There should be no such thing as a $30.00 burmese python or any other properly maintained snake. The future is mandatory “chipping” every single snake in captivity. It is the only way. Before you say “impossible”, it is something we all need to get on the bandwagon and embrace and champion the cause. If we as keepers insist on it for every snake we produce, buy, sell and capture the thought of an unchipped snake takes on the aura of an unregistered firearm or car with fake papers. We need an American Sweaterbox Club A.S.C. equivalent to A.K.C. for dogs. Imagine every lineage documented. A registry to every import, hybrid, venomoid and field collected snake that makes up the official hobby. If you breed, you must have the equipment and registration cards and chips for every adult and neonate. Veterinarians will chip just like giving rabies shots. You must keep inventory and records of every transaction, death, escape, birth and parentage. Dogs without papers do not command the price of a registered dog. You will be compensated for the contribution. Prices will have to reflect the fact that these are cultured pearls. There will also be consequences when a snake registered to you ends up in somebody’s toilet. There should be no penalty for honestly reporting an escape of a registered snake. If it is found, it can be returned. Maybe some of us are not responsible, we should be weeded out. You will have to be responsible in your recordkeeping. You should be doing it anyway. If you resist you are unfit to represent yourself as a responsible (A.S.C.!) keeper. Why keep this hobby as some redneck fringe? That is the perception, and it is really unfair to the keepers that are more dedicated to this than many top dog breeders. What makes someone a top dog breeder? This is not scary Big Brother, it is elevating your hobby and business to legitimate and responsible refinement. I post this here because hot keepers should be the most educated, advanced and experienced keepers. And the fringe of the fringe!

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