish Haven pet shop owners Kerry and Clive Faggotter. Picture: Facebook

All charges against Mrs Faggotter were discontinued.

Michael Lloyd, for Mr Faggotter, told the court his client would seek to have no conviction recorded so he would not be stripped of his reptile dealer’s licence, which is issued by the state government.

According to court documents the Moriela jungle jag python was not cared for correctly, suffered a respiratory disease and was found with mites and faeces near its eyes.

The court on Wednesday heard that failure of care resulted from turning off heating lamps in the snakes’ aquariums at the shop at night which allowed their environments to get too cold.

Mr Lloyd told the court Mr Faggotter thought he was “replicating normal living conditions” and was “reckless” to the reptiles’ condition, rather than intentionally causing their ill treatment.

Kerry Faggotter with her Lykoi, Wolverine, 12 months, pose for a picture at the Royal Adelaide Show in Wayville, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Picture: Matt Loxton

It also heard Mr Faggotter had mistreated a horse 10 years ago, but escaped conviction at the time.

Magistrate Christopher Smolicz said Mr Faggotter’s previous non-conviction would be a consideration in sentencing.

RSPCA counsel told the court they would be seeking for a conviction to be recorded and Mr Faggotter placed on a bond.

Mr Smolicz also granted a court order for the RSPCA to inspect Fish Haven in the lead up to Mr Faggotter’s sentencing.

Fish Haven is self-dubbed “Australia’s largest aquarium and reptile centre”.

The allegations against the Faggotters, of Middle Beach, became the subject of a viral TikTok late last year.

Two lizards clamber on a Fish Haven employee. Picture: Facebook

TikTokker Crystal was approved to protest the shop late last year. Picture: TikTok

TikToker Crystal, who chose not to use her surname, told The Advertiser the video was to organise a protest about Fish Haven in the hope of drawing attention to the case.

“I just felt the need to protest so more people can know about the allegations against the owners of the shop,” she said.

“That way when people drive past they are aware of (the allegations).

Crystal said she was a reptile welfare advocate and focused on increasing awareness about the care of the less commonly domesticated animals.

Her TikTok was viewed thousands of times and several comments were made by people discussing experiences they had at the shop.