Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have to say Burmese pythons are my favorite snakes. I sold off my burms and got into boas. Well Im thinking about purchasing a few high end burms. My question is, how worried are you about the new law that the govenment is trying to pass about keeping all pythons. I mean lets face it, it could get rewritten and could restrick the burmese pythons. Do you think its not the time to 'invest' in burmese? Whats your thoughts. How worried are you.

As a Burmese python keeper & small-time breeder I am concerned about what's going to come out of the legislative proposals aimed directly at Burmese pythons. Am I "worried"? Yes & no. For one - worrying never changed a thing. But that doesn't seem to keep me from worrying here & there.

We have no choice but to put up quite a fight, either teamed up with USARK or as independents. Everyone has to do their part, and fast.

I mean lets face it, it could get rewritten and could restrict the burmese pythons.

There is usually a reason some representatives throw everything including the kitchen sink into proposals like this. They're almost certain that they'll walk out with at least one of them, usually the one they're actually after.

As the bills stand now more than just Burmese pythons will be affected if passed. However, Burmese pythons are what they're really after and Burms are one of the least lucrative markets among the other pythons listed. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to sort that one out.

It appears that collectively, today's reptile keepers agree that we can pretty much deal with a ban on the importation of Burmese pythons. That does not concern me or worry me.

If interstate trade in Burmese pythons is restriced or regulated as well as a ban on the import of them into the USA, then it will most likely become quite burdensome and costly to continue in the trade of Burms.

That concerns me, worries me a lil' here & there. I believe that we will end up without an outright ban on interstate commerce of Burmese pythons but a CITES reclassification and/or permits, fees, taxes, etc, could easily double the cost of the average morph and produce long processing times and other hassles that a lot of people just won't want to fool with.

I think the market is a bit slow overall at the moment, largely due to the lack of stimulus money for those goofballs that ran their snake business into the ground. I mean, we've got Government Motors now, why can't we have Social Reptile Shipping with a fella by the name of David leading round 2.

"Do you think its not the time to 'invest' in burmese?"

As a breeder/seller, I say now's the time to invest. Ya'll need to get out there & buy every one that you can get your hands on. I need some money to stimulate me. Ha! Ha! Just kidding, of course.

Honestly, though - here's the way I'm looking at it:
There's an old saying from the mid '70s that goes like this:
b]"Do it today, for tomorrow it may be illegal."

Whether they completely stop interstate commerce of Burmese pythons, OR, heavily restrict/regulate it, the market could go either way. It could be choked down by regulations or it could become a feeding frenzy for those trying to get what they can, when they can.

I suspect that some of the higher-end new morphs would be the hardest to get best value out of but with the ban of importation that, too, could go the other way & prices could increase.

The thing about it is we've probably got a few months, at least, before we'll know much of anything else on these bills. I suspect the market to be quite volatile during that time, with some trying to push to get rid of what they have & others trying to get a few extra bucks by stating that it's possible this could be your last chance to own one of these magnificient creatures.

Fear Factor Tactics?
Since the lawmakers love the fear factor game I have to be honest and say that I've had a hillbilly brainstorm (or was it a hillbilly brain_art). Burm breeders & owners can contact the committee members & bill sponsors and tell them to be sure to spread the word to their constituents that all of their constituents are elliglbe for at least a 50% discount on the purchase of a Burm since they might be banned & restricted. Ha! Ha! It's just a joke!!! Tempting, but still a joke.

Seriously, though - we do need to act more civilized & intelligent than the lawmakers do. Save the dirty bombs for the last, if at all.

That's enough bloviating from me.

Later!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

That was the exact type of response I was looking for. And I agree with you on just about every aspect. And I must say that I dont think it would be wise for me to put down a few thousand dollars for investment burms at the moment. Even though i want to. I mean, I just saw how people in CT were given the last chance to turn in their newly illegal exotics, as well as burmese. I would hate to see that happen nationwide.

We had all reptiles removed from the CT Bill. The new CT law will not change anything for reptile owners in CT. Please don't spread misinformation.
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Andrew Wyatt
President USARK

Im not from CT and not 100% sure but arent burmese pythons now illegal in CT??