moving to Hawaii- seriously

[jncoclub]

Originally posted by jncoclub
I'll admit it, my fiance and I jumped right into the herpaddiction and the 3rd of our 4 snakes we got within a year's time was a burm. Honestly, we didn't know all that there was to know about it- but I'm trying to learn new things every day. "Clyde" is only 3 feet now, and in my opinion she is small for her one year old age (LOTS of feeding problems as a baby)- but I love her and refuse to give her up. My fiance is in the Navy, so there is at least one more big move in our future, and we don’t know where in the US that will be, but I know that we are taking the snakes with us. I’ve been with them a good year’s time and I can’t possibly think of giving them up. Honestly, I don’t understand how people can trade/swap snakes with each other. I guess I take them closer to heart. But I do know that I rather go through the pain of having to give her up than allow her less than a worthwhile life. If you have an 8 foot snake, you better know what to feed it unless someone left it on your doorstep and ran. (Sorry for the ramble, it’s been a long day at work.)

:( :( Ahhh crap… I can totally cry at any moment. In my own quote above I mentioned that my fiancé is in the Navy and we have one more move within the US, and how I would never give up my snakes. We never thought he’d actually get sent to HAWAII! :eek: We were rooting for Washington or San Diego, CA.

So now I am all mopey and don’t want to give up my 4 little girls. I will be moving to Hawaii (Pearl Harbor) before the year’s end and I can’t take a single one with me. I have put so much love, money, and time into my snakes that I can’t bare to let them go. No one in my family would take them; I don’t have any friends that I would want to have them. The only hope is that the exotic reptile shopkeepers who sold them to us (they no longer have the store but I have become really good friends with them) may want to take them- not to sell off, but to maybe keep them for us. I can’t picture selling or trading them like they were a baseball card or something. I also can’t picture giving them to someone else because I can’t see them caring and loving them as much as I already do.

I know there have been others in somewhat similar situations- how do you deal with it? It’s killing me. Yeah yeah- oh we’re moving to paradise and all that crap, fine, but these are more to me than just pets. What to do? Oh what to do??????:confused:

Pliskin- ball python
Boscoe- Colombian red tail
Clyde- Burmese
Mars- hog isle
(if I had a scanned picture I’d insert them here, but I don’t)
:( :(

[jncoclub]

A little help please.
:(

[Bryce Masuk]

You can bring them to Hawaii with you if your able to or you can sell them or you can sell a few and bring the ones you cant live without thats all I can think of..... good luck

[reverendsterlin]

no snakes allowed in paradise

[drewlowe]

That sucks cause no snakes are allowed in hawaii.

I have never moved so i don't even know how to do it. Sorry you have to go. Good luck finding them a good home.

[Darlene]

Do you know how long his post will be ? You could consider a foster home until you can keep them again.
Really feeling for you tho.

[Lisa]

I think the shop keeper on a temporary basis is the best bet. It's too bad your fiance can't chose his location. Maybe he can plead the situation and get reassigned to some where else?

We had the opertunity to move and I would be getting a dream job but we couldn't take the snakes with us. So I turned down the job.

[Bryce Masuk]

Really no snakes? There trying to do it here too. If the shop keeper cant take them I would sell them to members on here if possable and buy them back at a later date

[jncoclub]

I believe no snakes are even native to Hawaii (except water snakes). No snakes/reptiles period. He submitted his "dream sheet" to the Navy of the top 3 places he wanted to go: Bermerton Washington, San Diego CA, Kings Bay GA, then we had Hawaii as our 4th pick. Norfolk VA and Groton CT suck, so that's why Hawaii was before those 2. The choices were those 6, but the Navy picks for you over all. Noone thought that there would be absolutely no openings to those first 3 places.

We won’t be moving until late Sept or late Oct. In theory this was going to be our last move until Brian was out of the Navy (5 years) but I think he/we can move again after 2 years. Wouldn’t you think it would be a bit intrusive to put 4 snakes onto someone’s hands? I don’t know what to do, this is tearing me up.

[Darlene]

I'm so sorry. My brother had to do the same with his dog when he moved. I would have taken it but I already have 3 & his was not the best with kids (I tried for 6 months). Wish I was closer as I would foster for you for a couple years. Keep looking. You have a couple months to find someone for them to stay with. Best of luck.
SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP THIS LADY !!!

