Should giant pythons be kept in captivity? - Page 4

eyespy · 03-01-03, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy
Under 25 and teenagers are different though are they not? I can see the under the age of 25 thing. Last year I (19 at the time) got a rescue 13 ft. burm from a 50 year old women, what does that mean? Nothing really.

Some people shouldn't keep big snakes, its a responsiblity/comfortability thing, not an age thing.

Yes, they are different but maybe not so much as you think. Most of the 24-25 year olds who are looking to rehome their snakes got them as teens. It's just that they don't grow overnight and they could managed them when the snakes were smaller. And far more 18-19 year olds are trying to rehome their snakes at my rescue as they enter college and find they cannot afford off-campus housing.

ReptiZone · 03-01-03, 06:46 PM

the way I see it is that a burm is freeking big snake that not all should have the privalege of owning. But still some are good enouf to pull it off an old friend of mine is 25 and owns a zoo he had a burm at like 9-10 but he had a responsible dad that gave him a hand to do the things that are nessasary to it's survival.
most cases I see of dumping burms is a kid verry dedicated to his/her animals but think the kid dosen't make the house hold decisions the parents do, so when they they say you can have it (knowing how big it is going to be) then when moving time comes around and the land lord says no and they realise that they can't find a home because of thire large snake. they dump it. and the kid is crying in his/her room because they feal so bad about it.

so you see it is not always the teens fault( granted sometimes it is) but not always. So we should not stereo type them they may have a verry valid reason for thire actions. Maybe they wanted to start a zoo later a wanted to have amsing animale from the get go but not a bunch from a rescue cause I dont normaly buy adult snakes second hand why would you want some one elses problems?

any way that is my oppinion and it is probebly gona start a new debat, I hope to chane the fire into a diffrent direction

Chondro Python

Lisa · 03-01-03, 07:35 PM

When you're a single individual, getting a giant snake that will require two people to handle it isn't the wisest thing to do on your own. When katey and I got our burms we had to ask ourselves "are we going to be together for the long life of the snakes?" thankfully the answer is yes. You may be able to lift a 200# snake on your own but odds are you are not going to be able to control the snake by yourself against it should it decide to strike/constrict at it's adult size.

Jeff Hathaway · 03-01-03, 10:33 PM

I can't believe I just read through four pages of this... the whining almost makes the actual debate too annoying- almost:-)

Here's my opinion:

No one, regardless of age, needs to have a burm, or any other giant snake. However, some people do want them. Those who do should be required to obtain a permit to possess one. Permits should be issued based upon their experience, their understanding of what they are getting into, the resources they are able to put into husbandry, and their willingness to accept the legal responsibility of owning such an animal.

I would apply this system not only to giant snakes, but to any animal that is reasonably hazardous to human life. Venomous snakes, crocodilians, large cats, some large breeds of dog, etc.

Minors (in Canada, those under 18) are not able to accept the legal responsibility. Therefore, under my system, they would not be able to purchase giant snakes, regardless of their maturity, experience, etc. However, an informed and supportive parent could be given a permit and purchase a snake, and have the minor look after it.

Snakes could be sold by breeders, who assume the responsiblity of checking whether someone has a permit or not. Sales would have to be recorded in a logbook. Retail stores could do the same if they chose, though I suspect that most would choose not to.

Frankly, I doubt that very many owners of burmese pythons (regardless of age) have a good idea about the strength that a large specimen possesses, and how difficult it could be to control one.

I have taken in 3 burms and 7 boa constrictors over the last nine years. Only one was from a teenager. Most, however, were from people in their 20's who had acquired the snake as a teen or recently thereafter.

Someone (can't remember who) mentioned large cats and permits. Corey is quite correct about permits, and acquiring cats, or various other animals. There are no permits required in Ontario to own a tiger, or anything else except native Ontario wildlife, except for municipalities which have passed by-laws to that effect. This assumes, however, that all import laws were adhered to or WAAPRIITA could cause the owner some grief.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

marisa · 03-01-03, 11:23 PM

Oh mY GOD!

I stated that so clearly that I can't believe you said I am lumping people together.

Did I not say ADULTS AND TEENAGERS?

I clearly SAID SOME PEOPLE. Not ALL.

I will not participate in this thread anymore. Becaues A. You two aren't reading my posts and understanding them fully. B. Your replies are exactly the things I am saying although you aren't reading my posts and you cant seem to get that fact . C. You are TOTALLY taking my posts out of context an not understanding them and then saying "I lumped people" Which anyone who can comprhend my message can see I CLEARLY did not.

Its people who REFUSE to discuss this situation in a educated manner that are the problem.

