Thank you so much for pulling this thread out in the open again. It's like the wake up call that, I believe, most newbies snake keepers like myself needed to hear. I have read a lot on this site about permits / legal factors and the necessity for husbandry / handling courses, but some of you here have just put it plain straight. Keeping hots is a massive responsibility. So here is my 2c's worth:
Just like the rhino issue in SA currently, I believe the same principle should apply to all other kinds of animals. It's a plain and simple marketing strategy. If the market is introduced to a certain product, the need will be created. If the market (the buying public) isn't introduced to the product, they won't have a need for it. Ok, I know it goes both ways... conservation, funding etc. I do understand. But: If you breed these hots, if you are the owner of hots with the intention to sell these hots from your pet shop etc. Isn't it your responsibility as well as the buyers' that you ensure that who you sell your hot to is capable etc? I know when I was given my snake as a gift, I was petrified. Sure I've always talked about one day owning one, but now I had it. In a little cage in front of me. Excitement quickly made way for absolute confusion. What does she eat, how often, how should I keep her, should I handle her? Quickest solution: Google it! And my snake is only a Cal King! Now the following: I know of people that sold a viper, copperhead and other "mild exotic venomous" to my friend. He himself has had no experience, was a first timer and to be honest, neither one of us had a clue what he was getting himself into. Watching videos from ViperKeeper, to google info about the snakes, speaking to snake handlers/keepers, someone with experience has pulled him through in the beginning. But I know this is just the start. My cage is escape proof, but my Cal King got out once. It was me that didn't close the doors properly. So yes, as long as humans are in contact with captive snakes, there will always be some mishap or human error thrown into the mix and these snakes will get out. Fine, my Cal King will be the worst off if she had to get away. But the dogs, cats, the kids, ourselves, the neighbors' pets, kids and the whole community are at risk if a hot was to escape! Do we really have the insight to realize the responsibility we are taking on when you decide that you want some exotic and exceptional animal to display in your house? Venomous snakes aren't paintings or exquisite ornaments. They deserve to be taken care of, properly. At least my friend did get to do as much research as possible, but through horrific stories we also heard of people that just doesn't even go that far. Yes, he is suppose to belong to a herpetology association, do the courses and he was supposed to start off with non-venomous first... but it's too late now. Soon, I hope, he will do the courses etc. whatever is necessary... and I hope we still have a friendship after this.
But some of you here are breeders, I've met one or two of you myself. As long as I have the money, you will sell this hot to me. You don't know if I was going to give this to my 10yr old boy to handle, you didn't ask. You didn't know beforehand if I had the cage, the heat pad, the water, the housings, the feed... you didn't ask me any questions and you didn't know if I had a clue. But what I asked you was, how much? And you took my money. This is the personal experience I had. And because I was sold these hots, I assumed that it was ok. It wasn't that bad. Now I'm the stupid one? My money was good enough, but now I'm the stupid one? Before buying a snake I didn't even know that something like a herpetology association existed!
I'm not generalizing here, but I think the problem begins not with the stupid idiotic public out there. It starts with the persons supplying the stupid idiotic public with hots. I think that selling hots in any way, shape or form should be done with more responsibility. But I also know that if I had to go buy a puppy from the pet shop, neither of these questions will be asked anyway. But snakes, non- or venomous are not patting pets. They are cool, lovely but it is hard work and a huge responsibility. Towards the snake, the owner, the family, the other pets, the direct community. Does shop keepers / breeders / sellers see this?
Education seems to be the problem throughout... from the breeder, supplier straight through to the buyer. And if educated, I believe, hope, that more of us in the complete circle of this industry, will know what responsibilities we should be taking on, before we make our decisions.