Explain to me why Pythons shouldn't be banned?

[sostoudt]

Heres a quick question, why are automakers allowed to make cars so fast? If the speed limit averages 70mph max across the US, why not limit cars to 70mph?

because the extra power sells, even if you dont use it. but i have heard japanese car manufacturers only make cars with so much horsepower, may not be true.

i see older cars with a speedometer only going up to 80

 

[Gregg Madden]

How is that relevant to this discussion?

The behavior and temperment of snakes can depend greatly on the species, but just like most other animals-including your German shepherd-it also depends greatly on how they are treated. If mistreated, both a dog and a snake can become abnormally aggressive and dangerous.

This I do not agree with actually... I have snakes that are well tempered and passive and snakes that will bite first chance they get and are down right out of control... They were all raised equally well...

I do not think reptiles and mammals can be compared on any level either for or against the proposed bill... They are separate organisms and mammals like dogs are highly evolved, social animals where reptiles are not...

I am a reptile keeper and I love reptiles more than hairy animals but facts are facts...

 

[CTU2fan]

Intersting replies, thank you.

Let me ask this though: What is best for the animals?

I worked in the pet industry during the bird ban and you know what? The law helped, not harmed, the birds in question.
Before you assume i'm for banning reptiles i'm not, but I wonder if all of the people "Outraged" by a gov't proposal to ban snakes that get quite large are truly thinking of the well being of these animals. Or just themselves.

See that's the thing really. Other than the fact that I/we like them there really isn't a particularly good reason to allow the keeping of any pet really. There's not an animal out there, with the exception I suppose of line-bred domestic animals like dogs, cats, some birds, some fish, that wouldn't be better off if we didn't/couldn't keep them as pets. So in that sense I suppose a whole lot of animals should be banned.

But that's not what we're talking about here. The folks that want these bans don't want them out of concern for the herps in question. Possibly a few do; I'm sure there are animal-rights types who are all for banning keeping just about any "exotic" as a pet. But many more are non-herp people who hear the stories and buy into the propaganda, and are all for herp bans because they don't keep herps, so they don't particularly care about whether or not herpers are getting screwed.

Leaving aside the welfare of the animals aspect of it...why shouldn't we ban dogs? Or cats even? I'd feel pretty safe betting on more people being injured by cat bites than herp bites.

 

[Jeox]

Then give me the reasons why fish should not be banned except we like the as pets? Most fish will not live to see there avrage life expectancy. Why should pit bulls or other large breed dogs not be banned? They have killed far more poeple then any reptile ever has. In your context they should also ban cats. They do far more damage to any ecosystem then pythons ever have.There are lots of things we like but do not need. But does that give the government the rite to take it away.

Pyhtons and other reptiles are a hobby many people enjoy. There is also a lot of money that pythons generate for large and small businesses. Also do you really think they are going to stop on pythons? Once they take away one exotic pet which one is next?

The USGS study that was done is scientifcally inaccurate. The study only took into account avrage temperatures and precipitation not not high and low temperatures of a region. Burmese pythons will not spread outside there habitat in Florida. If it was possible they already would have. I can see a ban in Florida but not anywhere else.

This.
Also, pythons are already established in the US pretty much everywhere they can survive. Someones pet burm getting out, into an area with an established breeding population isnt a huge deal. So, this ban is totally worthless. Pythons rarely EVER kill anyone in captivity, If danger was really a factor, dogs should have been banned LONG ago, as dogs in a single state probably kill more people yearly, than constrictors do worldwide.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

I know there are other firefighters and emt's here. lets ask them. As an emt/firefighter for a living, i will try to put this in perspective.(in the past year, with my new job, not counting volly work) I have been to 2 seperate incindents involving horses injuring people. 2 involving dogs. one were the dog had to be hit with a shovel to keep it from killing an old lady. 2 incidents were people hit deer. this was my station alone. not counting what the 30 other stations in my county of employment.
dozens of bee stings.

ZERO, yes ZERO incidents involving reptiles. pet or other.

Car accidents? HA! i couldnt tell u how many of those incidents occur and the amount of injurys.

so that is in 6 months of my new job. 6 months!!

oh but the reptiles hurt people.

