For anyone who prefers not to get bummed out at this festive time of the year, please skip over this post. Mostly I'm probably addressing this to the older forum denizens whose memories reach back far enough to remember the last time the economy really tanked (let's say 1978 - 1981).

I’ve been considering what the worst consequence of the bad economy could be for the ratsnake hobby. My guess is that species (and special types) with very few breeders in the hobby might disappear altogether from the market. In addition, because of the increasing legislation in many parts of the world (Europe especially) that prohibits collection and sale, that it might not be possible in the future to get these species back.

I was curious whether anyone else had been thinking along these lines. And if so, which species or types of ratsnakes would you guess are most at risk of disappearing from the hobby in the next couple of years?

I’ll go out on a limb and guess eastern foxsnakes (gloydi), aesculapean ratsnakes (longissima) and ladder ratsnakes (scalaris).

Of course I hope I’m 100% wrong but I’m guessing that financial problems will force some people to move and/or give up the hobby. When that happens I’m guessing that the least well represented species will be most at risk to eventually die out.
What do you think?

Regards
John

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