Keeping Wild Caughts?

[Derek1]

Over the last couple years I've caught some nice looking baby racers, green, ribbon and rats. Some adults of the same too. I've always let them go. But next year I'm thinking of getting some extra tanks and gearing up to handle some wild caught.

Question is, is there some special treatment they need, best way to make them unstressed? Ect...

[jpsteele80]

Best way to keep wild caught snakes is to not keep them, never know what kind of parasites they might have and that might possibly infect you other snakes. I wouldn't personally do it i think wild animals should stay in the wild. just my 2 cents.

[drumcrush]

I know of some people that keep wild caught animals. If you have CB animals, i wouldn't try keeping them because you risk spreading parasites. I catch and keep for two weeks max and then release. I kept a garter over winter once. while I enjoyed having him, I'm Sure he didn't enjoy staying with me lol.

[SSSSnakes]

First you need to make sure it is legal in your state to keep wild caught from your state. I have a license to keep them in my state. I keep Black Racers, Black Rats, Water Snakes and Garters that are wild caught for my educational shows. I have found that they adapt to captivity very fast. Some times they have to be treated for parasites. I have no problem with keeping wild caught, after all that is how this hobby got started in the first place. It is also what gave us old timers the passion for keeping reptiles and started our interest as kids.

[Derek1]

I have no problem with keeping wild caught, after all that is how this hobby got started in the first place. It is also what gave us old timers the passion for keeping reptiles and started our interest as kids.

Thanks! I meant to include your same quote as my own version in my OP but didn't.

Can you not treat for parasites? Bathe them in a solution or something? Forgive me for my stupidity, but I'm trying to learn.

[fedupdon]

Hey guys where do you think all the cb. Came from ive keep wild caught for 50 yr never had a problem my 2 cents

[mrgrimm]

Just do your research and follow your heart. If you provide everything the animal needs and it eats well and seems to be acting normal then I would say it is OK. If they aren't eating well, do nothing but try to escape the cage, etc...then they are probably better off back in the wild.

Rehabilitation is really the only way I feel good about keeping something that was once wild, then release...or in some cases provide permanent housing if a release can't be done.

We currently have a very large wild wolf spider though, in a 10 gal tank temporarily that I caught on the front porch. It's an eating machine but I am having a hard time deciding on letting her go or not. I am actually thinking about making the spare 55 gal. the new spider domain so she feels less confined! munches down crickets and meal worms, drinks from a sponge...really cool.

[SSSSnakes]

Thanks! I meant to include your same quote as my own version in my OP but didn't.

Can you not treat for parasites? Bathe them in a solution or something? Forgive me for my stupidity, but I'm trying to learn.

You can get meds to treat parasite in wild caught reptiles. I personally have never had to treat them and they do fine.

[Derek1]

Just do your research and follow your heart. If you provide everything the animal needs and it eats well and seems to be acting normal then I would say it is OK. If they aren't eating well, do nothing but try to escape the cage, etc...then they are probably better off back in the wild.

Rehabilitation is really the only way I feel good about keeping something that was once wild, then release...or in some cases provide permanent housing if a release can't be done.

We currently have a very large wild wolf spider though, in a 10 gal tank temporarily that I caught on the front porch. It's an eating machine but I am having a hard time deciding on letting her go or not. I am actually thinking about making the spare 55 gal. the new spider domain so she feels less confined! munches down crickets and meal worms, drinks from a sponge...really cool.

Spiders are so cool, though most creep me out. I don't kill them and have some great pics of a Wolf with babies. Fed a Wolf a cricket this year in the wild and she was an aggressive eater/feeder!

[Akuma223]

Check if its legal in your area/state to keep wild snakes, if it is the go for it! All my garters probably even my little red one are wild caught and do fantastic. The chow down on mice like crazy and are active and curious. Really wonderful creatures, I literally had no issue at all getting them to eat mice. I've never treated mine for parasites and they are super healthy, though quarantine is absolutely necessary. They come right out of the cage on their own to explore. In Texas you have far more variety than just garters so you are way lucky (I'm real jelly)!

