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BBC (London, UK) 12 July 07 'Man-eating' python bought online
A father who bought a snake over the internet which turned out to be a man-eating python has called for dangerous pets not to be sold online.
Barry Cowan, 23, from Bathgate, said he was scared for the safety of his two-year-old daughter Michelle when he discovered he had a reticulated python.
The mechanic thought he had bought a royal python, which only grows to 5ft.
It was only when he posted pictures on the internet he was told he actually had the world's biggest python species.
Speaking to the BBC Scotland news website, Mr Cowan, said he was angry such a mistake could have happened.
He said: "When I was told by a man on an internet forum that I actually had a python which can eat a man I was really worried and feared for my daughter's safety as it was in a tank in the living room.
"It makes me really annoyed to think that all I did was give my name, address and £250 and I had a really dangerous animal a few days later in my home.
"I know nothing about snakes and had been told a royal python was a good starter snake.
"I think it should only be pet shops and animal centres which should be allowed to sell snakes, I've had a real fright with this and I won't be buying any more animals over the internet again."
Ross Lambert, who runs Reptile Rescue UK, said reticulated pythons could easily eat a child and should not be pets.
He said: "When we went to see the snake at this guy's house, we realised that it was a reticulated python straight away.
"It was only a young one, so had only grown to about 6ft. But it would have grown very quickly and they can get as big as 30ft.
"We agreed to get the snake out of his house and are now looking after it at our rescue centre."
"It can be aggressive and would certainly have a try at eating the family dog."
Ross claimed internet pet sales were to blame for a boom in sales of deadly snakes such as the reticulated python.
He said: "The problem with buying these things online is that you just pay your money, tick a box and the thing is delivered.
"There's no attempt to advise people on what they are actually buying. And there's no way the seller can check out the buyer to make sure they have the right facilities for looking after a big snake."
'Man-eating' python bought online

PET CLUB UK (London?, UK) 16? July 07 'Man-eating' Python - What a Joke!
Unfortunately for reptiles their reputation of being slimy, scaly killing machines never seems to let go. This is certainly the case when the national press decided to latch onto the idea that a man from Bathgate had accidentally bought a man-eating killer snake!
Barry Cowan, 23, from Bathgate, said he was scared for the safety of his two-year-old daughter Michelle when he discovered he had a reticulated python. Barry bought the snake over the internet, thinking he was buying a Royal Python which only grows to 5foot, but after posting pictures online he was told it was actually a Reticulated Python, the world's longest species of snake.
The mechanic has called for dangerous pets not to be sold online.
Director of PetClub UK Chris Jones said it was unfortunate that such a mistake was made.
"The online shop in question should have been extra careful they sent out the right animal. The neglegence of that particular shop should be looked into, however we cannot blame the animal and not look into the mistakes made by the owners.
"Reticulated Pythons are the longest species of snake in the world, potentially a very large female 'could' reach 30foot, but in reality they won't get much bigger than 18foot, and a male not much larger than 14foot. This is still a big snake and shouldn't be taken on by a novice, but a man-eating killing machine - certainly not!"
Barry Cown said "It makes me really annoyed to think that all I did was give my name, address and £250 and I had a really dangerous animal a few days later in my home."
In response to Barry, Chris Jones stated, "It is highly unwise for an inexperienced reptile keeper to buy any snake online. They have no idea of the seller in question, or the snake - every potential owner should check into the seller and more importantly the animal they are buying. These pets are for life, all potential owners should visit the animal and check it over, see if the animal they are buying is healthy and what they had in mind."
Ross Lambert, who runs Reptile Rescue UK, said: "When we went to see the snake at this guy's house, we realised that it was a reticulated python straight away.
"It was only a young one, so had only grown to about 6ft. But it would have grown very quickly and they can get as big as 30ft.
"We agreed to get the snake out of his house and are now looking after it at our rescue centre."
"It can be aggressive and would certainly have a try at eating the family dog."
Ross claimed internet pet sales were to blame for a boom in sales of deadly snakes such as the reticulated python.
He said: "The problem with buying these things online is that you just pay your money, tick a box and the thing is delivered.
"There's no attempt to advise people on what they are actually buying. And there's no way the seller can check out the buyer to make sure they have the right facilities for looking after a big snake."
Chris Jones commented: "'30foot' - 'deadly snakes' - 'eat the family dog' - Let's get to the facts here, 30 foot is highly unrealistic, there is not one single credible source that suggests any reticulated python in captivity has ever reached 30foot, and none even in the wild for many many years.
"'Deadly' - well perhaps to their chosen prey such as large rodents and small mammals, but a human - we wouldn't rule it out completely, but put things into perspective, you shouldn't leave an adult Reticulated Python on it's own with a small child, just like you shouldn't leave a 'dangerous dog breed' in the same room either.
"'Eating dogs' - well yes, of course it would - but who in their right mind would let a snake out with a dog in the same room? Snakes are not sociable animals that like to include themselves into human and pet family life, this will not change and we should respect this."
"It is unfortunate that the man who bought this snake, the national press and a rescue centre would actually comment on this breed of snake in such a manner - don't punish the breed, punish the seller."
'Man-eating' Python - What a Joke!

