Lets ALL be responsible

I will admit, when someone buys a morph from me, and doesn't tell me it's their first snake, I do tend to assume they know how to care for it. Perhaps I should take more care with that, as well.

I do inquire about the setup, and offer free care sheets, whenever someone buys a normal, or tells me that the snake is their first.

It's great that you put so much time and effort into getting everything setup ahead of time, but I don't think it's far to say that people with bad/basic setups didn't do their research ahead of time. I also don't believe that rheostats and thermostats are necessary.

It took me a while to get my first ball python setup in a good enclosure and I finally settled on using a rack (which I do believe you have to have a thermostat for) but I didn't use dimmers or thermostats when I used tanks. Yeah my tank was less than perfect but my snake was fine. I still don't use a rheostat in my boa's cage because her temps are fine without one. Most animals are fairly hearty and can survive ignorant owners (and there is a difference between an ignorant owner and an abusive/neglectful owner).

I'm not trying to say that an animal wouldn't be happier with an owner who can provide the perfect setup, but if the animal is healthy and care for I think that is fine. With all of the information on the internet it can be extremely overwhelming to a new owner or potential owner. My local herp society president has helped me see that basic care sheets are really the way to go with new owners and children. The first time I heard him describe a setup to someone I was shocked by how basic it was, but I can now see the logic behind it. You don't want to bombard new owners with information, they can learn slowly as long as they have that basic setup.

If you start listing of all of things you think a new owner has to have and then stop to think about how much of that is truly necessary you'll realize that a ball python can do just as well in a fish tank with a UTH, bedding, 2 hides and a water dish as it will in an elaborate setup. If you use bedding and not news paper or paper towels on top of the UTH there is little chance your snake is going to get burnt from it. Technology has come a long way and most of these devices will fail off now instead of on making them safer. UTHs also only get so hot. I have a thermometer on top of the UTH and below the bedding in my boa's cage and that maxes out at 105 degrees. Yes that is hot, but it's hot because the bedding is trapping in the heat.

Thanks just my opinion and I'm sure most will disagree with me, but such is the case when you are going against the grain.

I feel quite strongly on this one. I applaude the setiment and I think it will work most of the time. Personally I don't believe a rack, tank, tub, homebuilt or purchased enclosure makes much difference at all. The difference come from the person setting it up. Caring trumps passing interest everytime. The problem partially is that some people don't understand and or make the commitment for the long term. A person could be very interested and enthusiastic and have everything proper and 10 months later be uninterested and lazy and start making short cuts. I have been involved with a number of rescues (in the true sence animals either abandoned by the owner or seized from the owner due to neglect and or abuse) It is heart breaking to see a pair of animals adopted out to a 'good' 'forever' home to be called to go and get them because 'personal probles' to find the two well balanced enclosure they were adopted with both snakes are now in one and the other is standing in the corner. The UTH broken on the one in use (other is fine) this is the beginning of a rant so you get the picture no reason just no comitment to the well being of the snakes at all.

I don't think you can make someone else have this comitment. The thing I see won't work but I think normals are FAR too cheap no animal should be sold for less than 100$ and even that might be to low. All that would happen is that you as a breeder will end up with all kinds of animals you can't use and can't sell.

I understand the frustration, but I think that we should extend the utmost patience and understanding to people who have made even a small effort to research (for instance, even providing ONE hide is better than nothing). Many people also believe that pet store employees always know what they are talking about, and can give them all the advice they need to care for their new pet. I mean, in a perfect world it would make sense for them to be the experts.

The people who infuriate me are the ones who see a snake as a "cool" pet that they want to impress other people, or because they're curious but have no real interest in caring for it. People who also fall into this category are the snake flippers on craigslist, and "breeders" who think that snakes are a quick way to make money.

If somebody has good intentions but a lack of knowledge, that is easily remedied. A person who doesn't have good intentions....well, let's just say they're lucky I don't know where they live.

With all that said, my first snake was a corn snake, which is good because I made a TON of mistakes with him and he still survived me. :D

I woul think that most people who don't do their research don't even buy from breeders. Probably get their first from their local pet store. But that's just a thought. I know that from that 1 pole on was your first bp a normal and like 85% said yes I wonder how many of those normals actually came from a breeder. Just a thought though.

Correction its 70% of first bps were normals.

I know that we can't control what pet stores say and stuff, but as for us, I hope we would be sure to help push people in the right direction. My first was a normal het. albino but I actually bought him from Will Bird, but I know most probably bought from a big store.


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