Python Ban Goes Into Effect Thursday

rockin'robin

rockin'robin

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Snake Sellers Say Business Slithering Away As A Result

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With a ban to buy Burmese pythons and five other species of nonnative snakes going into effect, local reptile shop owners said there is a last-minute rush to beat the deadline.

Wild Things Exotic Animals specializes in rare and unique creatures, but one of its most prized possessions is its Burmese python, who won't be up for sale Thursday because of the ban.

Snake seller Paulia Connie said business is slithering away.

"It's one more setback in the industry, making people more afraid of these animals rather than more comfortable," Connie said.

Lawmakers passed the ban because the nonnative snakes are thriving in the Everglades after escaping or being released. The call to ban the snakes was also pushed by politicians after a 2-year-old Sumter County girl was killed last year.

Snake sellers said the ban will increase illegal sales on the black market.

"There will always be some underground activity. They'll have the animals they want," Connie said.

Python Ban Goes Into Effect Thursday - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
 
diehardbiker said:
Black market always wins. Ban is not going to help much
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Eh... It worked in Alberta. The blackmarket element is still there, but most people still adhere to the law. Mostly because the general public is too stupid to look somewhere elsewhere than petstores.
 
:applause:

we are winning War on Snakes!
 
Stupid laws. Always making responsible adults pay for the stupidity of stupid people. Even if this ban stops people from getting snakes (it won't, underground market is already thiving) the damage has already been done.
 
I'm petrified of snakes. Seriously petrified.

As in, I will run away and grasp your hand and close my eyes.

Honestly, I won't let my future children have plastic snakes. I blame it on watching The Jungle Book when I was young without understanding it wasn't reality.

In all honesty though - isn't the concept of a "pet" a little strange.

I'm a walking controdiction because I lived with 30 fenced in cows. Granted, a cow as a "pet" serves a different purpose than a snake as a "pet." I don't really understand what affection you can get from a snake.
 
paperclip said:
I'm petrified of snakes. Seriously petrified.

As in, I will run away and grasp your hand and close my eyes.

Honestly, I won't let my future children have plastic snakes. I blame it on watching The Jungle Book when I was young without understanding it wasn't reality.

In all honesty though - isn't the concept of a "pet" a little strange.

I'm a walking controdiction because I lived with 30 fenced in cows. Granted, a cow as a "pet" serves a different purpose than a snake as a "pet." I don't really understand what affection you can get from a snake.
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There isn't any "affections." Of course, people who owned olive pythons and indigo snakes might argue there is some "higher intelligence."

Lots of people like them because they're easy to take care of. (Feed once every 5 days, or once every second week, or once a month depending on the species. Change water everyday. Change substrate when it defecates.) That and it gives people who are allergic to birds and mammals a second chance at pet ownership.

I used to like them because they would calm my hyperactive self down. I don't know why... the way they cringe onto your arms and such seems to be extremely relaxing. Helped me out a lot from going into a nervous overdrive.
 
If you outlaw snakes, only outlaws will have snakes.

I know, there needs to be stricter snake control laws. One snake per household, must be registered by law abiding citizens only, and a *requirement* of a million dollar insurance policy (you know, in case the snake bites someone).
 
Steinhauer said:
If you outlaw snakes, only outlaws will have snakes.

I know, there needs to be stricter snake control laws. One snake per household, must be registered by law abiding citizens only, and a *requirement* of a million dollar insurance policy (you know, in case the snake bites someone).
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Nice humour there.
 
souggy said:
There isn't any "affections." Of course, people who owned olive pythons and indigo snakes might argue there is some "higher intelligence."

Lots of people like them because they're easy to take care of. (Feed once every 5 days, or once every second week, or once a month depending on the species. Change water everyday. Change substrate when it defecates.) That and it gives people who are allergic to birds and mammals a second chance at pet ownership.

I used to like them because they would calm my hyperactive self down. I don't know why... the way they cringe onto your arms and such seems to be extremely relaxing. Helped me out a lot from going into a nervous overdrive.
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:hmm: I see your point. Thanks for explaining.
 
Good luck with the ban. I hear one can just go to the Everglades and do a Snake Dance: a Burmese python will slither into your arms.
 
I say "Hooray" for the ban!....Detest snakes....slitherly, sneaky & mean....guess it would take a 6-9 ft. Python wrapped around you and looking you in the eye and hissing..."what's for breakfast?"...to change some people's mind....
Blame it on irresponsible snake owners...
 
I think many don't realize how big pythons can grow and how dangerous they are. Pythons may be totally harmless to most people but they can literally snap out and suffocate them to death which they're darn good at! :)

Some animals are NOT meant to be sold at pet stores. I have ducks but I would support any laws to ban the sale of ducks at pet stores because ducks are DIFFICULT to maintain and they depend on companionship. I am told that many places require that ducks be purchased in pairs or more so ducks won't be lonely.

So many people are naive when it comes to raising exotic or wild animals. Cats and dogs are perfect animals for companionship. They show a lot of affection. They seek your affection and they cuddle with you. They're meant to be raised with humans - they're domesticated.

Tigers and lions are extremely affectionate and in fact, no different from domestic cats at all. The danger is that they are extremely strong. A playful bite could mean death for a human and he'd have no idea. Cats are small and their playful bites aren't enough to cause serious injuries.

Same with apes. Chimp can easily lift a car. We can't. We have kids who throw tantrums... and you know how much damage they can do... imagine a chimp throwing a tantrum... 100 times stronger. Scary!
 
I'm on both sides of the fence on this issue:

I like this ban due to the python being one of the largest snakes readily available in the industry. Many people do not have the appropriate means to take care of it when it's huge lets say 10 feet minimum. 100 pounds? I read 20 feet at 200 lbs before. irresponsible people releasing them in the wild when they grow tired of it, as they can live to 25 years......


in the fish trade industry- I cannot tell you how many times we have to deal with many species of fish that's being sold as babies that looks so cute when tiny but not so nice when they're full grown 4 foot fish that eats and eats like a machine. Many people don't have the ROOM to have a 5,000 gallon tank for the fish. Most common is the PACU and the Red Tail catfish which always come up every single week with me with a owner that's "trying" to rehome their 3 foot long redtail catfish because their 125 gallon tank is too small for it.



Same goes for the dog or the cat as many don't have the means to take care of the most common household pets and they do the same thing that others do release the animal in the wild thinking everything will go away so people just let go of their "problem" fish in their lakes in florida now we have problems with fish taking over naive wildlife. Same goes for the snake and every other animal that was brought as a pet.

I like it on both sides as there's too many stupid people (yes stupid) out there impulse buying a living being purely for selfish reason not researching the needs of that living being. On other hand, its the stupid people's fault that we, the responsible people who actually have the means to take care of the living being cannot do this anymore.

THIS applies to all creatures great and small- including the dogs and the cats- people just long time ago accepted the dog and the cat as everyday thing- they're also the ones that's being released in the wild all of the time, this situation is NO different than the python that killed the florida girl- HOW many wild/loose dogs have killed children because they were just let go or got loose? Same as the snake. NO difference in my book at all.
 
There is a store here in Dayton that sells Burmese Pythons has a 18 ft female on display. A lot of people don't buy the babies when they have a fully grown snake to look at and say "Whoa!!". So maybe stores should at least have to have a shed or skin of a fully grown snake to show before buying. I think that would work better than a flat out ban.

Seeing the 18 footer is part of the reason I bought a red tail boa. Max size is about 10 ft and I can handle that. Maybe once I have a higher paying job and can afford to give a room in my house to a snake I will get a Burmese Python but I know I can't afford one now.
 
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