It is a big issue with a long history. When I say everyone is part of problem (mind you, I do not mean that everyone has an EQUAL part of the problem), I mean that the industry is driven by greed. Its a tough pill to swallow, but people need to take it and accept it.
You ever acquired an animal and taken it upon yourself to care for that animal, provide for its needs until it dies of natural causes? Did you follow through on your word? Or did you eventually sell off that animal for money or trade it for something else you wanted better?
If your answer is the latter, then you put your own desires above the animals welfare = greed. And we all have done it; we've done it at shows, online, at gas stations, flea markets, etc.
Big snakes, big lizards, big turtles & tortoises...ever gotten rid of one because it got too large for you? Did you sell it? Well, sure maybe the person who got knew what they were doing, and maybe they didn't. But deep down, if you were honest with yourself, did you make the decision based on "I need money more than I need this animal." Mind you, I'm not asking you to respond to these questions on this thread, but just to look back think about those things.
[Now I'm not talking about rehoming an animal because you had to move or you literally got over your head and were financially unable to care for it, and gave it to a better home; that is different. Those cases are exceptions to the rule.]
And we've been doing this for decades...all of us.
Believe me, I'm in it, too. I keep stuff for various reasons: I got a ball python because he was my very first snake back in 1991 and even though he's cranky, and I don't care much for BPs now, I ain't getting rid of him. I have a anery cornsnake that was a rescue & pretty mellow that I keep primarily for my kids. I have tortoises that were rescues, and I keep mainly as pets for me and the kids. I have a water snake I have for educational purposes. That doesn't count all the stuff I have had over the yrs I have acquired and gotten rid of. A lot of stuff I wish I kept, and a lot of stuff I never should have gotten in the first place.
And there's a lot of stuff I still want, too! I want a Boelen's python. I want an Argentine tegu. I want Solomon prehensile-tailed skinks. I want to keep hots.
There's a reason I bring that up. My state is pretty lazy when it comes to reptile laws. Their mentality is: toss it on non-game listing (which requires little due process) and if it goes extinct, that's just nature's way. They also do not take much account for the pet trade. So if they feel it is justified, they may throw non-native species of any kind on the prohibited list. The only way to keep it is a permission letter from DCNR. But it is easier for them to say no to everyone because it is less work for them.
SOOOOO....what am I to do? Just sit around and whine every time they prohibit something else in my state? They already threw speckled kingsnakes on the nongame list, one of the most common and easiest to keep snakes in our state, and one of my favorite species. I can be an outlaw and just keep them anyway, but I can tell you what, fellas; animal control officers don't make enough dough to pay off tickets for keeping illegal wildlife if I get caught!
Just sayin! Maybe that works for some of you, but I got a wife and 2 kids. I can't afford to risk fines just to keep "whatever I want because I'm gonna stick it to the man."
...Or I can work toward change, toward a hobby in the future where my children can still keep a cornsnake in Alabama, and I can still get a Boelen's python or a Solomon Islands skink.
But I'm not a person who prefers stagnation or deterioration.
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I know this thread has taken some odd turns, but I feel it, for the most part has stayed somewhat true to the general topic. The OP asked what herps should be kept as pets, and people responded. Whether is it a matter of welfare or a matter of rights/privileges (irresponsible keepers, which arguably could go back to welfare), it is still an opinion of each poster of why they feel which species (if any) should not be kept. I posted which species, and explained why.
I know I've been accused of "dominating" the discussion (not sure how, it is a public forum, and anyone can chime and post as much as they want as long it is accordance to the rules)...but anywho, if anyone is interested in chatting the subject matter further with me, feel free to send me a PM, email, I'll be more than happy to oblige. I kinda feel like a broken record at this point though.
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