Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My mom who is trying to find reasons for me not to breed Columbian Red-Tail Boas has put another statement on the table. She asked me what kind of insurance would be needed to breed, she mentioned buiseness insurance. her main point behind all this is what someone buys a baby and after the snake starts growing and bites the owner. she keeps bringing this up that they could take us to court. my question to you is what do you guys do or not do, i mean to be honest i don't anything needs to be done but maybe i could be wrong. any help would be appreciated.

well i work in a petstore as well as keep and breed boas. the norm is HANDLE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!! it is usually a question first....does it bite???...well its a snake it could.? if they take the snake and handle it they assumed the risk in my eyes as well as others i believe. if the snake is a biter.it is your responsability to tell the person so they can be their own judge of the situation. i am probably sure in some areas there are laws govering this but from a person to person situation this is mostly the norm i think. an example......when i got bit by my 17ft retic i had a friend over taking pics.if the snake would have bit him too he would have a case since he did not ask to interact with it. this is kind of long winded but this is just my opinion. hope this helps.
james c.
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IF YOU HAVE IT SHOW IT. IF YOU OWN IT FLAUNT IT!!

Actually, if you're in the US, no they can't sue you as you don't own the animal any longer so its not your responsibility. They bought it.. they're responsible for it. If it bites them it bites them. There is no legal recourse they can take against you as a breeder. My mother is a Para legal studying to be a lawyer... This is one of the laws I've had researched. IF the animal still belonged to you then they might have a basis for a hearing but since they purchased that animal. If it bites them..its their own problem.
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Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
2.1.1 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short) and 1 dbl. het blizzard x tang albino (Malice))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
1 Gerbil
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

Whenever someone is injured from services provided or items sold the question that often comes into play is "was the injury within reasonable expectations?" I can’t see how the "sold" status of the animal would protect you any more than the "sold" status of a car that later injures its new owner by exploding or through faulty air bags. An extreme example: If you sold a dog with rabies and it bites the new owner, it would be ludicrous to think that the fact it was “sold” protects you. Also "reasonable" is not the same for everyone. Many of my patients are not able to fully comprehend the risks of treatment due to certain cognitive factors such as age, drug intoxication or head injury. These patients would have legal standing to sue me for a treatment complication that another adult would not because what is reasonable to you or me was not reasonable to them. Therefore selling large snakes to people with limited intellectual capacity and children is not a wise thing to do. Some states may have protection specifically for animal sells, but they would be the exception.

I agree. When people hold snakes they assume it can bite. I work in a petshop as well, and when people ask if it can bite, even if it is the most docile snake we have, i simply reply, "it has a mouth, it can if it would want to." That thought either turns people on, or off. I would think that by buying a snake, the buyer takes all risks and responsibility for the snake. SO I agree with james. But this is my opinion as well. And I do not know the specific laws. hope you find your answers! =)

sorry i have a favorite i use sometimes as well. if you have a cat you will get scratched, if you have a baby you will get puked on, if you drive a car you could get in a wreck, you walk you will FALL. just a laugh for me. if you look closly at my wrist you can see scars from the retic bite.
james c.

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IF YOU HAVE IT SHOW IT. IF YOU OWN IT FLAUNT IT!!

what you guys have been saying about if they buy it then it is their responsibility makes a lot of sense. i also work at a petstore and one of the things we say is a snake is a snake and they all bite though the owner is going with that saying and pretty much saying you can never trust a snake which i don't completly aggree with. but i am definitly gonna keep looking and asking for advice.

also another question to ask is that i plan on getting the snakes as babies and raising them up and giving them bigger cages as they go so that way i am involved in everything that happens. do you guys personally think this is a good idea or should i get adult or maybe even sub-adult snakes.

Really it's personal preference. The only difference is that you would have to wait until the babies, or sub adults became breeding size. If you are worried about whether or not the snake will know you and be nice, then hold the adult and check out it's temperment before you buy it. Most people take care of their animals. One thing I love about columbians is even at 6-7feet, I still consider them babies. Still as docile as when they were 2 feet. hope it all goes well =)

a hit from a 7 fter, really hurts.....
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IF YOU HAVE IT SHOW IT. IF YOU OWN IT FLAUNT IT!!

yeah man. i could imagine that wouldn't be a pretty or pleasent sight. thats a beautiful snake in the picture! btw. have a good one guys =)

i have to agree that that would hurt that is another reason why i want to get babies raise them up and then breed.

.. right.. move out and make your own decisions about breeding boas and other important things..

Until then go with the flow..

Gus