Ok, so that python attack got me thinking.....


Why do we wait for crap like that to happen?

we are so caught up in getting pissed because others are ruining our hobby that we are not thinking of what we can do to stop it!

so i am saying we step up, and freakin do something about it...


Im going to work on a t-shirt - even if im the only one in the world who wears it.

it will read

"Ask before you buy,
Educate before you sell."

im not sure if im going to put a snake or a lizard on the back - idk yet... but it will go between the two lines.

and it will probably have something smaller saying something in regards to snakes...

what im doing now is offering up to anyone who wants a part in stopping uneducated people from buying that next news story.




unless of course... we have to wait until some kid gets eaten by a snake....

but at that point i think we will have lost the war.

What with the huge push for recruitment of more unsuspecting, uneducated and certainly undedicated and irresponsible new herpers -- who has time for education. Haven't you heard it's all about getting more people to expand the pyramids it's not about education and responsibility. :devil:

What with the huge push for recruitment of more unsuspecting, uneducated and certainly undedicated and irresponsible new herpers -- who has time for education. Haven't you heard it's all about getting more people to expand the pyramids it's not about education and responsibility. :devil:

Don't despair we've got the education covered, in the form of SnakebitesTV. <jk>

I agree with you Sarah but there's only so much that we can actually do. I think the majority of reptile purchases today are by people who just buy on an impulse and have NO idea how to take care of that animal. If everyone selling reptiles tried to weed out those type of people they would not be able to support a business at all!

Now, the Bush League breeders who don't necessarily rely on the sales of their reptiles to survive can afford be a little bit pickier about who they sell to and probably do a little more background searchin on potential buyers of their animals. But can you guarantee that everyone is going to be 100% educated and 100% prepared to take care of an animal that they're taking charge of? Not in the least. But you can do your part to try and make sure that that happens.

I think even small things like permits (I'm in Florida) will deter the every day impulse buyer of a burm or retic. I would almost bet my paycheck that if you did a study 5-10 years from now of snake incidents (attacks,escapes,etc....), you would find that a majority of them (if not all of them), would be from the persons who were illegally keeping these. In my opinion, a person who is willing to put the time into applying for a permit and to maintain the permit will be a more responsible keeper.

IDK -- do you think every breeder of big snakes is going to ensure that whoever buys a hatchling from them has the proper permits as required by their particualr municipality? I'd be willing to wager that (like most things) breeders would end up leaving it up to the buyers to follow through on their responsibilities -- and that is where the system would fall short.

IDK -- do you think every breeder of big snakes is going to ensure that whoever buys a hatchling from them has the proper permits as required by their particualr municipality? I'd be willing to wager that (like most things) breeders would end up leaving it up to the buyers to follow through on their responsibilities -- and that is where the system would fall short.

Your absolutely right. But in the end the seller has to carry some of the responsibility. Yes, as a seller you cannot predict or guarantee that every buyer is gonna do the responsible thing in the end. But at the same time, if you are selling burms,retics,hots,crocs,etc.......to a 16 year old kid with some cash, then of course there are gonna be consequences. Just look at Daytona this past year. Its a double-edge sword. The permit situation already stopped some of the breeders from attending. If that kept some "kid" from getting from making an impulse purchase and buying a retic only to let it go later, then I'm all for it. I'm getting off track here! Yes I agree, not all breeders are going to make sure that the buyer has the proper permits but I do believe that it does have some positive impact..

Sarah even if you are the only person who wears that shirt I commend your efforts. I can say I honestly have had people we didn't sell to until they did their homework on the animal they wanted to purchase. Sometimes the deal fell though once they realized what they would have to do. GOOD! Maybe they will continue to research and find that animal that suits what they are looking for.

Sarah even if you are the only person who wears that shirt I commend your efforts. I can say I honestly have had people we didn't sell to until they did their homework on the animal they wanted to purchase. Sometimes the deal fell though once they realized what they would have to do. GOOD! Maybe they will continue to research and find that animal that suits what they are looking for.

agreed.....! I rambled on about the permit thing and stuff but yes, I commend you for your efforts too. Its a good idea and would be a really great thing to thing to wear especially if you were a vendor at a show.

Good idea, Sarah, but I would put a huge freakin snake next to a tiny kid and either have a = sign with a slash through it, or the circle slash 'Ghostbusters' style logo..best of luck..

Very good idea. You can also get a banner made for the sigs on the forums. I bet your best place to advertise that will be petshops, reptile expos and of course our lovely Kingsnake.com