[The_Snake_King]

I am going overseas for a year next week, Monday actually, and I placed my 6 boas with friends of mine for the year. They are going to "boa sit" for me and I am going to pay "boa support" :)

This was the only answer I could come up with that didn't involve selling/adopting out my boas. Of the 6, 4 were adopted and the other two I had just purchased. The bad thing is that I just got them at the end of May and was on my way home from picking them up when this job opportunity came up.

So now they are all placed with people I know will care for them like they do their own, because they actually were theirs before I adopted/bought them :)

I don't know about 2 years let alone 5 years of having your boas in someone else's care.

Might be best just to find some great homes for them and start again when you get back to the states (mainland).


Good Luck.

[Reptile1]

hey,
im truley sorry to here that, :( .ME and my family have started a program called the RRP also knows as the reptile rescue program, we take reptiles that are mis treated,or from people who just cant have them annymore.We have 6 open spaces currently.I live in texarkana texas and i could give them all a wonderfull home,i have been in the hobby for many years and know alot about your snakes.I would be honered to take them off of your hands, as soon as i get my digital camera fixed i could also post some pics of them and show you how the are doing...Its up to you,i love snakes as much as you do,they are just like(well maybe more)inportant than people to me.Tell me what you think...

[Reptile1]

Please reply,im realy wanting to know your answer.I could take one two three or all of them off of your hands and take care of them...

[Herpkingdom]

Sounds like another person that started a rescue just to get "free animals".

[theroom101]

I refer to my BCC, Waldo, as my "baby" and I couldn't bear to live without him. I feel your pain in having to be seperated. My Dumeril and Burm are getting closer to me as time goes on, but nothing will ever replace the place Waldo found in my heart. I am with you, I don't understand the sell/trade aspect of snakes. I almost considered giving up my Burm rescue until I realized how silly that was, I could never willingly let him go. You don't see people raising puppies and then trading them away because there is another breed that seems interesting. My snakes are just as close to my as my mammalian pets. Anyway, I can't sympathize enough. If you get down to the wire, I would be able to foster one of your babies (except the Burm, one Burm is more than enough for any household) until you can return to the continent. I know you'd rather have them with someone you already know, but I have to offer just in case you find yourself out of options.

And I don't think I'd trust anyone that offers to "take them off your hands" ... just my thoughts.

Good luck, and stay strong. =)

[Reptile1]

NO NO NO!ME and my friends on the web all are for this,this is not that at all!We are saving them....We take abused animals or animal that are no longer wanted or just cant be kept and give them a wonerfull place to live,its not what you said at all.

[The_Omen]

NO NO NO!ME and my friends on the web all are for this,this is not that at all!We are saving them....We take abused animals or animal that are no longer wanted or just cant be kept and give them a wonerfull place to live,its not what you said at all.

Rescues also place animals out for adoption.
From what it sounds like, I think Herpkingdom hit the nail on the head and that you basically just want free animals.

[Reptile1]

did you ever give it time to think that they are up for adoption?
I know what im doing,you guys are always trying to get something started again...

[jncoclub]

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this. I haven't had a chance to get in touch with my shop owner friends in FL. I also appreciate your willingness Reptile1 to help take them off my hands for me- but with no disresprect, I have friends who I know very well and believe they have good hearts- but I can't bare to give the snakes to them because I don't know how well they handle reptiles- they just don't have any experience other than being over at my house. I think my best bet is getting in touch with my FL friends. It's hard- it sucks- and honestly- I have no idea what I want to do. I turn to all of you because I know I will get ideas/suggestions from you all and hopefully something will become quite clear as to what their future's hold in store for them.
Also, I'm sorry for the delayed response- I wanted to try to go thru the extended weekend without having to think about this- but I couldn't resist jumping back online. I guess I should just go outside, enjoy the weather, and come back to this later on. But again- if anyone has any other ideas/suggestion....

[ReptiZone]

Well this may be the worst advice you will ever hear but I will still tell you simply cause I did it just 6 days ago.

Now you are moving can't change that but you can decide what house you are geting get a house with a extra room and change the door nobe so it lock with a key place all your animals there if ppl ask why it is locked say somthing like your husband has a cd colection and he is paranoide that it will be stolen or somthing like that if it is a old friend well you can tell the truth. And make a 180 twist and becoume a person that can even see a snake on tv ppl will never suspect you at all.