[toddnbecka]

Found a fishing spider in a silt pond back when I worked road construction, coolest native arachnid I've ever seen. Kept it for a while, but got tired of it eating my guppies, lol. I've kept WC snakes for a few weeks or even months, always released them again though. Garters are probably the easiest to keep, don't need a large enclosure and thrive on feeder fish like rosy reds or goldfish. Rat or milk snakes have a good general disposition, hard for me to find baby ones though, and I'd rather start with a baby and raise it in captivity than an adult that's lived free for years.

[Doug 351]

Just do your research and follow your heart. If you provide everything the animal needs and it eats well and seems to be acting normal then I would say it is OK. If they aren't eating well, do nothing but try to escape the cage, etc...then they are probably better off back in the wild.

Rehabilitation is really the only way I feel good about keeping something that was once wild, then release...or in some cases provide permanent housing if a release can't be done.

We currently have a very large wild wolf spider though, in a 10 gal tank temporarily that I caught on the front porch. It's an eating machine but I am having a hard time deciding on letting her go or not. I am actually thinking about making the spare 55 gal. the new spider domain so she feels less confined! munches down crickets and meal worms, drinks from a sponge...really cool.

Yeah. ..I saw one once with babies. ..really cool. ..I used to see a lot of them but not as many these days. I wonder if my growing Western fence lizard population may be eating them.

[SSSSnakes]

Check if its legal in your area/state to keep wild snakes, if it is the go for it! All my garters probably even my little red one are wild caught and do fantastic. The chow down on mice like crazy and are active and curious. Really wonderful creatures, I literally had no issue at all getting them to eat mice. I've never treated mine for parasites and they are super healthy, though quarantine is absolutely necessary. They come right out of the cage on their own to explore. In Texas you have far more variety than just garters so you are way lucky (I'm real jelly)!

It says you are from NY. In NY it is illegal to keep wild caught snakes without a Collect & Possess license.

[LiL Zap]

I don't personally agree with keeping wild caught snakes. Seriously, there's a breeder for every type of snake out there. Buy a captive born snake and let the wild ones do their job in nature.

[poison123]

there's a breeder for every type of snake out there. No there's not.

[Derek1]

I don't personally agree with keeping wild caught snakes. Seriously, there's a breeder for every type of snake out there. Buy a captive born snake and let the wild ones do their job in nature.

There is a good argument for this. As well as the all caps were wild at on time. But you can buy damn near anything you want nowadays.

[SSSSnakes]

No there's not.

Agreed. Trying to buy some of the unpopular snakes, you will find you are buying wild caught from some sellers. Many businesses in Fla. sell wild caught snakes, such as Black Rats and Black Racers.

[simpleyork]

Still haven't found a CB night snake, so I keep wild, thinking of getting COR so I can try to breed them, I keep quite a few natives, as they are some of my favorite snakes to keep. Also want to get a COR for longnosed snakes they are a fun species to keep. Would love to start producing some CBB native herps from where I live.

[Pirarucu]

I don't personally agree with keeping wild caught snakes. Seriously, there's a breeder for every type of snake out there. Buy a captive born snake and let the wild ones do their job in nature.Really now? Find me a Xenodermus javanicus breeder. I'm sure it'll be very easy for you, since there's breeders for every species...

[simpleyork]

Really now? Find me a Xenodermus javanicus breeder. I'm sure it'll be very easy for you, since there's breeders for every species...


Amen on that. LOL

[DrummingT]

It says you are from NY. In NY it is illegal to keep wild caught snakes without a Collect & Possess license.

It's illegal in NY to keep anything other than a Ball python or Gecko.

So who cares?

When laws are outrageous they must not be obeyed.

[SSSSnakes]

It's illegal in NY to keep anything other than a Ball python or Gecko.

So who cares?

When laws are outrageous they must not be obeyed.

