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The "disservice" statement is that because the snake isn't creating offspring to ensure the survival of the species. That is what the animals of the world do. It's what we (as humans) do. If you think deeply about it, it's truly what most of us strive to do in this world. Mate and bear offspring.
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I suspected that that is what you meant. So let me be sure I understand--I am doing my snake--which was purchased at a local petstore before I knew better (you've known this since approximately last June or July), and for which I have no genetic history--a disservice by not allowing it to breed, is that correct?
That is the same argument that people apply to their dogs and cats when they allow them to breed indiscriminately, with the result that we (at least in the U.S.) have very large unwanted dog and cat populations. Most of the unwanted animals are simply dumped--often in front of my house when they were too far gone (ill, starved) to save. Others are dumped at the dog pound to be destroyed; others are simply thrown out to fend for themselves and join a rapidly growing feral population of either species.
It is not an argument with which I can agree. I do not believe that purchasing a snake of the opposite sex of any morph and breeding it to this snake would be doing any positive service for the species as a whole, and it could be a huge
disservice to the offspring--who would want them? Do YOU buy BPs of unknown genetic heritage? From what I've seen on this forum over the past seven months or so, most of you with long-time experience with BPs, e.g., you, Mykee, Julian, and I'm sure others, are into breeding unusual or favored morphs for which you need extensive genetic histories. My snake is not one you would have ever purchased, nor would you ever consider breeding it.
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I do believe my statement was harsh and very bold to say. That is my argument though and I know you'll just turn it around and say I'm just the same.
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I'm not sure I understand these two sentences.
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Another point is that because they aren't being bred, but being caught and shipped over to us for "pleasure" then it doesn't help the wild population.
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That I definitely agree with. None of us, as I think you recognize, are helping the wild population directly by keeping captive snakes. However, three thoughts come to mind:
1) by breeding the snakes here in captivity, many of you are learning a great deal about these snakes that may indeed help the wild population in the future. As we learn more about genetic diversity, we understand more about its importance in survival of a species.
2) by breeding BPs in captivity, you may keep these beautiful animals alive when the wild population is no longer able to survive because its habitat has been destroyed by the encroachment of humans or by global warming changing the climate there too much. I foresee a future, a sad one to be sure, when few animals will exist in the wild, and those species that will still be alive will primarily be the ones that humans have preserved in zoos and as "pets." It's not a future I like believing in, but I think it is undeniable that that is where we are headed.
3) the snake I have was already here in the U.S., in that local pet store where I found it. Though I may be contributing to the disservice being done to the wild population--if indeed this snake was wild caught and not captive bred, which I take leave to doubt--I probably did a great service for this particular individual, as the next batch of BPs I saw at that particular store were not doing very well. So perhaps I have saved its life; on the other hand, I could be exaggerating the service I have done for this particular BP, as I don't know what its future would have been had I not bought it.
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Now will you finally respond to the question that Kyle did? I've made suggestions (two) in regards to a different type of enclosure that isn't too expensive but yet can work to benefit both the animal better and yourself.
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Apparently you have forgotten that I asked for your suggestions several days ago regarding more appropriate enclosures, and you provided several suggestions. Let me quote what you told me then:
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If you want to outright buy an enclosure then there's a few in the states I can recommend. Animal Plastics from what I've heard, are terrific. I haven't heard anything lately of them but I do believe they are still in business and make a great product.
Jeff Ronne at boaphile also makes enclosures. I've seen these first hand and they aren't bad. They have a lot of options to choose from so you can customize them fairly well.
Those are the two I would look into first. There's also Vision cages and I do believe freedom breeder may also make more than just rack systems.
You can build your own but it can be a bit of a hassle. It's certainly cheaper for the material but you make up for that in time.
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I copied all of that information and stored it in my extensive and growing snake information folder. I didn't think it necessary for me to repeat myself regarding my desire to find/create a more suitable enclosure. My apologies for ignoring your question this time.
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I don't find tanks very pretty for the most part.
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I'd post a picture of mine, which I think is fairly pretty even if it is the "wrong" kind of enclosure, but I'm almost afraid to do so!
Aaron, thank you very, very much for responding as you did in your last two posts--I feel much more comfortable with the less inflammatory rhetoric. I have learned a great deal from you, and I have a great deal of respect for your experience and knowledge. However, I, and many other people, learn better when we are given information politely and respectfully. I have always told my students that there is no stupid question--ignorance is something to eradicate through education. Quite often, the question that students are afraid to ask because they don't want to be perceived as stupid or ignorant is the question that about 80% of the students have on their minds; someone has to be brave enough to ask it so that they can all learn.
Thank you for your patience.
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