I know I know it is the worst advice a person can give but despret times mean despret mesuresand if you will only take one with you in hiding that the burm it is way worth it.

[Cas]

Chondro Python, that may work if you're movign somewhere that you can drive to..... it'd be awfully hard to fly her snakes in without it being discovered that they were snakes.

Dawn

[Reptile1]

yeah,lol its kinda hard to hide a burmese...

[marisa]

Yeah you definitly wouldn't want to be screwing around with moving animals to Hawaii. A small small portion of my family lives there, and bringing in other animals, or even plants I beleive is a big no no.

They are currently having problems with the possibility that both Vieled chams and green iguanas are living feral on the islands. Both species could devestate native areas.

If I was you I would keep trying to find a friend or person you know.

Marisa

[bmxicans]

I have already thoguht of sneaking one with me- the burm (right now) is amogst the smallest but if we are going to be there anywhere from 2 to 5 years- she will definately become harder to sneak back out. I don't think she would let me try to but a wig and lipstick on her and call her Bernice. (I tried putting lipstick on my laborador retriever once- it wasn't pretty.) I htink it would also be shadey if I kept showing up at the pet store each weekend.

I made myself smile- I still have the liptick image in my head about my dog-- I made her look like a cheap floozey. :)

[Thomas]

also, where would you get the food? It would never work. Sorry for your loss and I hope you find someplace good for them.

[The_Omen]

Food really wouldnt be a problem for the snake in Hawaii..
It is easy according to many sites I searched, to bring a snake in, but they all say that you WILL be caught if trying to leave Hawaii with a snake.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=slv1&ei=UTF-8&p=hawaii+reptile+law

Hawaii does have an amnesty program, for illegal animals, but would you really want to sentence the snake to death when you are ready to leave?

Even then, since Hawaii is under a federal quarentine on a lot of things, is a bad mark or possibly a dishonorable discharge, something your husband wants following him around all his life?
(Dishonorable discharge is the same as a convicted felon as in loss of many rights in the US.)

Wouldn't be worth it to me.. I love my honorable DD214.

Best bet is to give up the animals, either by selling or giving away and biding the time in Hawaii till it's done.

[Invictus]

All I can say is what I would do in your situation. Take it as you wish. If I had absolutely no choice but to move and no way to smuggle the snakes in and out, I'd find good homes for them, hopefully with the promise of getting or buying them back when I returned to a place where they were legal. If not, I would mourn the loss of them for a while, and start completely anew once I moved again. There is a lot to be said for starting over again. You'll never replace them, but you'll always have room in your heart for new ones. That's just my 2 cents. If it's any consolation, I know most of us will be mourning with you. We all sympathize with the loss of beloved pets.

[jncoclub]

:(
I would love to sneak one in, but I would hate to have to hide it all the time. I like taking them out and handling them; I wouldn’t want to have to feel like I am harboring a convict from the state. I wonder how they would look going through the x-ray machine? I’m the type of person who would totally get caught doing that- it’s all part of my luck, or the lack there of. Taking them with is not an option. Hoping that my FL friends will hang onto them or suggest good homes is the right way to go. I will contact them this week and hope that I receive good news. Invictus put it well:
Originally posted by Invictus
There is a lot to be said for starting over again. You'll never replace them, but you'll always have room in your heart for new ones. That's just my 2 cents.

Crap.
:(

[Alicewave]

It would be so easy for me to help because I'm from Connecticut. but I'm going to be changing jobs soon (if all goes well) and that means Moving to new Haven or Hamden. My place probably wont be big enough to keep all your critters but if you are still desperate I might be able to accomodate one. When are you leaving?

[SCReptiles]

Yep, I say go underground. Venomous snakes are illegal in TN, luckily I can keep mine in GA, but I know plenty of people in this state with venomous. You can have your friends fed ex them to you the day after you move in and order all the food you need from Rodentpro.com. I am sure he will unmark the box for you if you tell him your situation. I bet there are under ground keepers all over the island. Best of luck to you.

[marisa]

I feel like its more than just "oh smuugle them in"

By bringing in exotic pets, Hawaiis natural eco-system and its native species could be ruined. I feel it would be irresponsible for someone to bring in a snake to Hawaii for this reason. Also, if your snake needs vet attention what do you do? Either a. dont take it because the vet will tell on you and tell authorities you have illegal herps or B. you'll have to go to shady vets who WONT tell on you, but being shady I can't imagine wanting that care for my snakes.

