Possible Triple Het Burmese Pythons at Pets & Things in Auburn!! $60.00!!!

[MissAnne2u]

I'm taking this post down ...

[cecilia]

Maybe I'm turning into a disillusioned and bitter old woman- check that, I KNOW I'm turning into a disillusioned and bitter old woman- but this really bothers me. 6 baby Burms at a really cheap price in a local pet store where most of the surrounding municipalities are either considering making giant snakes illegal or have already done so. How many of those babies will end up in our adoption program a year from now? Oh, that's right, I forgot- NONE, because so many people unload these guys within a year or two of purchase that we ran out of space for them YEARS ago.
In my opinion, which I know many of you will disagree with, I think it's irresponsible of any pet store to carry them, and especially to carry six of them. It ranks right up there with having a couple dozen baby green iguanas priced at $12.95 a piece. It may be good business, but it is dooming the animals to a very likely fate of being shuffled from place to place and eventually dying from neglect or being euthanized for being inconvenient.

MissAnne2U, I'm not criticizing you for posting this, I'm just venting.

[MissAnne2u]

Oh I know Celia ....

The owner of the store didn't say how she got them .. I'm assuming she bought them from someone.

[aalomon]

*sigh* I really, REALLY shouldnt comment so Ill just say I agree with Cecilia.

[Adams Family]

Maybe I'm turning into a disillusioned and bitter old woman- check that, I KNOW I'm turning into a disillusioned and bitter old woman- but this really bothers me. 6 baby Burms at a really cheap price in a local pet store where most of the surrounding municipalities are either considering making giant snakes illegal or have already done so. How many of those babies will end up in our adoption program a year from now? Oh, that's right, I forgot- NONE, because so many people unload these guys within a year or two of purchase that we ran out of space for them YEARS ago.
In my opinion, which I know many of you will disagree with, I think it's irresponsible of any pet store to carry them, and especially to carry six of them. It ranks right up there with having a couple dozen baby green iguanas priced at $12.95 a piece. It may be good business, but it is dooming the animals to a very likely fate of being shuffled from place to place and eventually dying from neglect or being euthanized for being inconvenient.

MissAnne2U, I'm not criticizing you for posting this, I'm just venting.


*sigh* I really, REALLY shouldnt comment so Ill just say I agree with Cecilia.


Here too ...SAME as above...can’t add much but I feel heartache :(

[Emily]

I feel the exact same way. IMHO giants just shouldn't be so easily accessible. :(

[MissAnne2u]

Post removed ....

[t0neg0d]

I have mixed feelings about this >.< I think people ought to do their research before purchasing large constrictors, but I would be devastated if I was to find out I couldn't own them.

I am also fairly confident that the current owner of pet n' things plus has them in the store on consignment from a local breeder who sells mostly via the net. And, typically anyone purchasing a snake remotely is fairly sure of what they are buying prior to paying the shipping over and above the price of their new pet.

Though, I do know that a number of these (and retics) are ill-cared-for and end up neglected or abandoned, the majority of the people who buy from their store are either reptile owners who are aware of what the potential size of a burm is or rat lovers... and are there to rescue feeders. =)>

If these snakes were in Petco, or a pet store that carries more than reptiles and feeders, I would agree that this is irresponsible, but $60... even for a possible triple het, is about the going rate for burms. They are inexpensive to purchase... and only moderately expensive to feed.

Ugh... I hate the thought of life without burms and retics... don't say the "IMHO giants just shouldn't be so easily accessible" word. =*(

[aalomon]

"but I would be devastated if I was to find out I couldn't own them."

I completely agree that they shouldnt be illegal, but I really think people should have to jump through at least some hoops to be able to get them.

"And, typically anyone purchasing a snake remotely is fairly sure of what they are buying prior to paying the shipping over and above the price of their new pet."

I disagree here. Every year I sell animals over the net (mostly corns and balls), and you would be scared to see probably 25-50% of the replies I get...and that is just for a corn!

"the majority of the people who buy from their store are either reptile owners who are aware of what the potential size of a burm is or rat lovers... and are there to rescue feeders. =)>"

There is a huge difference between knowing potential size and having to feed something that has reached potential size. Once again, Ive been to specialty stores and had people walk in wondering why their corn snake isnt eating its crickets *shudder*

"even for a possible triple het, is about the going rate for burms. They are inexpensive to purchase... and only moderately expensive to feed."

