Hate to beat a dead horse....or do I?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ages ago we had a discussion and it evolved into whether or not prices affect how animals are treated (sorry Paul, my fault. LOL!!). I didn't like the idea of inexpensive imports or even CB animals as I thought it would create a "disposable" market. Of course other disagreed. Anywho, here's a post from a reputed breeder that seen many sides of the hobby for probably 30 years! It was posted on another forum, but it gives a different perspective on our previous discussion. I'm not re-opening this debate to pi$$ anyone off, I'm just trying to start intelligent, progressive discussion (which is what this site should be all about!!). Its about cheapo water monitors that are imported in great numbers to people who really shouldn't be keeping any reptiles, let alone a water monitor!!

Thanks to all who participate!

Posted by FR on Thu - Dec 19 - 10:14am:


Here is more to think about.
In most cases, as Daniel says, its an animal wellfare issure, rather then a conservation issure.

Heres some thoughts on that, first, the commonly imported monitors, are the monitor sold to the newest of keepers, beginers. They are sold to them because of price. The common ones are the cheapest ones. The real problem is, they are not necessarily the best for beginers, with waters being the very worse. To offer a monitor that can easily gets 6 feet and can reach 8 feet or more, is definately not for the first timer. Also, add to that, they are water monitors, that really complicates keeping them. In fact, all the commonly imported monitors are not good canidates for beginers. All have various problems, from size to parasites and other sicknesses.

Mangroves(indicus group) fit into this group as well. They are not nearly so nasty as Daniel thinks, but again, not for beginers. They are very agressive feeders and have very sharp teeth and at times slice up there cagemates in a feeding frenzy.

Of course, many captive hatched monitors are much better canidates, but they too have their own unquie problems. With these, because they do so well in captivity, have lots of reproductive problems, that don't occur with the wild caughts, those simple do not readily breed(so no problems there).

I believe if the price and availibily was equal, there would indeed be different choices made.

Neither here nor there, I was told that the reason some monitors are more availible, like mangroves was. They are hunted with dogs and normally go down holes or into water. While many of the other indo monitors are just as common, but they run up trees and are harder to catch. Those need to be trapped.

More neither here or there, I once worked at a reptile park and large anacondas almost never fed. After a few died, I prepared there skeletons, in doing so, I found their skulls had bird shot in them. They collected them with a shotgun, hmmmmmmmmmm no wonder they did not feed. F