The more "underground" keepers there are there, the worse. As I mentioned these "underground" people have already let loose (on accident or however!) Green Iguanas and Chams which could both have a severe impact on Hawaii. It's not a matter of the law being wrong, its a matter of Hawaii being a very comfy place to call home for some herps due to the climate, and then taking over from the native species.

IMHO
I really hope you can find great homes for them here, in the mainland where they are both legal, and less likely to escape and cause havoc in the eco system.

Marisa

[SCReptiles]

What is your evidence that those lizards where released pets? Animals migrate; it’s a never ending cycle. A few years ago, iguanas showed up on some island, I can’t recall the name. Of course researchers went wild trying to figure this out. Then about 5 of them were discovered floating on a falling tree that had been blown on that course by a hurricane. Even if this girl’s snake were to escape, and I am sure they won’t, then what will they do? She does not have mated pairs and they can’t reproduce by masturbation. When I law becomes that constrictive, I have no moral qualms about ignoring it.

[Lisa]

Actually there have been cases of snakes reproducing asexually, it's not common but there was a case this year with a burmese python reproducing with out a male to help. How ever promoting the breaking of herp laws is the wrong way to do things, and rather irresponsible. The laws may be unjust (in this case I don't feel they are) but you don't change them by breaking them. Also if a species makes it's over on it's own, bully for them, it wasn't introduced by man. Look at the problems Australia is having with all the species introduced by man. It's well past time to start being responible about the ecosystem, and saying "one snake won't hurt" doesn't help, if everyone had one snake escape the place would be overrun. Look at florida where they have non native species out in the wild.

[marisa]

My evidence? Have you not seen the countless shows in nature channels talking with Hawaii officals about this? I believe specifically the vieled chams were MAN introduced. And are now become a "possible" problem for native species.

There are, like Lisa mentioned, COUNTLESS other examples around the globe where man introduced species have wiped out native ones. All because someone imported them illegally. Sure some "drift" through as you mention but many are released and escape.

I am 100% positive she would take EVERY measure to make sure her snakes did not escape, but as well all know even escape proof cages have been escaped from. And we aren't talking about a Canadian climate here, Hawaiis climate is preferable, and tolerable to many many species that are not natives there. This is *exactly* the reason Hawaii has such strict laws.

I am including some links:
http://www.maui.net/~mauinews/cgnews6d.htm - Talks about the Cham problem in Maui, four have been found as of this article and they are fairly sure there are more, and sure they are escaped pets.

Qoute from article: "'I think there should be a lot of concern,'' Duvall said. ''It could spread over large areas of the island and have a very large biological impact.'"

http://starbulletin.com/2001/02/17/news/story3.html Another article talking about a problem with geckos....and a qoute=
"The giant day gecko is the 30th species of alien reptile or amphibian to become established in Hawaii," said Kraus. "Like most recent reptile introductions, it came via the illegal pet trade."

There are hundreds more articles just like this one. Loud and clear the reason NOT to sneak things in Hawaii and break the law if you ask me.

Marisa
P.S. I would also liek to add: this is not just about the law being wrong, this is a VERY sensitive area (hawaii) If Ontario say made snakes illegal to own, you better believe I may in fact ignore the law because I know I am not even close to being able to hurt Ontario ecosystems, but in Hawaii a person must realize its not about the government being jerks, its about the possibility of this wonderful place being devastated ecologically.

[Alicewave]

Plus even if they don't get loose, what happens if the government finds out about them. What is their course of action? Putting the animal down is quite likely. Better to find them new homes or temporary homes until you move back to the mainland.

[SCReptiles]

Lisa & Marisa, I don’t want to come across as degrading or insulting to you. I am sure you are both very nice ladies, but we are on complete opposite ends of this issue. I believe we have the God given right to keep animals. My basis, the bible. In Genesis God gave Adam dominion over the animals. Legally I do not think this principle has an end, but morally I think it ends at the useless slaughter of animals. I also think we have a constitutional right to keep snakes. We are guaranteed the pursuit of happiness. My right to pursue happiness stops only when it begins to interfere with another’s pursuit of happiness. Now, if a state or local government makes a law that contradicts God’s law and/or the constitution, then I have no problem ignoring such a law. Also I think HI is being quite hypocritical. The importation of lumper is bringing in more problem species then private keepers would in 50 years. They are not stopping the lumper??? The state should institute a system for herps just as FL has done for venomous. Make the keepers be accountable. If they would do that, I would have no problem telling this lady to follow the law. Since they decided to outlaw keeping, sure I say do it anyway. I know I would. Call it irresponsible or any other dispersion you like, it’s irresponsible of the HI government to over step their bounds.