I don't care. I love it when the DEC and other law enforcement bust people and I end up with their collections, because I am legal. If you don't follow the laws, you end up paying the consequences. And when these stories of illegal snakes go to the media, we all pay for it, because it creates bad public attention on our hobby.

And actually Ball Pythons are illegal in most parts of New York City. You can keep almost anything you want in New York as long as you follow the requirements.

[mrgrimm]

I am not from New York, but what is required to obtain the collect and possess license?

Any educational testing to ensure proper keeping? Or is it just another scheme for the government to take our money and get our personal information?

[SSSSnakes]

I am not from New York, but what is required to obtain the collect and possess license?

Any educational testing to ensure proper keeping? Or is it just another scheme for the government to take our money and get our personal information?

You have to have a purpose for the license, they can not be kept as pets. The reasons for a license are educational, exhibition or scientific. If you want to keep wild caught snakes, then make it useful and do educational shows and educate the public to help change the opinion about snakes. Be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.

[Aaron_S]

It's illegal in NY to keep anything other than a Ball python or Gecko.

So who cares?

When laws are outrageous they must not be obeyed.

Do things correct. It pays in the long run for everyone in the hobby. You don't want "outrageous" laws but do you fight against them? Do you think breaking them helps get them overturned?

I highly recommend everyone doing it the legal way. Much better for everyone involved. Including the animals we're all so passionate about right?

[Aaron_S]

Hey guys where do you think all the cb. Came from ive keep wild caught for 50 yr never had a problem my 2 cents

I'm going to keep wolves in my backyard. That's how we got the domesticated dog! By keeping and breeding them for certain traits! Same logic as yours.


On topic, I don't believe in keeping wild caughts of most commonly found animals. They have a place in ecosystem and it's best to leave them in it to do their job.

Yes, other people keep and buy/sell wild caught animals. Because someone else is doing crack are you going to do it too?

[CosmicOwl]

I think it's acceptable to collect some wild specimens to start a captive breeding program. As long as the harvest population is sturdy enough to withstand it. I think we should be careful with keeping wild caught snakes that are successfully being bred in captivity. On the other hand, if I saw a beautiful yellow rat snake in the wild, I might be tempted to keep it.

[LiL Zap]

No there's not.
Wasn't being literal. My whole point is that most species that people enjoy to keep in captivity can be obtained through breeders.

[LiL Zap]

Really now? Find me a Xenodermus javanicus breeder. I'm sure it'll be very easy for you, since there's breeders for every species...
*sigh* Wasn't being literal. All I was saying is that for most species that people like to keep in captivity, you can get them through a breeder.

[DrummingT]

You have to have a purpose for the license, they can not be kept as pets. The reasons for a license are educational, exhibition or scientific. If you want to keep wild caught snakes, then make it useful and do educational shows and educate the public to help change the opinion about snakes. Be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.

Back at you.

Your position is that you should be able to keep snakes and make money exhibiting them while everyone else is just screwed.

In fact I think it's more than fair to say you are a cop based on what you have written in this thread.

No I take that back. You're a rat and you should be fed off to a twenty foot python in the backyard of a New York legislator.

Have a nice day!

[mrgrimm]

Back at you.

Your position is that you should be able to keep snakes and make money exhibiting them while everyone else is just screwed.

In fact I think it's more than fair to say you are a cop based on what you have written in this thread.

No I take that back. You're a rat and you should be fed off to a twenty foot python in the backyard of a New York legislator.

Have a nice day!


I think what SSSSnakes and Aaron_S are trying to say here is that it is in the animal's and the person's best interest to follow local laws. Through positive public awareness and spreading the good news about responsible ownership restrictive laws can be repealed or even avoided all together!

Community action in large numbers is truly the only way to change society. A few outlaws here and there might believe they are fighting for what they believe is right, and that's cool...but in the end you may get in criminal/financial trouble and the animals may be confiscated and end up who knows where?

