Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There is a show on right now. I tuned in figuring it would be an interesting documentary on large constrictors, but instead it talks about how dangerous boas and pythons are in captivity. It mentions how Burmese are responsible for the deaths of the most pet owners each year! It also states that Green Anacondas have a determination to eat humans and they judge the size differance between men and women (Yeah, a determined snake with judgemental capability). I am not even done watching the show and I am allready furious.

I allready live in a city with strict exotic animal laws, and this type of show is what makes other citys do the same. These shows are based on opinions rather then facts becasue that will draw in higher ratings.

I just want to rant a little. I pretty much own at least one of each species listed on this show and I know many others that do also. This is the type of misinformation that causes the responsible keepers to get into trouble, and somehow it has to end. I wish I knew how we could make that happen.
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Billy
Reptile World
http://www.reptile-world.net

Is that the one where they show a carpet python eating every time they say how dangerous constrictors are? If I remember right, they also mention Lou Dadonno's retic incident, and don't even mention a safe keeper.

I know what you mean. It's hard enough trying to explain to people WHY you have a snake for a pet...more so when you have snakes, birds, fish and Chihuahuas all in one little apartment like I do. One idiot thought I was breeding my Chihuahuas to feed pups to my snakes. What that idiot forgot to tell people is that I own 2 MALE Chihuahuas and my snakes are mostly ball pythons and just now acquired a pastel BCI yearling.

I spent this past weekend going to new reptile shops that I've discovered within the Los Angeles County. Even outside the main city limits, I found out that you need a permit to own any species of boa or any python that grows over 6 feet. This is absolutely stupid. Sadly, it's dumb shows like that which feeds on the fears of ignoramuses, then you have idiots who think it's cool to own a Burmese Python and let it run around loose unsupervised. I don't know how true the story is of a Burmese actually eating someone's toy poodle. Not that it can't happen, but I have to say that both pet owners are at fault for not supervising their respective pets. Here in Los Angeles, including Hollywood, there are coyotes that run around. That toy poodle could have easily been nabbed by a coyote, probably faster than a Burm.

If anything, the City should cite irresponsible pet owners rather than making those of us who are responsible pay for their stupidity. If you know who the producers are of that show, I'm sure some of us are willing to write our disgust for that particular episode.
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Paul aka "PuppyChulo"

A boa constrictor did actually eat a lady's pet Pomeranian. I can't remember if the boa's owner actually kept it caged, but he owned it because he was in a rock band and showed it off at concerts. So he sounded like a jerk in general.
Of course, dogs kill other people's pets all the time, and that never gets major media attention. But a burmese python near where I live eats a small mammal that may or may not have been a dog, and it's national news. Speciesists!

Pomeranians should be eaten. Curse those fluffly little monsters!

Here, here! I know of one pomeranian in particular that I can easily fantasize about, being eaten by a python. Of course, that pomeranian's disposition has probably infused a sour taste throughout her entire body that the python would detest...
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David Leary
Durham, NC

by her neighbors 3 dogs...did anyone say or do anything about that? nope...now if one of my boas had eaten my wifes dog I would have been in deep doodoo...I hate people who persecute against specific animal species and types...Its pathetic..Later Randy T.

Oh by the way I agree with Lokken that the show did more good then bad..I was fuming mad while watching it(they could have presented it in a better light) but afterwords looking over the content it did have some good valid points to it...I just wish they would do a show on Animal Planet showing the dangers and risks (and show it the same way) of owning Rots, Dobermans, Pit Bulls, etc etc etc...and see how the dog community reacts to it.
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You never experience life until you have kids..then you realize what you should have done rather then what you did do

I thought the show was actually quite good. It had some areas of improvement...But, all in all it had a good message. Large constrictors are dangerous. Be aware of that before you get one. I think the show demonstrated how dangerous large constrictors can be. And, I really don't think they did it in a way that was attacking the hobby. Throughout the show they kept saying...."You can own one of these animals...Just remember they are wild in nature. So, don't trust them and keep your guard up."
The attack scenes were kind of silly. But, I feel they did get the point across. You had grown men who could not escape the grasp of a large constrictor. And, they were all honest enough to say that they felt if they were alone.....They would not have made it.
With the anaconda judging between a man and a woman....What is really wrong with that? It seems perfectly logical to me. These animals in the wild need to distinguish between what they can eat or not. If that happens to be a woman compared to a man........Well, they are smaller then men.....most of the time.
Also, if that statistic of deaths was valid...What is the harm in sharing it? I would have preferred that they would have matched it with other animals though. Like 10 people a year die from large constrictors...Yet, 100 die from pet dogs. Etc.

