Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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!