Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was considering investing in ball pythons this year for breeding projects, but with the prospective ban on pythons/boas upcoming I'm wondering now if I should or not. Any thoughts?

Do not "invest" in ball pythons - if you think they are a cool animal and you'd like to work with them - then by all means follow your desires -- but don't consider it an investment.

That being said the ban is not on the keeping of the animals but the interstate transport of them - and will not likely pass.
-----
Tosha
JET Pythons

Thanks, but I didn't mean "invest" to come across the wrong way, I already have Ball pythons and want more. My concerns were over this potential ban on their transport. And I hope you're right.

From what I understand,the ban is not on keeping or selling boas and pythons. The ban is against interstate traffic. So you would not be able to ship them across state lines. You can still sell them in state. For example, you will be able to buy and sell at reptile shows. I don't think this will come into effect, but it is something to consider. Also do you part, by writing a letter and send it to F&W. Hope this helps.

Look up some of the data as to why we are fighting this proposal to ban boids and pythons.

Sign petitions and get on board writing letters...It will take effort to keep our beautiful animals....

As for your investment....I understand if you are trying to breed some cool balls to make some needed cash...then it is definately looked at as an investment whether it be $100 or $1,000. So just check out what is selling in the classifieds...decide what you like...and if you are willing to risk that much investment capital. People get into Network marketing as an investment....but you never know what is going to happen....just check the pro's and con's and you should be fine.

Andy Federico
-----

I am fairly new to balls and was disgusted to hear about the ban. I have read the USF&W's proposal and the Lacey Act, including the list of injurious species.

If this ban is passed, it will not only ban the importation and interstate trade it will also ban breeding, selling, owning. I am to assume (you know what happens when people do that!) that anyone who owned these species prior to the passing of the new proposal would be "grandfathered" and get to keep their animals.

The Lacey act is written as follows:

"The Lacey Act provides that it is unlawful for any person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any..."

It also states:

"...any wild amimal, whether alive or dead, including without limitation any wild mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, coelenterate, or other invertebrate, whether or not bred, hatched, or born in captivity, and includes any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof."

Adding Pythons, Boa, and Eunectes species to the Injurious list would make it illegal to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire or purchase any part, product, egg, or offspring alive or dead.

Reptiles already on this list are the Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis). They were added due to their outbreak in Guam where they ate nearly all the local bird population. Due to the release of Burmese Pythons in Southern Florida, they now wish to add the Constrictors from the Python, Boa, and Eunectes generas.

I highly agree that this needs to be fought. Several states already have regulations regarding these species and I feel that it should not be in the feds. authority to "re-regulate". Responses to this proposal need to well written, passionate, and factual. I do believe that when the USF&W realizes exactly how big the trade of these animals is and how it would not only effect the breeders, but the manufacturers of supplies...right down to the companies that make the elements for the insides of heat pads etc. they will not be able to in good conscience to approve the proposal.
-----
1.1 Super Hypo Tangerine Leopards
0.2 Snow Leopards
0.2 Red Racing Stripe Leopards
0.1.1 Albino Leopards
0.1 Blazing Blizzard Leopard
1.0 Rabbit
1.0 Husband
1.2 Children

"I do believe that when the USF&W realizes exactly how big the trade of these animals is and how it would not only effect the breeders, but the manufacturers of supplies...right down to the companies that make the elements for the insides of heat pads etc. they will not be able to in good conscience to approve the proposal".

the money made and or lost should have NOTHING to do with the outcome of this ban ........If any animal can be proven to be a threat then it SHOULD be banned and any deemed NOT a threat SHOULD NOT be banned.....PERIOD.......stop with the how much money will be lost nonsence and fight for the facts that they are not a threat to be imported and bought,sold,and traded across state lines.........TOOOOOOOO many of the laws in this country ARE based on who bought them,,,,,,,,MONEY MEANS NOTHING in this .....leave it that way

SJS-

I'm sorry, you are absolutely right, the USF&W will not have a care concerning the financial outcome of the potential ban on Pythons, Boas and Eunectes as that is not their department. Their only concern is the potential harm that these animals would do in the wild.

However, if you are writing to your senators and congressmen, like me, they WILL care about the financial burden that this ban would create for Americans' across the United States. In a time where the government is issuing a tax rebate to help stimulate our economy and stave a recession, the lost jobs and income that are generated by the trade of Pythons, Boas, and Eunectes would be of great concern to them! Also considering that it is an election year and here in New York State one of our Senators is running for the Presidency those lost jobs and revenue due to inaction on their part would mean lost votes! The question is whether or not they would be willing to risk that happening?

I also have to state that I am in complete agreement with Josh Hutto (see above posts). Arguing between each other is not going to help in this situation nor will it create the organized, united front that is needed. My original response was not meant as argumentative, just as an informed deduction of how I intrepreted the Lacey Act and the USF&W proposal.
-----
1.1 Super Hypo Tangerine Leopards
0.2 Snow Leopards
0.2 Red Racing Stripe Leopards
0.1.1 Albino Leopards
0.1 Blazing Blizzard Leopard
1.0 Rabbit
1.0 Husband
1.2 Children

and just how many ON THE BOOKS jobs are there out there which are for the sale,trade,and or import of the animals in question.......go ahead and start to cry about the millions and even billions as some have stated that will be lost and then ........SHOW them those numbers on paper......lets see how many millions a year ARE reported....id love to know too,....so feel free its your right......write everyone and tell them ALL about the money lost and how our economy cant handle it,thats YOUR RIGHT......but dont use the rodent breeders,cage makers,or dry goods suppliers as part of your math......they are not going anywhere regardless of the outcome of this,,,,,,,does this ban mean i can no longer feed my animals,,,,,or cage them.......petland,petco,petsmart not to mention other thousands of privately owned pet stores will either breed themselves or buy in state,,,,,,,they dont sell out of state and will not be effected either way......they dont sell high dollar morphs....i guess "THE KING" will have to send his minions (on the books) to set up shop in the other 49 states.......good luck