There have been no cases of asexual reproduction. They are cases of sperm retention. The female can retain the sperm until she feels the conditions are acceptable to produce. A female Timber Rattlesnake was collected in MO in 1995 and housed by herself at all times while at the nature center and produced a littler in 2001.

You can not compare the problem in Australia to this situation. Those animals were brought in and released there hoping they would populate. If Jncoclub was planning to buy 1000 female burms and 200 males and turn them loose in HI, I would tell her that is a bad idea.

Your nature shows and the HI officials, they will quickly blame keeper and the pet trade cause they are not in bed with them. They are taking huge contributions from the lumper industry and will not say or do anything to effect that.

How the quote should read: “I think there should be a lot of concern, but I have been bought off, so I will blame everything on private keepers cause they are easy targets and refuse to pay me.”

[Lisa]

You have the right to persue happiness, how ever actually getting happiness is not garanteed. And your right to persue happiness will interfere with other peoples right to persue happiness by damaging the enviroment around them. As for god given rights, in the bible it says that slaves are fine, does that mean I can start keeping slaves? Lets seperate the church and state as your gods kingdom is not of this world, and we no longer live in the garden of eden.

As for asexual reproduction, reptiles magazine reported earlier this year about the case of the burmese python. I think they could tell the difference between sperm retention and asexual reproduction.


Here is a list of prohibited animals in hawaii. It doesn't list all reptiles, just some.

As for the number of animals required, you don't need many. 90 years ago 17 mongoose were introduced into Okinawa as a measure against the mice, rats and the habu. Now there are estimated to be 10,000 and the mongoose is now threatening the exctinction of many native species. Okinawa isn't the only place that has foolishly imported mongoose. Hawaii and Jamaca have both had mongooses imported and it has been directly responsible for the EXTINCTION of 31 species on the 2 islands combined. I think Hawaii has these laws due to unfortunate experience. And mamals aren't the only problem, right now Guam is having problems with both habu and brown tree snakes overunning the island. It's one thing if the animals make it there on their own, it's another if they were helped by man to get there.


Here's the penalty for importing into hawaii. the final little bit at the end could keep you broke forever.
Penalty:
Any person or company who violates Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or rules adopted under this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to fines ranging from $100-$25,000 and/or one year in jail, and costs for recapturing, eradicating, or controlling the pest.

[remsin76]

dont try to smuggle them. i am pretty sure its impossible with all the security u will msot likely be caught and fined like crazy.

[marisa]

You are treating this like this person is moving to say Ohio.

There if they made herps illegal, I AGREE WITH YOU! Its not their right to take away OUR rights! If they tried to take them away where I live, still agree with you! No way!

but when something can so OBVIOUSLY hurt the surrounding enviroment you don't care as long as your personal rights are in place? Its NOT about that in Hawaii man! Its about it being the perfect enviroment for non-native species to live! Can't you understand that the whole "no one is taking my herps away from me" doesn't have ANYTHING to do with Hawaii? Its about being REPSONSIBLE for the enviroment around you. It has NOTHING to do with reptiles being bad pets, being illegal because the government sucks or anything like that. Reptiles could DESTROY hawaii's enviroment.ecosystem! If all you care about is yourself and would insist on possible adding to an already bad problem in Hawaii then that's on you. But I don't think ANY responsible nature love, or herper would do such a thing, thinkign they are standing up for their "rights" when clearly they could help destroy a beautiful delicate ecosystem.

Marisa

[SCReptiles]

You both continue to revert to the environmental damage. Again I say to that, this lady’s snakes will do absolutely no environmental damage. I do not support the introduction of non-indigenous species in HI or anywhere else. Introduction is always done with good intentions and the results often backfire. Why would you compare keeping snakes in your home to mongooses being introduced to Okinawa? What does that have to do with what we are talking about? I already said I would not support her if she intended to release a breeding colony. And if Reptiles reported a case of asexual reproduction, then I say they were wrong. Please give me a feasible scenario in which this lady’s burm could escape and do any wide scale environmental damage?

