Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

This may sound like a stupid/silly question, but I think it's legitimate.

As we all know, each year a surplus of baby burmese pythons are born each year. Many years ago, they may have demanded high prices, but now I see them selling for $20 at reptile shows. It seems they are produced in much GREATER numbers than the market demands...

I can't imagine there being that many people buying burms...there would be one for every household : )

I'm just curious to know what everyone thinks about this...

Thanks,
SP

Unfortunatly people do buy them and when they get big they put them up for adoption. They see a deal and a good looking snake and then say hey I can have one, and then before you know it, its 8ft 9ft 10ft, and its I have to get rid of it. Thats why there are so many up for adaption.

This may sound terrible, but it is an option for unwanted baby burms....with the thousands and thousands that become abandoned each year, some that face severe neglect, this may be the best option. I know many people who use corn snakes to feed coral snakes....may not bode well for corn snake lovers but for those who keep coral's, this is a never ending food supply at a very economical rate. But, I love burms and I couldn't do this but I don't look down at those who do as long as it is done properly.

This does sound terrible and I can't believe you said it. The reason why I don't own cobras and other canibalistic snakes is because I could never do that. Stillborn and eggdead individuals maybe, but I could never kill a snake for another snake. I would have to somehow "trick" the thing into eating mice or rats. And I realize that mice and rats are living things too, and ironically higher in the evolutionary ladder, but I am more accustomed to it. Though I must admit, even that has never been easy for me. 30 years and I'm still a wuss when it comes to killing the food for the snakes. But I try to do it as quickly and painlessly as possible to spare them any terror or trauma. Sorry, I still respect you, but I had to speak my mind here.

>>This may sound terrible, but it is an option for unwanted baby burms....with the thousands and thousands that become abandoned each year, some that face severe neglect, this may be the best option. I know many people who use corn snakes to feed coral snakes....may not bode well for corn snake lovers but for those who keep coral's, this is a never ending food supply at a very economical rate. But, I love burms and I couldn't do this but I don't look down at those who do as long as it is done properly.
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It isn't "Ideas" that fail or succeed,... it is the "Sytstems" which are instilled to launch and sustain the idea that either fail or succeed.>[Me.]

Just kidding. Well, kind of. LOL! He is just stating the truth. What's not to believe. I am sure people do MUCH worse things than that. Like freeze them, etc. You are right. It really is a horrible fate.....But, the truth shouldn't be hidden. Just my thoughts.
John

P.S. I enjoyed your story about your burm and being pinned. I think stories like that should be told. We are all not perfect. We all make mistakes at times. Heck even Bob C. has admitted to almost having his face taken off. I guess that is why we all try to impress to others that these animals should be respected.
With all your burms.......Why aren't you sharing pics of them. I would love to see them.
John
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"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."

I know what he said is true,. and I realize cobras need to eat too,.. but a burm? It somehow seems worse than surplus garter snakes. But deep down inside I realize that it is no different.

I was sharing a lot of my pictures about a month ago (or so). I don't know if they are still up (the pics within the posts) but you could either go look there or email me and I can shoot you some direct. I need to take some fresh pics soon anyways, so it would be no trouble. They are all albino phases of one sort or another, so I'm sure the pics get a little boring after 5 or 10, but just tell me which ones you'd like to see the most and I will get some off to you soon after. Now let me get back to my trees. lol

>>Just kidding. Well, kind of. LOL! He is just stating the truth. What's not to believe. I am sure people do MUCH worse things than that. Like freeze them, etc. You are right. It really is a horrible fate.....But, the truth shouldn't be hidden. Just my thoughts.
>>John
>>
>>P.S. I enjoyed your story about your burm and being pinned. I think stories like that should be told. We are all not perfect. We all make mistakes at times. Heck even Bob C. has admitted to almost having his face taken off. I guess that is why we all try to impress to others that these animals should be respected.
>>With all your burms.......Why aren't you sharing pics of them. I would love to see them.
>>John
>>-----
>>"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."
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It isn't "Ideas" that fail or succeed,... it is the "Sytstems" which are instilled to launch and sustain the idea that either fail or succeed.>[Me.]

LOL!

I would love to see pics of the BIG ones of course.
Whenever you get a chance. Nothing beats a HUGE burm.
John
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"To be the best..........You must lose your mind."

I was thinking... king cobras probably eat their share of baby molurus in the wild. That's life, I guess.