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by therealbirddog on September 11, 2000
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A very well-written article. Has this been pblished? These thoughts need to be read by the general public. Responsibility and clear, comprehensive thinking are two important keys to successful snake keeping and care.
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Snakes as 'Pets'
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by CASCABELLADONNA on January 27, 2001
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I COULDN'T POSSIBLY AGREE MORE WITH THIS ARTICLE. WHEN ASKED THE "WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL THOSE SNAKES..." QUESTION I CAREFULLY EXPLAIN MY DEFINITION OF PET. MY PERSONAL DEFINITION OF A PET IS AN ANIMAL THAT IS INTERESTING AND CAN BE LEARNED FROM. NOW ON THE SUBJECT OF DOGS AND CATS: THOSE ARE "FRIENDS", NOT ENTIRELY FITTING MY OWN DEFINITION OF "PET". THIS SEEMS TO PERPLEX SOME PEOPLE; SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I BASICALLY JUST TELL THEM THAT THE HOTS ARE NOT TOYS--NO NEED TO TOUCH AS THEY NEED NO LOVE.DOGS AND CATS MAKE BETTER TOYS:) ON IMPULSE BUYS---NOT MUCH TO BE SAID FOR THE PERSON WHO JUST JUMPS ON IN, BUT THEN AGAIN--THAT'S A LARGE PORTION OF FOLKS WHO VISIT THIS SITE. LOTS OF US "JUST JUMPED INTO" HOTS AND LEARNED AS WE WENT ALONG. WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING HOTS, I THINK 2 THINGS COME INTO PLAY THE HEAVIEST: WRITTEN REFERENCE AND COMMON SENSE! I'M NOT DISCOUNTING THE IMPORTANCE AT ALL OF A MENTOR---JUST SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE FOR MOST OF THE BEGINNERS.
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Snakes as 'Pets'
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by vettesherps on February 4, 2001
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I strongly with the article written. My snakes are not truely pets in the sense believed by the public. When asked why I have them I explain that the future of them is in the hands of all of those who keep them. With thousands of acres of natual habitat being destroyed daily these animals will soon become extinct or at the very least endangered and some day their childrens only chance to see these magnificnet animals is through keepers like us. I explain that wouldn't it have been great if someone had thought enough of the passenger pidgeon to have kept some as pets. Maybe they would still exist today. I hope in my heart that the same thing doesn't happen to these animals that I love and am fasinated by but one can never know what the future holds. The other question I hear most often is do they bite. I tell them yes they do not all the time but they are wild animals and can bite at any time. I tell them I am not afraid of them but I do respect them and try not to do things to aggitate them. Once again Your article should be mandatory reading for not just the public but many keepers and for sure all pet stores.
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Snakes as 'Pets'
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by nosnakes on February 15, 2001
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This was an excellent article. Snakes fascinate me, but I won't get within 100 feet of one, knowingly. Isn't that strange? Anyway, I am so glad someone wrote such a good article about keeping snakes, hot or otherwise. I wish the PETA people would get as riled up about mistreated herps as they do cows and chickens.
Even though I am not a snake-lover, I hate to see any animal mistreated, or mishandled due to ignorance. One of the most glaring examples of this is a gentleman who lives about 30 miles from my town. He is in the business of rescuing herps no one wants. Mostly, he saves large boids, most notably a 22-foot reticulated python found in a rural part of a nearby county. Someone had obviously decided the animal was too much for them and turned it loose. A local newspaper did an article about him, and he discussed the need for ample space for such large animals. Like a living-room sized enclosure.
There have been some 9 and 10-foot boids escape in my state in the past couple of years. Fortunately, they were found before anyone was injured.
Nevertheless, it highlights the complete ignorance of some people who think they can keep an animal that size in a fish tank! One person lost his 9-foot albino python, and when it was found, the paper did an article. Hw showed the reporter a 100-gallon tank where he kept the animal. The poor thing hardly had enough room to turn around in, much less be comfortable. I'd leave, too.
In conclusion, I think that the responsible herp keepers are a great group of people. I don't understand why they would want to keep snakes (hot or otherwise), but they do a terrific job of emphasizing the absolute necessity for giving these creatures the best care possible. They emphasize that the creatures' well-being and public safety comes first.
These guys aren't pets and it is a mistake to think of them as such.
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RE: Snakes as 'Pets'
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by 91C2 on April 30, 2004
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This article is rather old, yet still, the question remains: Are they truly pets???
I think they can be pets in every sense of the word. Pet are kept for companionship, entertainment, or amusement. They are kept for all of the above reasons.
