I suppose this is an ethics question

[ultimuttone]

I was given the opportunity to get a very nice juvi albino burm. I really like burms, in fact the first 'pet' snake that got me hooked was a 10' named Herc.
I made the decision when I got back into reptiles a couple years back to limit the collection to under 10' or so because of the space requirements and handling requirements of a say 12+ footer.
I admit I am very tempted to get this baby but was good and said no.
What do you think about people who get 'monster snakes' knowing they will not be able to care for them their entire lives? or the people who try and sell them knowing someone will not be able to house a snake that will become 20' long and require a bedroom size enclosure? Do you think it is ethical to get a baby burm or retic and then try and rehome it when it becomes to large? Are there going to be enough people willing to adopt these large snakes as the hobby grows and more are produced?
Just something itching at my brain today.

[Jarret]

No, it is not ethical to buy a large snake when it is a baby just to sell it off when it becomes too much for you too handle.

I honestly don't know if there will be enough people to take over the big snakes just because somebody cannot handle the responsibilities that a snake of that size requires.

My hopes are that when my burm reaches close to 10', that I will be able to take him around to schools and to educate people on just what exactly a snake of that size requires and that it shouldn't just be a pet for the coolness factor.

Also, good for you for stopping yourself from getting the snake knowing that you wouldn't be able to provide the right environment for it throughout it's lifetime :)

[Medusa]

Although we love the bigger snakes we know we don't have that kind of room in our house so we only stick with ball pythons and snakes to that length. But I'm glad others who do have room keep the big ones and post lots of pictures. And I've known people who've gotten the larger snakes not realizing just how big they can get. None of them has released them - I wouldv'e talked them out of that.

[The Snake Guru]

Personal opinion.....you should only get what you can handle......otherwise what's the point of going through all the work to grow it up just to sell it?

~B~

[ReptileMan27]

It really angers me when people buy these animals knowing they wont be able to care for them in the future. There are alot of people that are implulse buyers and dont think intill after they get it.. Either way I really think people need to really stop and think before buying these types of animals. Housing a large boid is just one factor that needs to be taken into consideration, along with the poetential danger of them when they get big..

[Aurora]

I love burms and retics! Large pyhtons are the best in my opinion, however I waited 10 years for my first burm, I wanted to be sure I was able to care for it for the duration of its life. I still don't have a tic because I know I don't have the room yet. I do my best to educate everyone who expresses interest in these animals so there hopefully are fewer in need of a home. Its unfourtanate that these animals will of ten end up homless or dead because of the uneducated, or plain ignorant.

So yes its definately unethical for an individual to purchase an animal they can't care for. It's more unethical for someone to provide someone with any animal without being sure the new owner knows what they are getting into. Well just my 2 cents!

[SnakeGirl]

Well, everyone else has said it for me! :lol:

But I commend you in being responsible enough to know when you shouldn't take on the commitment of an animal you can't care for when it's bigger! :clap2: Kudos to you!

[ultimuttone]

Well, I am glad I am not the only one willing to live vicariously through others on these forums :). They are truly awesome animals but it does concern me how many people get them just because it's 'cool' or without thinking about the long term. And almost more so how many are sold without thought to where they are going. Burms and retics are some of the cheapest snakes to buy and require the most resposibility in the long run. I am still keeping the options of some of the dwarf pythons open, but am happy with my little snakes for now.
Thanks for sharing your opinions.

[mcem]

Well I agree with everyone above. The zoo gets calls all the time from people wanting to donate their burm, retic, boa, gator, etc. because it has gotten to big for them to house. This really upsets me.

[Jakes]

It's nice to see like minded people. I see it all the time, people buy snakes for their cuteness, or they don't stop to think of the future. My wife and I have 20 snakes together, and 6 of those are only hatchlings. We are already in the process of having their adult enclosures made, and have already made a space for them. If we couldn't fit them in, or house them correctly, then we wouldn't buy them. It appauls me when people do that. I only just made a comment on the same subject in a different thread. Good on you for saying no, more people should look to the future, just as you did.

If you can't house it, don't get it.

[jermzburm]

if i may, jump in this one. id like to share my own experience. ill try to make it short. i cringe at any kinda snake other than a burm or a boa. ya reticks are awsome, condas second to last colubrids no thank you. but when i was first introduced to my first boa. i was in aww. and yes iwas very ignurant to what kind of responsibility i had just accepted. my freind gave his 6' common boa that he didnt care for anymore and me being young and in aww. i gladly acceptted. living with my folks at that time well my new pet wasnt really welcome. i convinced my mom to let me keep it, she wasnt very happy to say the least. well i took off for afew days and it got out scared my mom shitless. she called animal control they came got it and took it to creighton research center or thats what i was told when i got home. now im pissed and i mean pissed! well i made her buy me another snake. the reptile barn pet shop didnt have any boas but they did have a burm left "sold". i now have a new baby burm. ihave no idea what i just baught. but i liked it very much. so named it dr.evil. i grew to love that snake like aperson loves there children. 6 mnths later in the middle of january he got into a hole in the wall under a window into the ceiling of a porch. in january! my landlord would not let me cut a hole to get him out. threatend to call the law for destroying property. well he died and come spring not only hearbroken guilt riddin to no end. my apartment smelled so bad for amonth or more."heartbroken!". im no billybadass but when i moved well he wished he let me cut hole. for mnths after i left. well i attemted to purchase another. i baught another one only this time iwas suposed to have got a7' burm. i should have known that it does not take 2 people to carry a box with a7" snake. but i took it home opened the box and every one ran. ive never been around something like that im life. oh shit! i didnt have a cage big enough, so clean out my walk in closet get another door for the closet cut a hole in the door put half inch plexi in it. now i have a snake thats 15' plus. well i had a few close calls with that snake to close actually that and cleaning my wife made me get rid of it, i named it fat bastard by the way. my point is most of us has made some bad choices and just couldnt live up to the responsibilty we thaught we could handle. even for a person who is ready. no one person can forsee the changes that life will pound you with. so next time try not to be so hatefull, angry, disgusted... when aperson makes a poor and unethical pet choice. cause ive never heard of a breeder thats gonna refuse a sale. unless that person is just an absolute TOOL:blabla: VERY SORRY FOR LONG POST but i could go on and on jerm