Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey All,

This is my first post. I'm considering getting an
ARB, so I've been lurking for a while hoping to get
some info. Anyway, thought this letter to the local paper was hilarious so I'm posting it. It was in response to the local hub-bub about banning "exotic" animals. I'm just imagining
looking in my backyard one morning and seeing a black panther
battling a 25 foot anaconda.

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From Raleigh News and Observer:

State must take action

I really feel something needs to be done about dangerous exotics being allowed as "pets" in North Carolina. The biggest problem with the snakes and lizards is when they get too big to manage, the owners simply release them. All over the country, this is happening. Snakes also encourage barbaric, sadistic behavior, such as live feeding of rodents, rabbits, kittens, etc. to said snakes.

The roadside "zoos" need to be better managed so they can no longer keep tigers, large snakes and bears or other dangerous animals in the typical barren, small enclosures for the public to gawk at. This is no life for such a beautiful animal, any more than it is for a 20-foot-long snake stuck in a 30-gallon aquarium for its entire life.

Please do something about this before North Carolina is overrun with constrictors like it's overrun with feral cats, and more large cats are stuck in roadside "zoos."

Well I can only speak for myself, but as a "barbaric and sadistic" person I might like to see a black panther battle an anaconda.

Funny you mention that... I just found this video earlier today when I was bored.

www.break.com/index/anaconda_vs_jaguar.html
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

yes i've seen this before and it is a very cool video. i've also seen one of a tiger and a retic going at it
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Tim

0.1 Colombian Rainbow Boa
1.0 Albino Motley Corn
1.0 Black cat

"20-foot-long snake stuck in a 30-gallon aquarium" is that even physically possible?
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-Jasmine

1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
(Mercutio and Kajika)

Uhm lets look at this way, a corn snake has the same thickness scale as a reticulated python, that being said a 6 foot blood python couldnt fit in there let alone a 20 foot cornsnake(and i would love to see one of those)
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Theres no need to ask directions if you ever lose you mind...

man i wish my corn would get to twenty feet long. that would be the happiest day of my life
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Tim

0.1 Colombian Rainbow Boa
1.0 Albino Motley Corn
1.0 Black cat

Tell that cracker to post a pic of a 20 foot snake in a 30 gallon tank To much time on his hands and I bet that guy don't eat meat either but if he does then what about all those cows that could be making more Blue Bell ice cream huh??? Thanks for posting and when I think the earth has hit an all time low in stupidity I am wrong-once again might I add. The circle of life is a wonderful thing although sometimes barbaric but just be glad that we are on the top of the food chain sometimes. They eat rodents yeah so we give them the best possible fed ones, but it is okay for Joe Blow to go and eat a filet mignon or caviar at a restaurant every other night. People with too much time on their hands amaze me
Bob

"I bet that guy don't eat meat either" hey im vegatarian too. (nothing wacky, i just think meat is gross) yeah, i love how people make wild claims to prove their points, but their claims are off so people diregard their point, hence they doomed themselves with bad info. but the sad thing is that i dont think it will be long before they start putting bans on a lot of our pets. i do have to say that i think that there should be some restrictions on burms, kids buy them in pet stores and have no idea what they are doing, but the sad thing is that it won't stop there, we are going to have to get permits to keep even red-tails soon i bet.
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-Jasmine

1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
(Mercutio and Kajika)

I dislike uneducated opinionated people who unfortunately know how to write to Editors.
I can hear everyone here in the forum groaning.
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Jess
2.4 adult brazilian rainbows
1.1 baby BRBs born 6/18
1.0 normal corn
1.0 african brown house snake
0.1 hypo Boa constrictor
0.1 normal ball python
2.3.1 crested geckos
1.1 western hognoses
0.2 kitties Marina (aka Mayhem)and Chaos
1.0 boyfriend to keep me spoiled
1.1 paranoid parents "too many snakes!"

You're being too nice. Based on the letter, I'm not sure the author can be educated. One of the many things I thought was funny - what better way to deal with an "overrun" of feral cats could there be than to have an "overrun" of large constrictors?!!

On a serious note, snakes in general were dropped from the list of banned animals in the proposed legislation. I guess at some point common sense has to prevail.

Ed

Sounds like a good time for people from NC to write this paper and give them real facts about our hobby. I highly doubt any responsible large snake owner will keep their 20' snake in a 30 gal tank. All high exaggerations.

Any response should be calm and well thought out, with some information about reptiles, explaining snakes don't need huge amounts of room, like a tiger does. Most snakes are quite content in a small cage, as it makes them feel secure.

As for feeding live rodents, it is natural for snakes to hunt live animals, but most snake owners feed pre killed or frozen thawed rodent, to ensure the snake isn't injured by frantic rodent.
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PHLdyPayne