Now, everyone will probably take different things away from that show. Here is what I took away.
1) It showed a keeper different ways to get a large constrictor off you. Hell, they should be giving you this tape at pet stores if they sell large constrictors! That really is great info for a new person. (Or, an old fart like me)
2) Large constrictors are dangerous. If you do not believe this...Then, I feel you are just asking to becomce a victim. I have owned and held large burms and retics. These animals are extremly powerful. If they mistake you for something....You are in trouble.
3) This show taught you to always have others around while cleaning/feeding/handling a large snake.
4)It showed SFE's that caused "attacks".

I am sure that I missed other points...But, it is early so my brain isn't up to speed yet.

All in all.......Everything this show talked about is a recurring post that experienced keepers try to illustrate to new owners that saw a burm or a retic for the first time.......And, then bought it. I am sure they could have done a better job like showing what wonderful pets they really are. And, how rewarding of an experience it is to own them. But, I think this was one of the better "big snake" shows I have seen.

John

>>There is a show on right now. I tuned in figuring it would be an interesting documentary on large constrictors, but instead it talks about how dangerous boas and pythons are in captivity. It mentions how Burmese are responsible for the deaths of the most pet owners each year! It also states that Green Anacondas have a determination to eat humans and they judge the size differance between men and women (Yeah, a determined snake with judgemental capability). I am not even done watching the show and I am allready furious.
>>
>>I allready live in a city with strict exotic animal laws, and this type of show is what makes other citys do the same. These shows are based on opinions rather then facts becasue that will draw in higher ratings.
>>
>>I just want to rant a little. I pretty much own at least one of each species listed on this show and I know many others that do also. This is the type of misinformation that causes the responsible keepers to get into trouble, and somehow it has to end. I wish I knew how we could make that happen.
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>>Billy
>>Reptile World
>>http://www.reptile-world.net
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"To be the best..........You must loose your mind."

I watched the show. It was negative in the fashion that it said that big snakes are dangerous. No crap huh? A 20 foot 200 lb burm/retic/anaconda is dangerous? If that is news to anyone, well then they need to be checked. I do not agree with the sale of burms/retics/anacondas/rocks to any joe schmoe. It is ridiculous. If you have been keeping snakes for several years and want a specimen from the above list ok, but people in general should not be able to go to petco or their mall pet store and buy a burm. It is crazy. For the most part they do not know what they are getting into. Go look at the animal adoption pages, poor burms get mistreated all the time. If the show stops 1/4 of the idiots that get burms then great. The show could have been much worse. Just my thoughts. But big snakes are dangerous.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

I didnt see the begining of the show. What I did see had some good information on the animals and the potential danger. What pisses me off though is that they designed the show to feed off of most peoples inherent fear of snakes in order to get better ratings. If they had a show that used just truthful facts as the topics, people that have no interest in reptiles wouldnt tune in.

It is all a ploy to get higher ratings. So what if a silly show turns out to be a source of negative information that can later be used to create restrictive laws governing the sale and husbandry of large reptiles. Animal planet still got their good ratings, what do they care about the hobby!
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Billy
Reptile World
http://www.reptile-world.net

i think the show was more based on irresponsibilities of owners, like the one guy who wasplaying with chinchillas and then went straight to his burmese cage. and yes i do believe a 20 plus foot anaconda wuld find a small poerson a food source. i really think that it is not the snakes fault, i mean lets face it they arent the smartest in the world. also if i snake can eat a cow, i am pretty sure it can eat a human.

froggy
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The next time the shuttle lands, lets all get dressed up in ape suits and charge at the astronaughts yelling and ranting. That way they can try to figure out where they took a wrong turn.

Yes, I do agree that in the interest of getting 'ratings' the media displays most snake species in a negative light. This is, unforutnately reflected in 90% of the general population's feeling towards reptiles. It has gotten to the point that, my husband and I, do not tell anyone that we have snakes. Oh sure, we have cute fluffy cats and ferrets which is 'acceptable' to the general public. It makes me just sick whenever I hear someone say: "Ewwwww, you own SNAKES!". I practically disowned a friend for saying that 'snakes are the devil' or some such ignorant mess. That is, of course, the root of problem: ignorance. It is very sad and extremely maddening to hear and see the stupid drivel that comes from media hype and stories of irresponsible snake owners. Honestly, I would rather get bitten by a snake than a dog for instance. It would be wonderful if Discovery Channel could do a story on how interesting and beautiful snakes can be and that they deserve just as much loving attention as the household dog or cat. But, I don't think that is going to happen.

.
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David Leary
Durham, NC

I did see a quick shot of a redtail and now I'm a bit confused. Were they claiming to have documentation of a redtail being involved in a fatal/near fatal accident?