I am done with this thread although I will participate if someone would like to actually read my posts and comprehend them properly

Marisa

marisa · 03-01-03, 11:26 PM

Jeff Hathaway has undersstood what I have said and I totally agree with him.

"Minors (in Canada, those under 18) are not able to accept the legal responsibility. Therefore, under my system, they would not be able to purchase giant snakes, regardless of their maturity, experience, etc. However, an informed and supportive parent could be given a permit and purchase a snake, and have the minor look after it."

This is EXACTLY what I agree with.

Marisa

Xetox · 03-02-03, 12:10 AM

No matter what we say or do is going to change the fact that anyone can get a large snake!

What we can do is do are best to teach those who want to get one, what they are getting into and hopefully that will help. I have takin my burm to alot of schools for educational purposes and there are alway at least a few students that approach me and want to know where they would be able to get one at. Thats when with my help I let them hold him and they get hands on what its like, for most thats enough for them, once I ask them are they ready to dedicate a large portion of there life to this animal, are they ready to feed a animal of this size. So far as I know only one student "as far as I know" has bought one......and this student now comes and helps me out almost every weekend and I have all faith that he will be a great owner!

All I am saying is with our help we can educate people on this!

marisa · 03-02-03, 01:49 AM

Xetox....I agree with you! You are right. Even dicussing this in a civilized manner won't get anyone anywhere. All we can do is answer peoples questions and hope they don't dump their burm or make the mistake of buying one without research.

Marisa

The_Snake_King · 03-02-03, 11:23 AM

What we need to do is educate the SELLERS!

If sellers refused to sell a baby giant snake to a minor or any other person unaware of the responsibilities, then the problem would be minimized.

I posted an portion of an article about responsible giant snake ownership in the other thread on this topic. And it say better than I can why this happen and what we can do to prevent it.

Education is the only way to help prevent this snakes ending up in shleters, released into the wild, or dead. So what we should be talking about here is the best way to educate a person BEFORE the purchase a giant snake.

BurmBaroness · 03-02-03, 05:32 PM

I realize that this has gotten way out of hand. BP5000, you go ahead and get yourself a burm, kid. That's what you need. I agree that alot of purchase of baby burms are by sellers who are looking at the $$. Here in the US, any kid with $80 can buy a burm, and thepet stores usually don't even tell the kid how big it will be, what it will cost to feed and house, etc. The point is, it should be regulated as to who can and cannot own a large snake. I don't know that the permit option would work, as people would just buy them illegally. I may be oversensitive to this issue, seeing all the burms that come into rescues. And yes, that IS what's tiresome and bothering, to see all of these large boids with no home, dependent on the ones who rescue them to take care of them, so they won't be put down. I am with Marissa on this one, some of you are not even reading the previous posts, and wasting time and space that could better be filled with people who have pertinent information or ideas.

Burm_Crazy · 03-04-03, 09:50 PM

You know what folks?.............

It isn't the people who buy the snakes that can stop this, or even those of us who are against the issue of unexperienced people getting burms. It is the store owner who sells the baby burms to anyone with $75 in their hand.

So we can educate the people who buy these til we are blue in the face, the only way to stop the numberous burms ending up in shelters/rescues is to educate the shop owners about selling to inexperienced people.

That still means that I feel that some of the people responding to this thread (and the other one i started) should not be allowed to purchase a giant snake. They are just too inexperienced and basically on a reptile buying frenzy.

marisa · 03-05-03, 08:01 AM

Maybe if someone wants to buy a burmese python and they come asking for info people should start saying that they need hands on experience first. Like with hots. If you want a burm, go work with one at someones house for a couple months. Clean those HUGE piles of crap, handle that huge snake...clean its huge cage, etc.

Marisa

ballpython5000 · 03-06-03, 05:19 AM

marisa i thought you were done with this forum?

marisa · 03-06-03, 09:15 AM

I was when it was only you replying.

And not to mention, I said THREAD not forum. But I wouldn't expect that you read my post completly.

Marisa

Pixie · 03-06-03, 09:56 AM

I definitely agree with Jeff Hathaway, The Snake King, Burm Baroness, Marisa, Burm Crazy... I feel it is up to those who breed and sell these giant snakes to hold most of the responsibility of who they sell the snake to. They know what they are selling and don't care about anything else than the $$$ instead of the welfare of the animal.

They should have a permit to sell giant snakes and under specific curcumstances, i.e. checking the knowledge of the buyer, where the snake will be housed, if the future owner can provide a home for the snake until it's full grown and for it's life span, proper husbandry, etc...

In my opinion, only a select few are capable of owning and caring for a giant snake for it's entire lifetime. I had considered it for a long time but decided against it, just too much for me to handle right now.

Pixie