Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just thought id share couple pixs of our Fijis tink & arnie

They are beautiful! We can't keep these in the US, but they are such a perfect size.

I keep hearing about this why can you not keep them over there???

Because of their status as endangered animals. It seems to me that unreleasable captive stock could be used as breeding stock for private keepers, but no, it is not allowed.

It is because of Hank Molt syndrom. Its OK in the UK but not in the USA because they would quickly become "common as dirt". Then no one would have to go to a Zoo to see one. As far as I know you can not bring a captive born one in the UK to the USA. Anyone know if this is still the case. To bad the late great Burt Langerwolf didnt bring some here with his Australian Waterdragons way back when. VM

turned down twice by the USFWS. The first time they did not even open his permit application package-they sent it back to him in the envelope he sent them unopened with the refusal letter after cashing his check for the application fee. This person hold several other USFWS permits for tortoises.

I believe it, they can kill a deal for you for no reason even when they approved them for years before hand. But what gets me is all these "farm raised" animals from China, Thailand ect. that everyone knows is wild cought, but comes in with approved C.I.T.Y papers. They no longer have to deal with smugglers, they all have " The paper work" now. I've seen the animals I breed come in as farm raised but I can tell their 5-10 years old! yea, their going to breed and then hold them for that long! Of cource the folks that get them end up calling me to "help them" when their CB farm raised animal does the typical wild cought crash. And yes, I help them. VM

One of the best site to find information about iguana is anapsid.org by Melissa Kaplan. I'm a big fan of her book. a lot of people thank me because it's a lot cheaper at her site than buying the book, and there's more on the site than in the book. Great collection of knowledge.

Yes, I've know of her work for well over 20 yrs. VM

Maybe you should write a book, too. I'd buy it.

Well I didnt write one but I did have a Iguana book dedicated to me. "Whats wrong with my Iguana" by Dr.John Rossi. I'm having to sue the Editor of a book I was working on with another reptile. Biggest disapointment of my life. VM

I have been into uros for a long time and I just love all these farm bred adult uros. Yeah right. Like you say who in their right mind would raise it for 4-5 years then sell it dirt cheap. As far as our USFWS Game and Fish, DNR etc. They have pretty much worn me down. Now I just keep a few chuckwallas that I have collected myself(legally I might add for any enforcement reading this post) and occasionally sell offspring I produce. It really gets tiring the whole scene. It is kind of sad really because I really think they want to wear you down and I am pretty much there. LOL. I have known people that have kept reptiles for many years and now no longer do just because of all this sort of stuff. I guess you could say they won? Oh well still love the animals and enjoy the few I keep.

Just rambling
Tom Greb

processing fee sucks...