I have a boa that I have had for 11 years. The snake has entertained and amused me. But, it has also been a companion. I do not take it every where I go. In fact, it has only had one road trip in its life. But, it does not try to escape from me, or its cage.
I have a tree in my yard that is sournded by no other. I put the snake in the tree while I do my yard work or piddle with my truck or motorcycle. That snake has spent many days in that tree. I check on it many time throughout the day and it is always there.
Venomous snakes are obviously different. They cannot be pets, as they cannot be trusted to not bite.
But, a long term captive boa or python can be regarded as a pet and even develope a working relationship with the keeper. It is a matter of trust, time, and mutual respect.
My retic was a fantastic pet, all 22 ft of her. Never bit, never tried. She loved going to the park for excercise. People would come and pet her. She was a pet, not a captive wild animal. She broke all the rules of a retic's behaviour, gentle and docile. Even the staff at Dr. Rossi's office were amazed by her gentle demeanor.
What made the difference???? I was holding her egg when she hatched, I spent time, alot of time, with her. Before, and after, she ate, I spent time with her. She knew I was no threat to her and I knew she posed none to me. A mutual trust was established early and followed through with. When she died, at 9 years old, I was there, holding her head in my hand and she stared at me until her last breath was drawn. I loved her from the begining to the end, and she trusted me.
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RE: Snakes as 'Pets'
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by gnomeman316 on June 21, 2004
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I have a brooksi kingsnake. I purchessed him at a reptile show two years ago. I belive that he is a good pet. when I open his cage he comes to me and dosen't try to get away. He is never agressive, unless you are a rat, and likes everyone. He will even put up with my 5 year old brother holding him. If you ask me, this is a pet.
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Snakes as 'Pets'
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by Gentlemantw0 on November 20, 2004
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I almost entirely agree with this article. The only thing I do not agree with is the part about snakes not liking being handled. I agree that there are many snakes that prefer not to be handled but there are some that seem not to mind. In fact, I have kept a few snakes that I would call sociable. My best example would be of a reticulated python I had several years ago. The male wanted nothing to do with people but the female on the other hand almost seemed friendly. She was about 14' at the time so I would take her out so she could exercise a little several times a week. I would allow her to explore whatever room I was in and nearly every time she would wind up by me or on me. Many times she would come and coil and the edge of the couch by my feet and sit for hours. Is this truly signs of enjoying my company? I suppose that's up to you, but if you ask me, it certainly was.
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RE: Snakes as Pets
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by RedrumRattle on January 30, 2005
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I couldn't agree more with this statement. I own a 5' Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake that I almost didn't live long enough to find out the hard way. One day while cleaning out "Klauth's" pen I thought he was asleep inside his box. In a rush I did not relocate him to his secondary pen as normal and went about cleaning his pen. Only to have him strike at my hand. Now I have observed Klauth before and realized that he either has a problem with his glands, or is just mean because he often injects everything he has much like a baby. Had he been successful in striking me and giving me al he had. Not even a person of my size and number of bites from other specimens would have survived it. Luckily I at least had remembered to wear my kevlar glove. (Designed for use in cleaning meat and sandwhich slicers) While he did not get through the glove he left a sizeable stream of venom on its exterior.
This was the same snake that I had often handled in much the same way one does a ball python. To say the least I do not do that anymore. I have gone so far as to design and build a new pen which allows to me to feed him, water him, and even clean his cage while keeping both of us isolated from each other.
It involves a trapdoor system for feeding and watering, and has a "security lockdown" to keep him contained while I clean up his cage. Because I do not intend to give him the chance to kill me the next time he is having a bad day.
While I cannot do it for free because of the cost involved, I would be glad to discuss the building of one of these pens for anyone who thinks they need one, I will do so as cheaply as possible simply so we do not lose any owners to snakes. And any snakes to authorities who put the "dangerously aggressive" animal down.
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Snakes as 'Pets'
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by MoccasinMan on February 12, 2005
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Snakes as pets? I would be very careful in dealing with the general public refering to snakes as pets. Due to the influence of pop culture and historical stereotypes, (based in almost complete ignorance)it is irresponsable to refer to these magnificent, somtimes dangerous creatures in such a casual way.
That said, some of the snakes I keep are "PETS" to me. I have had both Boas and Pythons that were so 'dog tame' I would trust them around my small children (closely supervised at all times of course). Great respect and unwaivering vigelance is the rule especially when dealing with large serpents in the enclosure. My "PET" snakes once they are out and being handled are fine and interesting companions.
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