[Alicewave]

Originally posted by SCReptiles
Please give me a feasible scenario in which this lady’s burm could escape and do any wide scale environmental damage?

BWAHAHA! Burms escape all the time! They are strong and lots of times are put into enclosures not designed to contain them. Accidents happen. It's always a possibility. You still have yet to address the fact that WHEN the government finds out about the animals (and they will find out, awfully hard to hide a burm during a sun soak. Especially if Hawaiians know the laws, the minute the animal is spotted it will be reported) they will be removed from the home and very likely killed. What good does that do anyone? Is it really worth the risk of damage to the environment AND death of the animals when she could just find good LAWFUL homes for them, perhaps even temporarily until they return to the mainland. Not to mention that we're dealing with a member of the military here. Think of the ramifications if it were discovered her fiance broke such a law.

[SCReptiles]

Originally posted by SCReptiles
Please give me a feasible scenario in which this lady’s burm could escape and do any wide scale environmental damage?

Where is the wide scale environmental damage? That is everyone’s point. But I can not see a scenario of a burm causing wide scale environmental damage to HI.

BWAHAHA! Burms escape all the time! They are strong and lots of times are put into enclosures not designed to contain them. Accidents happen.

Sure they escape all the time. I’ll agree with you, but that is not wide scale environmental damge.

[marisa]

Its CLEAR that people importing ILLEGAL reptiles into Hawaii has caused damage!

I can't beleive anyone into herps would be so inconsiderate of the ecosystem and not understand how people smuggling in pets could pose a problem!

All these people who thought "gee my cham won't hurt Hawaii I will bring them in!" WERE WRONG!

Do what you want and tell people what you want but anyone willing to add to a growing problem is not all out for herps in my opinion, they are out for themselves and what they can keep and thats' all they care about.

Marisa

[jncoclub]

A couple things and an update regarding my call to my FL friends:
1- Wow, regardless of my situation, I think I started a good thread. I appreciate everyone’s passionate/ from-the-heart responses.
2- In the article that Marisa last posted there is the quote: “Possession of illegal animals in Hawaii is punishable by fine of up to $200,000 and three years in jail.” I love my snakes, but that is a lot of money; I think we will all agree on that. Plus, I already got tweezers taken away from my carry-on while going thru a metal detector.
3- All my snakes were probed numerous times and each time it concluded that they were all girls. I honestly don’t think my girls would start asexual reproduction, nor do I believe a male burm will float on a stick to the islands where they will mate and take over the ecosystem. However, if anyone actually read the book “Jurassic Park” (different from the movie) and watched the 2nd Jurassic Park movie, all of this is truly possible.
4- You can see how bad I feel about having to find new homes for 4 snakes, I don’t think I could handle taking down an entire ecosystem.
5- My over all tone is that I absolutely love my snakes, but the reality of the matter is that we will be in Hawaii the minimum of 2 years, most likely 5 years, and heck, if he reenlists and we love it- 13 years. (My money is on the 2-5 years) I unfortunately do not see taking my snakes with as being an option.

Phone call to FL friends: (FYI- a couple opened up an exotic reptile shop in FL, after 3 years they shut down due to building health hazards, they will not be reopening.)
I called last night and told one of them my problem. Long story short, she just recommends that if I can’t friends to care for them (she is still trying to sell off 3 snakes that she still has from the shop- they can not take them for me); that 1) I have to suck it up and try to sell them, 2) to contact local reptile shops (i.e. Regal Reptiles in Rhode Island) and see if they will buy them from me, 3) contact humane societies (in CT, RI, MA, NY) in the event they know of anyone looking for reptiles, 4) ads in newspapers, 5) just give them away for free to a known good home, and last resort, 6) a reputable reptile rescue. She believes I would get more money for them up here than in FL.

So here I am now. I want to have them in their new locations by October (we leave CT Oct 10). I have a lot of research in front of me. Any additional suggestions as to where/how I should start?

[Alicewave]

Like I said, I'm in CT. I'd rather not but if you can't find any other solution I could take 1 and give it a good home. I think you made the right choice, hard as it is.

