Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay.. please let me start this off by saying I in no way intend this to be negative. just something that has been crossing my mind for awhile now.

Let me also say I keep a butter phase corn snake, a wonderful ball python, two amazing fat leopard geckos.. and would like to get a B.C. I some time in the future.. that being said..

let me also prelude this comment by saying.. i worked at the reptile room at that fish place.. and helped out the north museum with their reptile room for a summer...

here is goes...

I see so many 'young' kids.. and so many Burmese/Retics for sale at local pet stores.. I see tons of kinds on these forums who have 6 baby burms retics.. I just want to know.. do most of these people really see the reality of how large these snakes get? I mean.. i've been around 16 footers.. these are very large powerful snakes.. VERY friendly.. beautiful.. but there is just a part of me that wonders if half of the people who own them are ready for the money/time it takes to see these snakes through in the long run... please please, don't flame me.. i'm really not trying to come down on ANYONE.. i my self have been considering if I could take care of one myself for a few years now.. I always end up shying away.. and i figure that a full grown BCI is about as large a snake I could keep..

i'm rambling.. I love seeing your full grown burms.. they are such wonderful beautiful snakes.. but I see sooooo many babies.. why? there just seems to be more people with more baby herps then people with large old wise herps..

just something thats been on my mind

thanks alot for putting up with me
-badevilcow

I completely agree with what you are saying. Many individuals purchase these guys without thinking about what they are getting into. But in the end, there really isn't anything that we can do about it. The private breeders and the pet industry as a whole isn't going to do anything about it. The pet industry is largely unregulated and just invites government control. It will take a ban before anybody learns and by that time, its already too late.

Chris

www.herpfanatic.com

>>Okay.. please let me start this off by saying I in no way intend this to be negative. just something that has been crossing my mind for awhile now.
>>
>>Let me also say I keep a butter phase corn snake, a wonderful ball python, two amazing fat leopard geckos.. and would like to get a B.C. I some time in the future.. that being said..
>>
>>let me also prelude this comment by saying.. i worked at the reptile room at that fish place.. and helped out the north museum with their reptile room for a summer...
>>
>>here is goes...
>>
>>I see so many 'young' kids.. and so many Burmese/Retics for sale at local pet stores.. I see tons of kinds on these forums who have 6 baby burms retics.. I just want to know.. do most of these people really see the reality of how large these snakes get? I mean.. i've been around 16 footers.. these are very large powerful snakes.. VERY friendly.. beautiful.. but there is just a part of me that wonders if half of the people who own them are ready for the money/time it takes to see these snakes through in the long run... please please, don't flame me.. i'm really not trying to come down on ANYONE.. i my self have been considering if I could take care of one myself for a few years now.. I always end up shying away.. and i figure that a full grown BCI is about as large a snake I could keep..
>>
>>i'm rambling.. I love seeing your full grown burms.. they are such wonderful beautiful snakes.. but I see sooooo many babies.. why? there just seems to be more people with more baby herps then people with large old wise herps..
>>
>>just something thats been on my mind
>>
>>thanks alot for putting up with me
>>-badevilcow
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My Website
www.herpfanatic.com

You are 100% correctomundo. Our facility takes in many unwanted burms from well intentioned owners who just didn't know what they were in for. Although there are some great breeders who fully educate their customers (with guarantees that they'll take back burms in need be), there are many that are just out to make a quick buck; heck, they'll sell a burm to a first grader if the opportunity presents itself. Most people are not equipped to keep a large constrictor; but the same goes with big dogs. The key is to match the right snake with the right kind of owner who is fully aware of what's in store. So, if anyone says anything negative about your comments, well, they don't know what they are talking about....plus, you didn't say that people shouldn't keep them, just that most people don't know what's in store.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>Okay.. please let me start this off by saying I in no way intend this to be negative. just something that has been crossing my mind for awhile now.
>>
>>Let me also say I keep a butter phase corn snake, a wonderful ball python, two amazing fat leopard geckos.. and would like to get a B.C. I some time in the future.. that being said..
>>
>>let me also prelude this comment by saying.. i worked at the reptile room at that fish place.. and helped out the north museum with their reptile room for a summer...
>>
>>here is goes...
>>
>>I see so many 'young' kids.. and so many Burmese/Retics for sale at local pet stores.. I see tons of kinds on these forums who have 6 baby burms retics.. I just want to know.. do most of these people really see the reality of how large these snakes get? I mean.. i've been around 16 footers.. these are very large powerful snakes.. VERY friendly.. beautiful.. but there is just a part of me that wonders if half of the people who own them are ready for the money/time it takes to see these snakes through in the long run... please please, don't flame me.. i'm really not trying to come down on ANYONE.. i my self have been considering if I could take care of one myself for a few years now.. I always end up shying away.. and i figure that a full grown BCI is about as large a snake I could keep..
>>
>>i'm rambling.. I love seeing your full grown burms.. they are such wonderful beautiful snakes.. but I see sooooo many babies.. why? there just seems to be more people with more baby herps then people with large old wise herps..
>>
>>just something thats been on my mind
>>
>>thanks alot for putting up with me
>>-badevilcow
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

( Although there are some great breeders who fully educate their customers (with guarantees that they'll take back burms in need be )

HighEndHerps is one of these people. I know of a guy who for one reason or another could not keep his very big 16-18 foot Retic any longer and David took it back as guaranteed. He also educates all his customers an some who arent about what there getting in to. I think he is one of the best breeders out there and most of the time i get my Burms and Retics from him. Here's some pics of herps ive gotten from him in the past.

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0.1 Normal Burm ( Stewie )
1.1 Albino Granite Burm ( Dollar and Cents )
1.0 Albino Tiger ( Lucky )
0.1 Super Tiger 100% Het Albino ( Blue )
0.1 Tiger 100% Het Albino ( Free )
1.2 Atrox 100% Het Albino ( One, Two and Three )
1.2 WA Gaboon Vipers Coming Soon ( Still Thinking )

David was the person that came to my mind; in fact, I am not aware of any other breeder out there who makes the same claims that he does...and that's too bad. Anyone breeding/selling large constrictors should be willing to provide ongoing customer support, and, when needed, taking back the animals (of course, the breeder has no obligation to pay anything for those animals if it comes to that point).

>>( Although there are some great breeders who fully educate their customers (with guarantees that they'll take back burms in need be )
>>
>>HighEndHerps is one of these people. I know of a guy who for one reason or another could not keep his very big 16-18 foot Retic any longer and David took it back as guaranteed. He also educates all his customers an some who arent about what there getting in to. I think he is one of the best breeders out there and most of the time i get my Burms and Retics from him. Here's some pics of herps ive gotten from him in the past.
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>>0.1 Normal Burm ( Stewie )
>>1.1 Albino Granite Burm ( Dollar and Cents )
>>1.0 Albino Tiger ( Lucky )
>>0.1 Super Tiger 100% Het Albino ( Blue )
>>0.1 Tiger 100% Het Albino ( Free )
>>1.2 Atrox 100% Het Albino ( One, Two and Three )
>>1.2 WA Gaboon Vipers Coming Soon ( Still Thinking )
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I do agree that breeders need to play a more active role in their offspring they are selling. In my opinion none of the giants should be sold to minors. I think whomever purchases a giant should have to be a homeowner to limit the liabilities. THese snakes should not be allowed to be kept in apartments and such. I have mixed feelings about Davids guarentee. I think it is a great idea and guarentees that the snake has the possibility of always having a good home but in a way it helps the disposable pet theory. It is kind of a no win situation and in some repsects David is doing his part in bettering the hobby. More breeders need to take an active role in there animals, including during the sale, and after. Todd