Finally a voice of reason!

Thanks for the posts, Wes.

Bill

I feel in the right hands any snake can be kept. I own a 17ft friendly reticulated python, Seven boas, 1 100 pound sulcata, 1 leopard tortoise and 2 african wildcats. I have a 3 yr old, 2 yr old and a baby in the house. I spend thosands to make sure cages are secure and snakes live in a locked enclousure in a locked room. I own the only key to both. My kids love snakes but stay away from the retic sooooo what is the problem if kept in the right matter would this type of snake be such a problem to this man? Should we ruin it for everyone cause of one dumb herper?

I'd also like o point out the ridiculous assertion that this could not happen at a pet shop. Some are still perfectly willing to sell anyone a retic and a 20 gallon aquarium and tell them the sanke will stay small as long as they keep it in a small tank and feed it mice. I get the feeling that this has generally improved somewhat in the last 20 years, but it's certainly not unheard of.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

perhaps there was a nomenclature misread.

Royal python = ball
Regal = Retic
caviat emptor
order a hyundai and get a honda or vice versa if you pay $500 US on line you should research your purchase thoroughly prior to pushing send.

Winslow

i have had this happen all to often from pet stores- i have a 50 lb sulcata- that was sold as a box turtle "good for beginners".... we have had many many many burms sold as balls- too many to count and one kind woman brought me a "breeding pair of albino ball pythons"- she couldn't keep them b/c she was fired after a wreck- she lost one of her legs in and couldnt work and was loosing her house.
They were 2 female albino burms.... She paid a pretty penny for them as well i might add. they were babies when she got them- they were about 4 ft when i got them.

man eating snakes.... sure.... we have giants and i love them- we have a seperate building- locked- and alcatraz cages- locked- both keys are around my neck- in bed, in the shower, in the car.... my mother also has a set of keys- just in case my house is burning down and i'm on vacation or whatever... I have a 2 yr old and a 6 month old- my mom is a social worker for DHS and says my cages and locks would hold up just fine in court- IF it even made it that far. I'm not worried- and besides- my girls are well fed and my kids dont exactly smell like rabbits or pigs....

Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

False information is too blame in this one. But everyone has their own views, and i personally am scared to death of retics. When i was 10, my brother asked me to look after his 15 snake for two weeks, and all i had to do was feed it a rabbit and a rat. It hadn't eatn in over three weeks, so it was hungry. When i opened the enclosure to feed him, it grabbed hold of my arm and gave me a NASTY bite. It bled profusely for 20 minutes, and now i have a very noticable bunch of scars in the shape of the snakes mouth on m forearm. While my fear of snake has subsided, after two red-tails and a Ball python, i still think retics, especially the cute 20 foot appollo, as dangerous, but not neeccessarily man-eaters