It's tough to follow what some politician thinks is best for you to live your life, but we all have to sacrifice a little here and there for the overall good. I wouldn't think any less of you DrummingT for keeping something that is outlawed as long as you provide proper care, but I also wouldn't feel sorry for you if you knew the consequences and had to pay them! That's just life these days, live and learn!

(I do think you are stretching things a bit here talking about feeding the guy to a snake, jeez man lighten up!)

[IW17]

Back at you.

Your position is that you should be able to keep snakes and make money exhibiting them while everyone else is just screwed.

In fact I think it's more than fair to say you are a cop based on what you have written in this thread.

No I take that back. You're a rat and you should be fed off to a twenty foot python in the backyard of a New York legislator.

Have a nice day!

Are you intentionally just trying to sound ignorant or are you just typing random crap that comes to mind? You've been on this site for 10 months and I can't remember you contributing an intelligent thought or bit of experience. You start trash talking and pushing back at people for no reason. He never said what he should be able to do, or what you shouldn't. He explained what the law States. So either you're a troll, or you should slow down and try to comprehend what it is you're reading.

As for breaking the law, it's simple. Don't do it. You want to change things, fight back. Get involved and change laws. Make your voice heard. Keeping animals that the law doesn't allow will only scar the community as a whole, making it that much harder to change stupid laws if you get caught. This is no different than when gun owners hear about some idiot who gets busted with a basement full of illegal firearms, or decides to take a walk with a loaded ar15. Right or wrong it makes the rest of us look like idiots, and it only fuels the flame to an already touchy subject.

[DrummingT]

I think what SSSSnakes .... trying to say here is that it is in the animal's and the person's best interest to follow local laws. Through positive public awareness and spreading the good news about responsible ownership restrictive laws can be repealed or even avoided all together!

Community action in large numbers is truly the only way to change society. A few outlaws here and there might believe they are fighting for what they believe is right, and that's cool...but in the end you may get in criminal/financial trouble and the animals may be confiscated and end up who knows where?

It's tough to follow what some politician thinks is best for you to live your life, but we all have to sacrifice a little here and there for the overall good. I wouldn't think any less of you DrummingT for keeping something that is outlawed as long as you provide proper care, but I also wouldn't feel sorry for you if you knew the consequences and had to pay them! That's just life these days, live and learn!

(I do think you are stretching things a bit here talking about feeding the guy to a snake, jeez man lighten up!)


No, that's not what Jerry the Snakeman is saying. I've watched his videos on YouTube. Have you? Not exactly a grand cinematic experience that you will share with friends, but watching them tells you everything you need to know about Jerry. Be observant while viewing.

Jerry owns an African Rock python that he has apparently tormented since the day he took possession of it, though he'll try to convince you that it's just the opposite. Simply watch the videos and decide for yourself.

This poor African Rock python appears to be the most vicious snake ever to slither across this planet, and Jerry not only makes videos showing himself in need of Hexarmor gloves to deal with it, but he takes this tormented animal on the road throughout New York state to exhibit to the public and make them understand that pythons which get large are extremely dangerous and should not be available as pets.

Have I misunderstood you? Is that the message you want to spread? Watch Jerry's videos and see for yourself. He also has interesting decor in the rooms of his house. Be observant.

"African Rock & Ball Python"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuMdU6_qcxw

Here's another A.R python video from Jerry:
"Big boys episode 18r"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p7uCYjlg-8

Notice that Jerry emphasizes that this vicious behavior is "normal for an African Rock python"

Funny that Jerry's videos on this A.R. python are the only ones on YouTube I've found where A.R. Pythons exhibit this kind of behavior.

Jerry the Snakeman promotes himself as an ambassador for the reptile community.

I just can't figure out where all the fear and hate for snakes is coming from, can you?

