Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My local reptile store is selling wallets made from Ball Pythons and Boa Constrictors. I couldn't believe it! I won't be going back there again. I was going to say something but I was so pissed off I felt like I was going to hit someone. I don't like anything made from snakeskin and especially not BPs and BCI/BCCs. And selling that stuff where you are selling the same animals for pets makes no sense. What are your thoughts?
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

My personal opinion is that it is alright for them to sell the wallets. They are in the business to make money. There are thousands of these snakes being killed in Africa and it's their way of life. There is always a market for something and someone. If I liked cows and chickens then I wouldn't support store that sold them or I wouldn't eat them. We have to look at the total picture here, these peoiple are trying to make a living. You don't have to go back to that store but it won't stop him from selling them. It's a novelty to some people so they will buy anything that is different. Just my opinion, as we grow old we learn to accept more and more of the things that we see around us. Stay strong

Seems a bit hypocritical for a petstore (whose main goals you would hope are the education and conservation of animals above making money - hey, I can dream) would sell something like that. Cows are already killed for food so it seems a bit easier for me to accept using the rest of their remains for other goods. We're never going to become a totally vegetarian society. But to kill an animal for the sole purpose of a materialistic good such as clothing or jewelry is a little harder for me to swallow.

I know the people who kill and make them need to make a living, but there are other means. One of the goal of conservationists is to show these people how to make a good living off of sustainable resources - resources that they can use over and over again and live on for a long time. Killing snakes is a one time deal and can eventually lead to that resource dying out - and then what. Then they have to find something else to destroy until it's gone - and the cycle continues. Anyway, that's kind of a separate issue - I'm basically bothered by the fact that the store would sell something like that.

I'm curious - is this a little mom and pop store and a chain store?
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1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

>>Seems a bit hypocritical for a petstore (whose main goals you would hope are the education and conservation of animals above making money - hey, I can dream) would sell something like that. Cows are already killed for food so it seems a bit easier for me to accept using the rest of their remains for other goods. We're never going to become a totally vegetarian society. But to kill an animal for the sole purpose of a materialistic good such as clothing or jewelry is a little harder for me to swallow.
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>>I know the people who kill and make them need to make a living, but there are other means. One of the goal of conservationists is to show these people how to make a good living off of sustainable resources - resources that they can use over and over again and live on for a long time. Killing snakes is a one time deal and can eventually lead to that resource dying out - and then what. Then they have to find something else to destroy until it's gone - and the cycle continues. Anyway, that's kind of a separate issue - I'm basically bothered by the fact that the store would sell something like that.
>>
>>I'm curious - is this a little mom and pop store and a chain store?
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>>1.0 Ball Python
>>"Aragorn"
>>
>>1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
>>"Gimli"
>>
>>0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
>>"Kira"
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

Most reptile stores I've seen might as well make the animals into wallets before selling them and save everyone a lot of trouble. It would be ludicrous for a decent store selling CB animals to pander wildlife products, but for Import Du Jour stores it's basically the same thing they're already doing...

(I'm not in the least against importation, except that there's way too much of it for animals that are already very common)
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

argh , thats is so horrible , i'd be so fricken pissed off if i saw that at my petstore , there suppose to help conservate these creature not turn them to wallets and huchi bags , lol. but your also right about people making money , we have to do something to make money and this is one way people in africa make money and they have no choice . this is so sad .

.
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1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

np

used in the pet trade, especially in pet shops.
Should you review C.I.T.E.S. for ball pythons you will see the numbers allowed for skins and food.Different cultures dude.
Now then, should the market ever fall out of keeping ball pythons at least we will have a maerket for our skins and meat.
Tommy, can't you see yourself watching football, drinking a beer and chewing on some barbecues ball python jerky while you are wearing your coral glow slippers?
Honestly though, as disgusting as that seems there is a reason for it, the food and skins, third world countries need to eat and earn a living from their natural resources. What is truly disturbing is in March when the mass importation of balls to north america begins and they are being sold in thousand and hundred lots. Thomas, how many of those survive? And how mny served a purpose as food or clothing? Now if you want to know sad, that is. And even sadder, we all in one way or another participate in this activity.

as I recognize it is a different culture with different views that is trying to survive. As I said there are sometimes alternatives that can work more to everyone's advantage in the long run - it just needs to be found and shown to them. For example: instead of villagers cutting down what's left of the rainforests to earn money once on the sale of the wood they get, conservationist have tought them how to harvest the tagua nuts that grow on trees and profit from them over and over (this particular product also helps cut down on the sale of ivory products).
www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/products.html
www.tagua-rainforest-ivory.com/TAGUAWHATISIT.html

I will say that I'm judging the store owners. Yes, I know they have to make a living too - but it's more difficult for me to accept Americans giving in to the mighty dollar at the expense of, well...everything humane and moral. However, I recognize I'm not perfect either, but like to think I make a big effort.

I've been wondering why Balls in particular are still imported when there seems to be so many people who breed them? Is there more of a demand for BPs than breeders can fill? Is it that much cheaper to import/sell a BP versus a captive bred? I'm totally clueless as I've only seen captive bred BPs and their prices.
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1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

You are actually judging them.You are holding their lives in poverty to the North American standard.
Also, I agree with conservation and every effort that it takes and I am in no way condoning anything outside of that. But I am saying be realistic.
If people are harvesting tagua nuts in Costa Rica, how does that affect the economy of those harvesting python meat and skins in Africa? It doesn't. So as people wonder how they will feed their children and themselves they will use the natural resources.I can't blame them.I won't even question why the are starting families in poverty.
As far as the final harvest of the rainforests. This is often being done by organized crime with the particular governments invoved through turning a blind eye for bribes.
The best prevention has been said to be first world countries should not purchase this wood.This is what makes it worthwhile to harvest it.
As far as the March import. This is often where the new morphs are searched for, some are used for genetic diversity and the rest starve.Do we need this? Not a question I can answer.

You are actually judging them.

I'm not judging them - I'm judging the act and it's consequences.

You are holding their lives in poverty to the North American standard.

Nowadays it almost seems that the North American standard is to take the quick & easy way out at the expense of all else even in light of knowing that options with as great if not greater results exist - all for the sake of immediate gratification. I don't believe that's what they are doing. They are doing all that they believe they can to get by in their world.

If people are harvesting tagua nuts in Costa Rica, how does that affect the economy of those harvesting python meat and skins in Africa? It doesn't.

You're right - it doesn't. I never said that the two were related in that their economies were affected jointly. I was giving an example of how alternatives can sometimes be found and implented with positive results both in the short and long term - for the good of many.

So as people wonder how they will feed their children and themselves they will use the natural resources. I can't blame them.

I can't blame them either. Who's to say I'd do any different if in their place? I can't. But because there are those of us not in their place and that can do something to help (in one way or another) - we're to blame in our own ways and I believe it's our responsibility to exercise our ability to make a positive impact on such situations.

The best prevention has been said to be first world countries should not purchase this wood.This is what makes it worthwhile to harvest it.

That's one thing we can do! Especially since North Americans are probably a big purchaser for such products.

Hey Vtherpster, thanks for the interesting conversation today! Been doing a lot of housework and made for a nice break while keeping my mind working.
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1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"