I know the low price and that is one thing I disagree with. I think their should be a higher price for larger snakes, or once again, hoops to jump through. People value their animals more and think more about the potential costs to them when the initial cost is high. Probably one reason I have never heard of someone in the USA finding a green tree python in their back yard someone has released.

As for the moderately expensive to feed....thats just part of it. Then their is caging, heating, finding a vet that will handle an adult python.....:innocent:

"Ugh... I hate the though of life without burms and retics... don't say the "IMHO giants just shouldn't be so easily accessible" word. =*("

IMHO, if youre not willing to put a little effort into finding a snake that is not easily accessible, you are not ready for a giant.

[t0neg0d]

I disagree here. Every year I sell animals over the net (mostly corns and balls), and you would be scared to see probably 25-50% of the replies I get...and that is just for a corn!

That's sad =( But this goes to the point that you talk about later in this post. Corn snakes are inexpensive to purchase... and recommended as a great "starter" snake for the inexperienced owner. Poor corns!


There is a huge difference between knowing potential size and having to feed something that has reached potential size. Once again, Ive been to specialty stores and had people walk in wondering why their corn snake isnt eating its crickets *shudder*

/cringe


I know the low price and that is one thing I disagree with. I think their should be a higher price for larger snakes, or once again, hoops to jump through. People value their animals more and think more about the potential costs to them when the initial cost is high. Probably one reason I have never heard of someone in the USA finding a green tree python in their back yard someone has released.

I couldn't agree more!


As for the moderately expensive to feed....thats just part of it. Then their is caging, heating, finding a vet that will handle an adult python.....:innocent:

I build 6' x 3' / 8' x 4' enclosures for my snakes. They are very inexpensive, heat-gapped for heat cord, stackable and can support up to 400lbs each--display case sliding acrylic doors, etc, etc.

The cost of feeding/housing/heating is minimal... now the vet... that is a different story... but there are two in this area that are reputable and willing to work with larger snakes.


IMHO, if youre not willing to put a little effort into finding a snake that is not easily accessible, you are not ready for a giant.

This goes back to the good point you made about the price of the burms. If they were priced like retics, I think the issue of irresponsible owners would not be the issue it is now. If "not so easily accessible" means having to invest money to have the privilege of owning one... then I am ALL for it! But if it means government regulations... not so much, because regulated = eventually banned, if someone sees it as being politically expedient. =(

Great insight, aalamon... thanks!

[cecilia]

The fact that Burms are cheap to buy and feed is part of the big problem. People refuse to look ahead to the cost of housing, heat, and space. Their "cool" factor makes them an impulse purchase for many people, and almost nobody can be certain that they will be able to keep them for their entire lifespan, or even want to.

[Emily]

To clarify, what I meant by wishing giants weren't so easily accessible, was that I wish they weren't so easily accessible to the average joe. The hobbyist with the experience and the resources to own a giant probably wouldn't buy one from a pet store, anyways.

[t0neg0d]

The fact that Burms are cheap to buy and feed is part of the big problem. People refuse to look ahead to the cost of housing, heat, and space. Their "cool" factor makes them an impulse purchase for many people, and almost nobody can be certain that they will be able to keep them for their entire lifespan, or even want to.

Very, very true.


To clarify, what I meant by wishing giants weren't so easily accessible, was that I wish they weren't so easily accessible to the average joe. The hobbyist with the experience and the resources to own a giant probably wouldn't buy one from a pet store, anyways.

/agree

Its hard for me to think of caring for them in any other light than my personal experience--which is fantastic... but very time consuming. I usually think of the "fantastic, not the "time consuming".

I will not cage feed any of my snakes, which means carrying them to the bath tub for feeding .
I spend time with each outside their enclosure daily to allow them to exercise more and socialize as well... not to mention, a little more direct exposure to UV.
I clean their cages daily.
I bath them regularly (though they have soaking dishes appropriate to their sizes).

All this seems like a pleasure to me... though, I see it would more than likely be irritating to most. This is why I stated originally that I have mixed feelings about the subject. =(

Thanks so much for the great input!