Reptile & Amphibian Forums

TARPON SPRINGS - Wildlife authorities say the python a resident found Thursday in Tarpon Springs is an African Rock python.

They also say the 15-foot long snake is microchipped, and they are working to track down its owner.

A man walking his dog near his apartment spotted the snake Thursday. He called authorities; they came and captured it.

They say it appeared the snake had not been out on its own for very long.

The African Rock python is a restricted species in Florida, meaning owners must have a critical incident plan and notify authorities if the snake gets loose.

Pythons are not native species in Florida, and they wreak havoc on ecosystems and wildlife areas they end up in because they have no predators keeping them in check.

While they are generally considered dangerous, wildlife authorities say this particular snake tends to avoid humans while in the wild.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/pinellas/authorities-seek-pythons-owner-01282011

"Pythons are not native species in Florida, and they wreak havoc on ecosystems and wildlife areas they end up in because they have no predators keeping them in check."

From Wikipedia:

The Big Lie (German: Große Lüge) is a propaganda technique. The expression was coined by Adolf Hitler, when he dictated his 1925 book Mein Kampf, for a lie so "colossal" that no one would believe that someone "could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously."

"[ I ]n the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying."

—Adolf Hitler , Mein Kampf, vol. I, ch. X

(All the usual insanity, but I have to add, charging the guy 50.00$ a day boarding fee to house this snake? Where in the world are they getting that number!)

Owner of captured Rock Python may not be able to afford to get it back.

TARPON SPRINGS - The African Rock python found at a Tarpon Springs apartment complex last week is the same huge snake that vanished from a local aquarium almost two years ago, but getting the snake back to its owner may not be a simple matter.

Tarpon Springs Aquarium owner Scott Konger says when he heard about the snake's capture, he had a strong suspicion the python was Cleo.

"I figured how many large African Rock pythons can there be out there in the wild within a mile of our facility?" he said.

The python, which is now staying at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Seminole, was identified by microchip. Experts with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission put the python at 14.5 feet long, but the shelter's Vernon Yates says Cleo is more like 16 feet when it's stretched out.

The reptile has been missing since 2009, when Konger says someone likely hopped a fence to get into an area on the roof where aquarium keepers took the snakes and alligators to get some sun. Someone opened the enclosures holding the python and an alligator, and when Konger arrived the gator was still there but the snake was gone.

Yet Konger says it's unlikely that anyone managed to make off with the snake, which was extremely aggressive, and that once the cage was opened Cleo probably made her way across the roof and about two stories down to the ground, heading for the water right near the sponge docks where the aquarium is located.

"These snakes are aquatic, they like to be around water, so it instinctively is going to go over into the Anclote River," Konger said.

The python was found Thursday near an apartment complex in Tarpon Springs.

Konger wants Cleo back, but he's worried about whether he can afford it. That's because he needs to secure a permit for the python. Meantime, he's incurring a $50-a-day board charge from the animal shelter in addition to other fees. Konger said the total could climb to $500-1,000 if it takes a while – a price he says is too steep for him in this economy.

"It's something I just can't afford right now," he said.

Konger says he is working on a compromise price with Yates, who said any offer would have to be approved by the nonprofit's board of directors.

"We really don't want the snake," he said. "If it's a reasonable fair offer between all parties then more than likely, yeah, it'll be accepted because we'd rather the snake go back to where it belongs."

FWC says that the African rock python species has stringent ownership requirements including microchips and cages that meet certain standards. FWC also says these pythons are a threat to pets and wildlife but generally avoid humans.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/01/captured-python-identified/

$50 a day to house a rock python seems a bit steep, IMHO. Especially considering this is a nonprofit. I am sure they can use the money but what they appear to be doing is overcharging this guy so that they can use the money on other things.

There are a few factors to consider here. It does take a fair amount of space to house a large python and depending upon the cage, cleaning it can be a task. The biggest part is probably just simply handling the snake because you'd need at least two people. But they only need one moderate sized meal every two weeks, so the cage only needs to be cleaned about once every two weeks.

I think this would be a much better fee structure:
One time admission fee of $50-100.
A feeding/cleaning fee of $25-50 each time; very easy to log and keep track of.
And then a modest $10-15 per day fee to cover electricity, water, space, wear and tear on caging, accessories, tools, etc.
And perhaps a release fee of $20-25.

I would bet the owner would be willing to come in and assist on feeding/cleaning days. Also maybe the owner could be given the chance to do volunteer work there for 4-8 hours per week, or something like that, as partial payment instead of cash.

All things considered I am glad there are nonprofits like this place that are willing to do this type of work. I think the existence of such places is very necessary if pythons are going to be allowed to be kept in FLA, so we should be thankful they are there. Hopefully something can be worked out that is fair for both the owner and the rescue.

As a side note, I have said before that some sort of one time fee that would go to local rescues and or vets, could be required at the time of purchase for anyone buying a species of regulated large constrictors. Kind of like insurance, every owner would contribute before there are any problems. This would help ensure that these rescues, vets, etc, have enough money to operate even if an owner decides they would rather abandon the animal rather then pay the fees to get it back.

There's a few other benefits as well. It would help to impress upon prospective owners the seriousness of what they are getting into. It would make rescues and vets more likely to support ownership of large pythons and boas because every sale represents income.
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www.hcu-tx.org/

TARPON SPRINGS — Cleo the python is back with her owner at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium.

Aquarium owner Scott Konger said an anonymous donor stepped up and gave him $250 toward trapper Vernon Yates' fees.

"I was surprised," Konger said. "It makes you feel better about the world."

Konger and Yates had a dispute over how much money Yates should get to return Cleo.

Konger ended up paying Yates the full $350 he demanded. But he didn't want to shell out more than $300 and he thought that was too much.

Yates said that $350 was a deal, that he should have charged Konger $550 to pick up the snake, have her scanned for an ID chip and to board her.

Konger reported the 14.5 foot African rock python missing about two years ago, and last week the snake ended up near an apartment complex by the Anclote River.

Konger said he was happy to have Cleo back, but he wasn't crazy about forking over so much money for her.

"I still hate to give the guy $350 to get my animal back," Konger said.

Konger was worried Cleo might have been hurt when she was wrangled by three Tarpon Springs police officers last week. But so far, he just noticed a little tear near Cleo's mouth.

"She's a little banged up, but I think she'll be okay," Konger said.
www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/anonymous-donor-helps-python-owner-get-his-snake-back/1149117