Here's what I think is a good video on the African Rock python:
"Huge African Rock Python"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8G4Mz63Wvk
_

Do you think Columbian Red Tailed boas are dangerous? Jerry the Snakeman makes them seem far too dangerous for the general public to own as pets. Here's his video of him tormenting the boa and other snakes:

"Bad attitudes episode 23"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr_KAwJrY2k
(boa fun begins at 5:42)

_

If you go around stabbing your allies in the back and supporting snitches for the enemy, it won't be long before your battlefield enemy has rolled over you and raised the flag commemorating their victory.

Good luck.

[FWK]

I find myself strangely torn as I read though this thread, it has taken an interesting path as is has developed. To address to original question parasites are always an issue with wild animals, have a stool sample analyzed and treat as necessary. Give the animal a good while to settle in before handling and realize that many wild caught animals will never be as easy to handle as CB snakes. I personally have no issue with keeping wild caught snakes and long as they are collected and kept legally.

Now this is where I'm a bit torn. This DummingT character offended my every sensibility with this statement:

When laws are outrageous they must not be obeyed.

Ignorant, irresponsible, dangerous, stupid, there are many descriptors for this sort of speech, none of them good. But then this seemingly personal, however well researched attack on SSSSnakes. I have had strong negative reactions to SSSSnakes posts here before as well but I regarded it as just a difference in opinions and everyone is entitled to their point of view. I got the feeling from brief exchanges I've had with SSSSnakes on other threads that he enjoyed the exclusivity of keeping snakes he had to have licences for. This is always a red flag and it nagged at the back of my head but I let it go. I should have payed more attention. I feel at the same time disgusted by DrummingT and somewhat obliged to him for shedding some light on an issue that had been bothering me. It seems we have two very different enemies of the hobby at odds here, one who disregards the law and the other who wants to keep the laws tight as they are so that he may brag about keeping these animals that are supposedly to dangerous for someone such as myself to keep. One brash and abrasive, the other condescending and entitled.

Back at you.

Your position is that you should be able to keep snakes and make money exhibiting them while everyone else is just screwed.

In fact I think it's more than fair to say you are a cop based on what you have written in this thread.

No I take that back. You're a rat and you should be fed off to a twenty foot python in the backyard of a New York legislator.

Have a nice day!

I like this post, as inappropriate and unacceptable as it is. It takes me through a range of emotions. Affirmation, confusion, disgust. Pretty much sums up what has happened here so far. I hope y'all are not done, it has been an enjoyable read.

[SSSSnakes]

Not to defend what I do, but I am an educator. Have been for over 33 years. I show snakes as what they really are and not a fairytale hobby, what we would like them to be. Some snakes are aggressive and others are very docile. To educate people and make them believe that all snakes are good pets and docile is irresponsible. I show snakes as being good and bad and promote conservation through education.

The Rock Python has been very aggressive from the day that I got him. Yes I use him to show people the aggressiveness of some snakes and yes that all snakes do not make good pets. Do we forget the African Rock Python that killed the two boys in Canada?

My snakes are used for educational shows, they are working snake, like police or service dogs. They travel around educating the public on snakes in our environment and not what may make a good pet. In NY you can not have snakes on a license that are pets, they have to be kept for a purpose.

If you have a problem with me having the proper licensing and the ability to own certain snakes that you can't, then get the licenses and start educating the public, and be part of the solution.

No one here really knows me and has no right to make a personal attack on what I do. I run a snake rescue and promote snakes in a real light. Because of this I have changed many attitudes about snakes and have helped many people over come their fears.

As far as the statement about the cinematic quality of my shows, I guess you missed the video of introducing snake clips. I tell everyone that I am not perfect and neither are the videos I make. If you don't like them, then don't watch them.

This all started because I mentioned to DrummingT, that he lived in NY and needed a license to keep native snakes. I guess it hit a nerve and he's trying to ruin my reputation. Personally I don't care. The people who know me know the truth. If it bothers you that I follow the rules and that I show the truth about snakes, then that is your problem. I'm sorry if you feel that showing an aggressive snake will hurt the hobby, but keeping illegal snakes and getting caught will do a lot more damage to the hobby.

