they should know better

[macandchz]

went to the summit co. fair in ohio yesterday. at the 4-H bulding they had displays of things the kids were raising as a project. there were chickens, ducks, etc. over in the corner was a sad looking display of 3 snakes. one looked like a fairly decent cared -for king snake, except it had no water and was on the same bedding used for chickens. the 2nd was a poorly shedding 5 yr. old corn snake. no water, same bedding. the 3rd. was labelled "baby corn snake" and it was in a plastic container like they use at snake sales-about the size of a margarine container-few air holes, no water. you would think adult supervised organizations would teach the kids the correct way to care for these animals. i assume these snakes were going to be left this way for the whole 5 days of the fair. really sad.

[sattva]

Not cool man, not cool at all!

When I went to pick up Fred his heat lamp was right in the middle of his tank... The first thing that when through my head was HEY! hows this snake supposed to thermoregulate! I was not happy... But I had to keep my cool, I was in the midst of negotiations. This guy has had this snake for 3 years! How could he not know this? He's a 22 year old kid who seemed to have his act together.

If that wasn't bad enough, when I went to pick Moe, It was the same thing! He's heat light {a light bulb, His only source of heat} Right is the middle; A hide that is a upside down plastic pot, way to small for him; and he has had this snake for 5 years! Once again I have to keep my cool...I know these guys have computers... I just don't understand it...Wow... just WOW!

[travesty]

Don't be afraid to speak up. Somebody's gotta do it.

[macandchz]

dear travesty- i went to the fair office and told them about the poor conditions the snakes were in-esp. no water. they were nice about it and said they would contact the owner. but who knows? fortunately, that fair should be over sat. nite. i always thought the 4-H club was to teach kids the best way to raise animals. it usually was farm animals. maybe the leader of this group should have stuck to cows!

[IW17]

Originally Posted by macandchz

went to the summit co. fair in ohio yesterday. at the 4-H bulding they had displays of things the kids were raising as a project. there were chickens, ducks, etc. over in the corner was a sad looking display of 3 snakes. one looked like a fairly decent cared -for king snake, except it had no water and was on the same bedding used for chickens. the 2nd was a poorly shedding 5 yr. old corn snake. no water, same bedding. the 3rd. was labelled "baby corn snake" and it was in a plastic container like they use at snake sales-about the size of a margarine container-few air holes, no water. you would think adult supervised organizations would teach the kids the correct way to care for these animals. i assume these snakes were going to be left this way for the whole 5 days of the fair. really sad.

I went to the same fair today. Saw the animals you're referring to. The conditions werent great but better than some pet stores honestly. That said what really got me mad was one of the carny games was giving away iguanas as a prize. Really? People can't even keep those damn goldfish alive, but now they're winning a lizard the grows six feet long and requires an enclosure the size of a walk in closet. Disgusting.

[trailblazer295]

Originally Posted by IW17

I went to the same fair today. Saw the animals you're referring to. The conditions werent great but better than some pet stores honestly. That said what really got me mad was one of the carny games was giving away iguanas as a prize. Really? People can't even keep those damn goldfish alive, but now they're winning a lizard the grows six feet long and requires an enclosure the size of a walk in closet. Disgusting.

Most of the goldfish at fairs are feeder fish that are kept in over crowded tanks and no medication. They are to feed other animals. School fair back when I was kid stopped offering them as a prize because they all died the next day. Funny that goldfish bowl started a 2 decade fish keeping hobby. bowl>2g tank>10g>20g>20g+pond lol.
I've bought a lot of feeder fish over the years for seasonal pond use and give them away at the end of the season. The average is half of them will die within the first week or two. This is with filtration, feeding etc.

I do get your point though, that is shocking they would do that not only it's stupid but that's an expensive prize.

[IW17]

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

Most of the goldfish at fairs are feeder fish that are kept in over crowded tanks and no medication. They are to feed other animals. School fair back when I was kid stopped offering them as a prize because they all died the next day. Funny that goldfish bowl started a 2 decade fish keeping hobby. bowl>2g tank>10g>20g>20g+pond lol.
I've bought a lot of feeder fish over the years for seasonal pond use and give them away at the end of the season. The average is half of them will die within the first week or two. This is with filtration, feeding etc.

I do get your point though, that is shocking they would do that not only it's stupid but that's an expensive prize.

I understand, and agree with you. I have no problem with the goldfish simply because as you said, they're bred to be eaten, and most will die even if they're not fed off. It just goes to show how little regard goes into the well being of the animals given away as prizes. Most people have no clue, or desire for that matter, to properly care for a fish regardless of its life expectancy. Giving away an iguana gives people the impression that these animals are just as disposable and require similar care, basically none at all. More and more I really hate people.

[sirtalis]

@IW17 the fair that comes through my town also had those, I remember one year my friend won an iguana and for about a year they kept it in a 10 gallon aquarium, consequently it died. No uvb/uva and a small cage recomended by the carnival

[AwesomeGuy376]

I went to a fair in california a couple months ago and saw some display snakes that were of course run by kids. God it was sad to see the conditions these snakes were in, ALL were soaking and ALL ad mites that were blatantly visible. No thermostats and a lot of snakes had burns... It was quite sad to see really and i regret not saying something, those snakes deserve better..

[macandchz]

i guess it's about who teaches the kids to care for them. i went to another fair today-the columbiana county fair in ohio. they had displays of lizards, turtles and 1 ball python. these animals were clean, had water, and were well cared for. they were also 4-H projects.