Things I've learned reading Herp news...

[xdeus]

I'm simply amazed at all of the misinformation that get reported about snakes in the local daily news around the country. These tidbits come from the articles linked on the left on the homepage:

1. Ball pythons grow to 15 feet.
2. Kenyan sand boas grow to 30 feet and cost $400. (Although I would think a 30 foot Kenyan SB would cost much more than $400)
3. Don't even THINK about owning a snake in Delaware, especially "agressive" corn snakes.

[iceman25]

1. Ball pythons grow to 15 feet.

That ones true. Ginevive saw one much bigger

[basuca]

are you crazy a 15ft BP yeah rigth and I have a alien as a pet

[LadyCrow]

I couldn't believe what insanity I read in this article. Now, as we all know, bp's can grow up bigger than a reticulated python. But only 15 feet?!? Oh please... they grow up to 30-40 feet in some parts of the world. I mean, get your facts straight, people!!!

:: rolls eyes ::

[mr~python]

LOL, ginevive posted a really funny joke where she did some pic editing and made it look like there was a huge BP in her field while she was walking her horse maybe i can find it for you...

here you go http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=25330

[Shelby]

Well, this is sort of related. I talked to a kid that wanted to see my little kenyan sand boa when I was at Petsmart, and he said he saw a children's python for $1000 at a reptile show.

[frankykeno]

Well I'm a tad confused over that article about the human society taking in the "aggressive" corn snakes, the RTB and the Ball. It said you needed a permit for ownership but you won't get a permit unless you live on a farm with at least one acre of land????

What in the world does that have to do with owning a snake? Do these folks think that snakes need paddocks and barns? And since when is a "farm" a one acre piece of property? Where I come from we call that a nice big yard LOL.

And these are the people in charge of these snake's futures? Hope those big ole mean cornsnakes don't scare em too too much....I'm always personally terrified of cute pinkish orange snakes with attitudes!


~~Jo~~

P.S. People also ask wierd questions about pet rats in our house...I like to smile brightly and say "oh yes I enjoy keeping disease carrying, flea infested pets for my children!!!!" Humans are often incredibly stupid....makes me sometimes wonder why we are in charge LOL!

[xdeus]

These local laws crack me up, but not in a good way. I'm sure it's perfectly fine in Delaware to keep a Rottweiler in a studio appartment, but you need a permit to keep a cornsnake on your one acre "farm". I'm sure the people that created these rules obtained all of their pertinent reptile knowledge from the oh-so-accurate journalists. I'm sure it doesn't help any when the reporters compare ball pythons to fictional CGI anacondas.

[frankykeno]

Funny just happened to watch Regis & Kelly this morning and gee what do they mention but the "19 foot python". Well amazing how a dead burmese python has grown 6 feet isn't it! As well, no mention it was a burmese python...just "python" so I am now waiting for the panicked phone call from the in-laws who will likely now think my royal pythons can grow that big.

I do wish the media would even attempt to get their facts straight....

I also wish somewhere in their conversation they'd have taken just a second to mention this was likely once someone's "pet" and heartlessly turned loose when it got "too big". It would have been a nice opportunity to educate just a few viewers to this issue and not just the usual "omg big bad snake" crapola.


~~Jo~~

[Smulkin]

I do wish the media would even attempt to get their facts straight....

The schlock movies like Python Vs Boa etc surely don't help the perception - and some folks seem to view that stuff as almost a documentary.


I can't defend (nor do we actively choose - it is keyword driven) those articles at ALL - though the one referencing $400 was most likely in Canadian $$ since it was a Canadian paper. I thought you couldn't keep anything that would exceed 12' anywhere in the Great White North? Take off, eh.