[SSSSnakes]

It seems we have two very different enemies of the hobby at odds here, one who disregards the law and the other who wants to keep the laws tight as they are so that he may brag about keeping these animals that are supposedly to dangerous for someone such as myself to keep. One brash and abrasive, the other condescending and entitled.


I have never bragged about keeping snakes that others can not. I just state the facts of the laws and what can happen if you don't obey them. In fact I have helped many get their licenses and got them started on education programs. If following the laws and stating facts is condescending and entitled as you say, then I am guilty. I have not made any personal attacks or judgements on you, so why do you feel the need to do it to me?

[Akuma223]

From what I can tell SSSSnakes only has the hobbies best interests at heart. How is it condescending that he states the laws and the effects of not obeying them could have? He's been very helpful in giving me information on how to get licensing for educational shows and seems to agree that the laws are over the top in our state.

[millertime89]

I think it's acceptable to collect some wild specimens to start a captive breeding program. As long as the harvest population is sturdy enough to withstand it. I think we should be careful with keeping wild caught snakes that are successfully being bred in captivity.

This, so much this. Very well put.

I've known Jerry through this forum for quite some time and he's the last person that I would call an enemy of the hobby. If you get that impression from him you're barking up the wrong tree. He is one of the most helpful people around, but like many of us, won't hesitate to take advantage of you screwing up. You break the law, you pay the consequences. Welcome to adulthood. Try to be responsible.

[FWK]

Y'all seem to misunderstand me, I do not condone breaking the law. In fact I spoke out strongly against it. That was my intention anyway. I have a hunting license just so I can legally handle and photograph wild snakes in my own back yard, as unnecessary as it seems to me. If I'm driving home at night and see a snake crossing the road at risk of being run over I do not stop to help because road cruising by "artificial light" is illegal in Texas, as ridiculous as that is to me. If I'm driving during the day and see a snake crossing the road I still don't stop because I don't have a vest with 144 square inches of reflective material and I'd have to wait for the snake to make it to the shoulder anyway, as absurd as that is to me.

I've taken some time to watch a few of your videos and most are really pretty good (don't mind DummingTs comment about the quality of the videos, that was as uncalled for as suggesting you should be eaten) but in a number of videos you intentionally harass your snakes to make them bite and this "Bad Attitudes" episode is in particularly bad taste. You have demonstrated that not only are Redtails to dangerous for anyone other than trained professionals but apparently so are Hognose and Rat Snakes. And you have sufficiently proven that if you wave your hand in front of a Cobra who is in full blue it will smack its nose on the glass for your amusement. In another video you continually harass a Boa Constrictor that is also in blue so it will hiss and strike. If that is how you treat your Hognose and Cobra I can only imagine what you have put the underfed Rock Python through. Do you condition all of your snakes to be defensive? Whoops, I mean "Aggressive." More people contact you for shows to see dangerous, "Aggressive" snakes than would for docile, well kept snakes. More shows more $$$ eh?

Look, it is pretty clear you know you way around snakes and you seem to genuinely care for your favorites (the Burmese for example) but the strict (and absurd) reptile laws in New York are good for your business and if they were suddenly relaxed your profits would probably nosedive. So go on about how many people have been killed by Rocks or how Hognose are "rear fang venomous. They may not be deadly, but they are not harmless." It's good for business. Not good for hobbyists, even those as far away as Texas, but good for business.

[SSSSnakes]

Y'all seem to misunderstand me, I do not condone breaking the law. In fact I spoke out strongly against it. That was my intention anyway. I have a hunting license just so I can legally handle and photograph wild snakes in my own back yard, as unnecessary as it seems to me. If I'm driving home at night and see a snake crossing the road at risk of being run over I do not stop to help because road cruising by "artificial light" is illegal in Texas, as ridiculous as that is to me. If I'm driving during the day and see a snake crossing the road I still don't stop because I don't have a vest with 144 square inches of reflective material and I'd have to wait for the snake to make it to the shoulder anyway, as absurd as that is to me.