[jncoclub]

Alicewave- Thank you for support. What sort of reptiles do you have, how long, etc?
I feel like I am supposed to interview you to see if you’d make a good match.
*Ahem* Contestant #1- if my snake was going out too much with her friends and
came back home late smelling of cigarettes and booze- what would you do?
I will definitely keep you in mind should the situation become desperate. Any particular snake interest? We’ve got a ball python (which I think we may have found a home for) a hog isle, burm, and a columbian red tail. My roommate just got a digital camera- so I hope to be posting pics soon.

[Alicewave]

The Hog isle I'd be interested in. I have a lot of Leos and a Rosy boa. Space is tight right now but if I get this job I'm hoping for I'll be moving to my own apartment. As long as the setup comes with it would be no problem. I've been into reptiles since Summer of 2001 so that makes it 2 years.

[jncoclub]

I'll keep you posted!
As for right now I need to put some attention toward finding myself a job out there. Anyone know any one...? (College educated with 2 degrees: psychology and communication studies w/ emphasis in organizational comm....) :)

[Alicewave]

Maybe you could work at some fancy hotel resort, not sure they have much else in Hawaii.

[jncoclub]

I'm thinking working at a reptile zoo is out of the picture.

I know it is tourist city there- I can hope to find a good job in that category- I wouldn't mind that at all.

[Lisa]

You could always work over the internet and telecomute

[jncoclub]

My friend was trying to help think up ideas for me, the conversation went pretty much as follows:
"How shapley are your hips? You can be a hula dancer. Can you juggle? Ooo! What do you think about flaming sticks!!??"
She wasn't too helpful.

As for the snake situation- I work at Pfizer in the vetinerary health area, I never even thoguht about posting ads at work. We even have a intranet classifides section. In April I saw a ball python for sale on it, needless to say, it's still posted on there.

[Alicewave]

It's worth a shot anyway.

[jncoclub]

My roommate took his digital camera with him to FL. He'll be gone the next 2 weeks, but I think I can borrow one from my neighbors. It'll be helpful to get the ladies posted around town.

[jncoclub]

We got a couple pictures with my frined's camera, now we need to figure out how to get them onto the computer...

[jncoclub]

... so close, we can't seem to get them off the camera and onto the computer.. so... very... close.....

[NewLineReptile]

To bad you are so far away i would take your burm and give it a good home i have 4 now and would still take another. Hope everything work's out with finding out what to do with it

heres 3 of my 4 Burms
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/1639cbj.jpg

Good luck
Brandon

[jncoclub]

While we are working on figuring out my friend’s camera and getting the software onto my roommate’s computer, I believe I did find my last resort for my snakes, if I can’t sell them off to wonderful homes. I know everyone’s thoughts on reptile rescues but I was given info from local shops and vets of a place in CT called Ashleigh’s Garden which was a rescue for reptiles and amphibians. I called up the place, explained my situation and then started asking 101 questions. The woman I spoke with said that she would prefer that I came to the rescue to talk and take a look for myself.
The outside was very well kept and I was shocked to smelled roses when I first walked through the doors- I was standing in a flower shop. Several women greeted me and I was told that the rescue was the back half of the flower shop. All proceeds they gain from the flower shop go toward supporting the rescue. So they lead me to the back where there were several extremely well kept rooms. The rooms were very well organized and exceptionally clean with tons of tanks that had all sorts of snakes, lizards, geckos, monitors, turtles, iguanas, you name it, I think they had it. Each tank was clean, had hide holes, water, climbing sticks, and even fake plants and flowers to make them look pretty. Their staff consisted over several vets with specialties in herps, several retired doctors, science teachers, volunteers of every age and people who just gave a damn. They try to handle every animal several times a week. The rescue started with an albino burm that had such a horrible RI that if you held it upside down, snot and such would continuously flow out for minutes. The enclosure they had for the burm was unbelievable and the burm is doing great today! I walked around with this woman who for 40 minutes told me the name and history of each herp they had rescued. You can tell how much she cared and gave a damn.
Not all the herps were rescues, they did buy some. They take some of the most docile snakes in great health and use them for educational/informational shows at schools and clubs. They even bought a few anacondas to educate people that anacondas weren’t as bad as the movie “Anaconda” made them out to be (which in turn gave the herp world another bad rep). She said that they do not do adoptions and will not sell any of them. They recently got a new alarm system to prevent break ins. They really have a wonderful collection and they are all so passionate to help the herps that I pretty much teared up in the place and knew that I would feel comfortable donating my snakes to them. When I first spoke with the woman on the phone (I have her name written at home somewhere) I even asked that if I am gone for only 3 years or so, and if I came back, would she give the snakes back to me. She was never confronted by this question before and said that she wouldn’t see a problem with it only if I was able to take good care of them and not leave the mainland again.
There were like 3 or 4 rooms. Two of the main rooms were meant for the tank animals, one other room was converted solely for (I think it was 6) iguanas- it even had bay windows for them to sun themselves! They had a big macaw in some other room where they were getting back a sulcata and somethingerother else.
As much as I don’t want to give my girls up, I really do think I would feel comfortable giving them to this rescue. I would have no problem even sending them a donation each month (whether I give them the snakes or not) because they really are doing such a great job at trying to help these reptiles.
Well, that’s my update for now. Sorry it was so long- but it’s very important to me to make sure they live happily ever after.

