Herps in the media

[thamneil]

I can't comment on the ventilation, but I can comment on the legality of the python. While that area does have a by-law prohibiting the possession of this species, I believe this animal was grandfathered in. The snake belonged to the owner of a reptile shop, and was being kept legally as far as I know.

[EKS56]

That's a pretty good sized snake.
A man's gotta' know his place. I better stick with my Blacknecks.

[ConcinusMan]

I've always heard "but there are plenty of responsible people that own pythons" My response has always been "there's nothing responsible about owning an animal that can eat you or your neighbor's pets and children" and I still stand by it. Nobody but zoos and institutions should be allowed to have a snake like this and they should all be required to have RFID chip if not GPS or remote activated radio transmitters in them. Enough is enough.

[EKS56]

This is getting stranger by the day. CNN article states that the snake fell through the ceiling into the room where the boys were.

[ConcinusMan]

Whatever. Doesn't really matter. The snake lived in the same building and got to the kids. Doesn't really matter much how it got there. It obviously wasn't enclosed securely. That's the snake owner's responsibility. How could someone be so stupid. You just don't get complacent knowing full well the snake is capable of killing a person.

[EKS56]

A lot of question marks out there right now. I'm holding out for the autopsy.

[d_virginiana]

One thing that ticks me off is that the guy's petstore had been closed down before for improper conditions (which goes hand in hand with improper housing). They JUST seized over 16 illegal large reptiles including several crocodilians and large tortoises as well as other large snakes. Why was this guy even still in business? There were petitions which have been closed down since the incident to get the store closed for improper housing and inhumane conditions.


I would support a permit program that involved inspection of the enclosure and ID-chipping, but not a ban. My worry is if you ban any animal that when kept or socialized improperly could harm a child, you open a totally new can of worms. I mean, house cats kill more children by smothering them in their sleep than big snakes. Mounties have already had to respond to panicked calls about a neighbor's 4ft. escaped ball python!


If someone could find a story of a properly contained constrictor killing a human then I'd consider supporting a ban. The other high-profile snake attacks (in the US) involve really stupid caging conditions. Like the guy who used a 26lb weight to hold the top on the tank, and the snake got out and killed his young nephew. Or the pregnant woman (police were able to respond and save her and the baby) who let the snake FREE ROAM. Or even the guy who fell into his severely malnourished snake's cage with a near-lethal combination of alcohol and cocaine in his system. Letting people who keep snakes like that cause a ban, IMO, is like letting Michael Vick cause a ban on dogs over 50 pounds.


Plus, with the numbers already in the pet trade, IMO a ban would only create a pretty big black market, not end ownership.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

BBC News - UK zoo creates a skink to save rare lizards

[guidofatherof5]

Was at a yard sale this morning. This Coleman camping table caught my eye.
I didn't have a camera with me until I bought the Sony they had for sale(needed it for my youngest).
This is only the second time I've seen a garter snake used in advertising.
Here's a link to the first.
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...arietalis.html

[ConcinusMan]

That's weird. I mean, why?