I've taken some time to watch a few of your videos and most are really pretty good (don't mind DummingTs comment about the quality of the videos, that was as uncalled for as suggesting you should be eaten) but in a number of videos you intentionally harass your snakes to make them bite and this "Bad Attitudes" episode is in particularly bad taste. You have demonstrated that not only are Redtails to dangerous for anyone other than trained professionals but apparently so are Hognose and Rat Snakes. And you have sufficiently proven that if you wave your hand in front of a Cobra who is in full blue it will smack its nose on the glass for your amusement. In another video you continually harass a Boa Constrictor that is also in blue so it will hiss and strike. If that is how you treat your Hognose and Cobra I can only imagine what you have put the underfed Rock Python through. Do you condition all of your snakes to be defensive? Whoops, I mean "Aggressive." More people contact you for shows to see dangerous, "Aggressive" snakes than would for docile, well kept snakes. More shows more $$$ eh?

Look, it is pretty clear you know you way around snakes and you seem to genuinely care for your favorites (the Burmese for example) but the strict (and absurd) reptile laws in New York are good for your business and if they were suddenly relaxed your profits would probably nosedive. So go on about how many people have been killed by Rocks or how Hognose are "rear fang venomous. They may not be deadly, but they are not harmless." It's good for business. Not good for hobbyists, even those as far away as Texas, but good for business.

Again your judgement is way off. None of my snakes are under fed. My so called "business", is run as a non profit. We do school shows for free and donate a lot of our time to community events. I have many aggressive snakes as they are given to me becaue we are a snake rescue and adoption organization. Yes, that is right, when you hobbyist, get a snake and it is aggressive, you don.t want them and they are surrendered to me. I keep them and add them to my shows because no one wants to adopt them. This is why I show the real side of snakes and not the fairytale side that the hobbyist want to see. If you watch all ther videos you will see I also show the calm snakes too. I have never had anyone who has seen my snakes in person tell me anything less than how well they are taken care of. You have no right to judge me for what you don't personally know. You are the one with the superior attitude.

And yes what fact is left out about Hog Noses? They are rear fang and the story about the bite was added to my web site with permission from one of the members of this forum.

[Cmwells90]

I'm actually interested in the "cobra being teased to attack the glass" can you please enlighten me as to how this is informative? I've never seen ANY of your videos, so please don't think this is a first hand account, but you seem to only talk about the good things you've done, can you please explain why it's good to see a cobra strike at the glass? Because if you're looking to show the aggresiveness of a cobra, I'm pretty sure most people know they are venomous and aggressive so this is just redundent and mean to the snake as a whole. However if this video doesn't exsist or is being mistold, then please provide me with a link to this video so I can see for myself.

[SSSSnakes]

I'm actually interested in the "cobra being teased to attack the glass" can you please enlighten me as to how this is informative? I've never seen ANY of your videos, so please don't think this is a first hand account, but you seem to only talk about the good things you've done, can you please explain why it's good to see a cobra strike at the glass? Because if you're looking to show the aggresiveness of a cobra, I'm pretty sure most people know they are venomous and aggressive so this is just redundent and mean to the snake as a whole. However if this video doesn't exsist or is being mistold, then please provide me with a link to this video so I can see for myself.

This is the last post I am going to make on this subject. The cobra in question, is most likely the Egyptian Cobra. He is aggressive and has struck at the glass since the day I got him. If me waving my hand in front of him, so he will flare up to show people what his hood looks like is so terrible, then again I am guilty.

I think one of the problems here is that I am a professional snake handler and educator and my snakes are not my pets. As I stated before my snakes are working snakes, like Police or Military dogs, horses and any other animal we use for more than a pet. I am not a hobbyist. I know you can't tell me that there are people on here that have never had a snake that strikes at the glass once in a while. The last rescue I got was a Ball Python that would strike at the glass every time some one went near the enclosure, that is why they gave it up. Now that I have it if I show it on a video and it strikes at me if I wave my hand near it, I guess I am going to be accused of torturing the snake.