[jaybox_reptiles]

were are you located i will adped them if you would like

[lordkovacs]

they figure crocodiles migrated from africa around the world. to australia, south america, north america, asia...

[Jeromerules]

Cool. Congrats on the move to hawaii. I lived in hawaii for a couple months also. Great place to live. Job's are a little harder to find depending what you are looking for. I lived on the Island of Kauii so there wasn't many job opportunities for me. But say if you are moving to Oahu there are tons of jobs involving the tourism industry. Good Luck and have fun.
Aloha
Jerome

[jncoclub]

I will be on Oahu. I'm really not set on what industry I would want to work in per say, I've been in tons, but the tourism world seems like it would be interesting.

We currently live in Groton, CT. With the move comes so many things to think/research/plan that I found the reptile rescue as my last resort, just so I can spend some time looking into things such as a new job, home, etc.

I'll admit it, I'm timid to just give them to anyone. How do you pick who you should and should not sell to? No disrespect to anyone who’s offered, but it seems like many people are willing to ‘take them off my hands’ for me, no one has offered to buy them. I know anyone will take them, but how do I ensure they find a good home?

[Alicewave]

You wont get offers to buy them. Offer a selling price and go from there. I offered but I couldn't really pay you much for it. I wouldn't buy it anyway because I would want to give you the option of taking it back when you return to the mainland. I'd guarantee it a good home but that's up to you who you decide to trust. But I don't have a lot of experience with snakes so you can certainly find a better home than me. But if you want someone responsible who wont let it go hungry and keep it clean and all that that's a different story. If they are people in the area, ask to see where they live and see how other herps are kept to get an idea. The more I post on threads the better idea I get if someone is a responsible herper or not. The best you can hope for is the vibe you get when you meet someone. I don't blame you for being hesitant certainly. One thing that bugs me about the herp world is the way that people don't screen the homes the animals go to like responsible breeders do with dogs or cats. Most (not all) herp deals leave that up to herp rescue organizations to deal with the ramifications of an unfit home. So anyone with no experience can very easily obtain a snake they can't handle and it's really sad. I commend you for being concerned about their well being and making sure they go to wonderful homes. I wish more people had that atitude about reptiles.

[jncoclub]

Let's see if this works... (if not, I was just trying to post a few pics, sorry they're not the greatest- but I like them of course!)

Boscoe- colombian red tail
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/437boscoe_1-med.jpg

Mars (preshed) hog isle
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/437mars_1-med.jpg

Mars & Boscoe
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/437boscoe___mars-med.jpg

Clyde (burm)
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/437clyde_1-med.jpg

Clyde again
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/437clyde___brian-med.jpg

And if it works, there's my ladies (excluding Pliskin the BP, she had a full belly and so we didn't take her out for pictures).

These are the gals that I don't want to give up.

[jncoclub]

And because I'm on a roll with the pics, here's an old one of the hog and redtail...
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/437mvc006s-med.jpg

[Alicewave]

Pretty snakies. Must break your heart to give them up.

[jncoclub]

Thank you.
I've got about a month and a half max before I have to say good bye. Finding them homes has slightly been on the back burner- tonight my fiance and I are going to tell our parents that we are getting married in CT by a chaplin on the naval base and that we don't want a big thing in Chicago. My mind has been a tad elsewhere. His parents will be fine, mine are a whole other story.

[jncoclub]

Ok- wedding over- went well, now I'm back to the snakes and finding them a good home....