Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My name is Anthony "Brent" Sheets I own a small reptile business and I have an idea that I have not seen proposed for the ban of pythons. I am also a Sociologist (with a degree) so I thought about this from various aspects. Here is my proposed thought.

I was writing to ask if there was a way that someone could introduce a proposal for the implantation of a microchip in any and all large species of pythons at the time of the animal being purchased, with the purchasee then regestering the animal to them. There of course would be less people buying and releasing these animals into the wild when/if they could not or did not want to take proper care of their animals. The microchipping of animals is inexspensive and the regestering of such animals would help to deture releasing animals into the wild. There should be stiff but adequate penalties for reptile owners that break their snakes registration license. I feel that this is a great idea to propose. Thanks Brent

Florida already has a system like this, and other states where these animals could live and breed may adopt similar legislation. I don't see any point in making this kind of requirement in states where these animals can't survive in the wild. A python released in North Dakota will be dead within a year. While one could argue that the owner should be fined on animal cruelty grounds, the benefit of getting that prosecution doesn't outweigh the cost of having another national database with information about individuals. The states that need these laws can pass them. The rest of us shouldn't have to deal with another government requirement.
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.