I am going to make a video in the next few day called "Judge for yourself" and post it on my website and You Tube, showing theses snake in question, as for their aggressiveness and them being underfed.

I guess Steve Erwin tortured snake as well.

[fedupdon]

Where do you think cb breeders got there snakes from there not on snake that can't be traced back to a wild caught I be had more trouble with parks its from cb snakes than any wild caught as well as lab raised food I never had a problem with wild mice or birds and the biggest thrill of all is catching your own herp and the. See it thrive without wild caught
We would have no new blood lines

[DrummingT]

This all started because I mentioned to DrummingT, that he lived in NY and needed a license to keep native snakes.


NO, the problem started when you mentioned that you "love it when the cops bring me snakes that other people were keeping illegally""

In New York that means basically any snake other than a corn snake.

There are no permits or licenses available to New York citizens who wish to own cobras, rattlesnakes, reticulated pythons, scrub pythons, green anacondas etc.

In New York the general public is prohibited from owning any snake that is interesting. There is no legal process to follow.

Stop lying.

That's what your crafty position on this is, a lie.

[DrummingT]

Keeping animals that the law doesn't allow will only scar the community as a whole, making it that much harder to change stupid laws if you get caught. This is no different than when gun owners hear about some idiot who gets busted with a basement full of illegal firearms, or decides to take a walk with a loaded ar15. Right or wrong it makes the rest of us look like idiots, and it only fuels the flame to an already touchy subject.

In the 1990's California passed a law banning assault rifles. The NRA was gutless in their response and continued to defend ownership of AK-47 rifles under the guise of hunting deer.

Real defenders of gun ownership (I don't own any firearms and never have, but support those who choose to) funded a real organization to fight back called Gun Owners of America. Despite near violent opposition, the assault rifle ban was overturned.

More Americans are killed by guns in one day then all the venomous reptiles kept as pets have in American history.

There is no basis in fact whatsoever to place any limits of any kind on those who wish to keep any sort of reptile as a pet and that includes twenty foot retics and 15 foot king cobras.

If the state wants revenue from reptile owners to deal with alleged problems or services needed to be rendered then fishing licenses provide a model. The cost is modest, but imposed on anyone who wishes to fish in freshwater. You purchase a license for around $20 each year. You can then fish in any lake or stream in the state. Your Fourth Amendment Constitutional rights are not forfeited by inspections of your property, you are not required to provide your name and address with a listing of all the fish you catch and where. The state gets revenue, you still maintain your privacy rights and freedom.

This I could support. You want to buy a gecko at PetSmart? You have to show your valid reptile stamp. Corn snake? Same deal. If PetSmart wants to sell cobras, you need to show the same valid stamp.

Mail orders would be exempted from this. Of course, if you were found to not be in compliance with this actually reasonable regulation then you would -like an illegal fisherman- be subject to financial penalties.

If legislatures were really interested in dealing with a problem then they would be very open to this exact legal scheme. However, there is no problem, and their motivation is to attack their fellow Americans who they hate and loathe and refer to as "weirdos" and "whackos"

That's why you have to stand up to these unjust laws just as Rosa Parks once refused to obey the law and sit in the back of the bus.

There were those -and there still are those- who would tell her to "obey the law and if you don't like it then buy a car and get a drivers license"

You can't reason with such people, you must directly fight them and physically defeat them.
.
.

[Aaron_S]

..You can't reason with such people, you must directly fight them and physically defeat them.
.
.

Who suggested NOT fighting them? Have you begun fighting the process yourself? Have you gone in front of council with appropriate presentations?

I'm all for fighting the process and it's rather easy to do as I've done it. It can be lengthy and that's where I find most people rather "go underground" than actually do it the proper way. Most people are lazy and rather someone else do it for them.(but yet still complain as much)