Here is a post I started in the cyclura forum a coupple months ago and we had some discussion about it but it is probobly more for this type of forum so what do you guys think?

I think if you want to lessen the number of cheep throw away reptiles the US should have a tariff on all reptiles imported into the country. It should start at $10 for any imported reptile so now all the cheep reptiles will cost more and be more cost effective to captive breed. A Tokay gecko that now sells for $15 will now cost $30 to $40 and will only be sold to someone who really wants Tokay. Next others will be assessed on the desire to limit imports to either protect breeders or to increase there price so they are no longer throw away pets. $20 for iguanas (think how many would be collected in so Florida if you could sell 100 babies for $25 ea) All snakes start at $25 ea that would increase the price of imports to closer to captive raised prices. Someone could actually make money raising normal ball pythons if they were getting $40 or $50 each wholesale and morphs would sell for at least $200 ea if normals were $139 on pet shops. All torts $50 ea now breeders will get a fair price for low end torts like red foots if wild caught were $125 wholesale to start. Monitors $50. Large type pythons and boas $100 very few would get imported at this price and captives would be worth more and they would not be as disposable.
The taxing of imports would not change the laws of importation you could still get new blood wild caught animals and you could still import high end animals without any trouble or special paperwork needed you would just have to pay a little more for imported animals and what is another $100 on a $3000 animal.
This would make more $ for the government and make more money for people who captive breed and not make it illegal to bring in animals. Sure collectors in other countries would suffer to some extent but not as much as they would if we closed up completely.

This is one idea that is able to be done and more effective and realistic than many alternatives I have heard.
What do you guys think?
Rob

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