My other EMT and Firefighters, plz chime in here!

gonna leave with out any other comments

 

[varanio]

What would be ideal: Using the bird example since I am from South America and have seen the impact the bird industry had on some of the species of parrots there. I would take ALL large constrictors with an ID tag at the place of birth, IE breeders. Breeders in turn should be the ONLY ones that should be able to sell these animals, no more anacondas and retics and burms at mom and pop pet stores! This way we dont have Billy Bob working at Flos pet store with his thumb up his arse and his other finger in his nose trying to make a sell to little johnny who has 30 bucks to spend on a Burmese Python.

Keeping the animals strictly on the shoulders of the Breeders, will in fact keep the amount being imported in to be sold at Flos pet shop. We dont have to worry about petsuck and petpoop carrying the larger constrictors IE anacondas, burms, retics. Ball Pythons arent an issue, any hawk or bird of prey will pick up any loose animal some bozo decided to let loose. Again accountability for the BREEDER will be the key, and stopping or limiting importation only to breeders to diversify bloodlines will be the second portion of a complete plan to rationalize who will actually keep these giants to a select few who will be truly interested in keeping the species for what it is rather than the cool factor. With the inflated prices the breeders will induce on the general public, plus the microchipping mandated, we will see the interest decline.

In theory.

My .02

 

[krzr3000]

Not everything has to be fair. Policy makers and those who vote on these issues have fears, morals, and preferences just like anyone else. We all know that the majority of people are scared of reptiles and while the hobby is pretty big it still hasn't reformed everyone who thinks snakes are evil or slimey.

So comparing reptiles to dogs, which cause more harm isn't really productive because this is the issue at hand, not dogs.

 

[chloe]

i know im a bit late for this thread lol but course pythons shouldnt b banned.
mine r the best. prefer my little one to me lol and hate anyone i bring home to meet them...in my eyes they care lol


but i live in england lol and tbh we seem to be alot more responsible over here. we have no deaths caused by non venemous snakes here.

i did some research when i was first looking at boids in to deaths etc.

it turned out by a report i found from 1994 that all the deaths were down to, kids thinking they were cool to get a 15ft retic but would neglect it, snakes gets hungry, mmm tasty uncool kid.

people not housing it correctly, one bloke let his live on top of the fridge.

and one again people generally being irresponsible.

il see if i can find the link. brilliant site.
x

 

[chloe]

What would be ideal: Using the bird example since I am from South America and have seen the impact the bird industry had on some of the species of parrots there. I would take ALL large constrictors with an ID tag at the place of birth, IE breeders. Breeders in turn should be the ONLY ones that should be able to sell these animals, no more anacondas and retics and burms at mom and pop pet stores! This way we dont have Billy Bob working at Flos pet store with his thumb up his arse and his other finger in his nose trying to make a sell to little johnny who has 30 bucks to spend on a Burmese Python.

Keeping the animals strictly on the shoulders of the Breeders, will in fact keep the amount being imported in to be sold at Flos pet shop. We dont have to worry about petsuck and petpoop carrying the larger constrictors IE anacondas, burms, retics. Ball Pythons arent an issue, any hawk or bird of prey will pick up any loose animal some bozo decided to let loose. Again accountability for the BREEDER will be the key, and stopping or limiting importation only to breeders to diversify bloodlines will be the second portion of a complete plan to rationalize who will actually keep these giants to a select few who will be truly interested in keeping the species for what it is rather than the cool factor. With the inflated prices the breeders will induce on the general public, plus the microchipping mandated, we will see the interest decline.

In theory.

My .02

i agree.... to an extent. iv had some of the most useful information from my reptile shop and just been passed over snakes with no question from breeders.

but there r few shops over here that sell snakes unless they r rep shops (not saying they r ALL good shops lol but they tend to just keep reps)

plus...just to add my bit lol
im hoping they wont ban ur side lol coz means we wont get the amazing new retics being bought out

 

[chloe]

I actually own a few cornsnakes, i just dont see the point of wanting a 14ft, 125lb python, or larger. A guyi used to work with had a 13 ft anaconda that he fed goats. Seriously, why? I think he had a serious case of little man syndrome. I guess owning a "big bad snake" makes some men feel more like a man. I just dont quite get it.

bet that annie didnt last long. surely goats would have been a bit on the large side for a 13ft annie?
(maybe just how we do it over here)