Micro-chipping BP

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Originally Posted by mykee

So, to get back to the original topic;
Microchipping a ball python is not only expensive, but 100% useless.

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I've owned a large scale internet retail website, so maybe I've just seen more of the scams that people are trying to pull.

God help you if you ship anything and accept PayPal!

Photo ID's are too easily doctored, and meaningless in every legal sense of the word. They simply do not hold up in court.

In recent months, I've talked to too many breeders who have had customers claim they received dead animals, or animals that died shortly after receipt.
The other big scam is when people try to say they were shipped males instead of females.

As for expensive?
Chips retail for $7 and any breeder can pick them up in bulk for $3-$4 apiece.
What does it cost to have you're photo IDs notarized?

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Originally Posted by asixtwo

What does it cost to have you're photo IDs notarized?

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free at most banks if you have a account

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Originally Posted by asixtwo

A question for the other breeders out there....
I was thinking of micro-chipping my hets and high end morphs to keep better track of them.
Does anyone have any ideas on the matter?

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Here is your original post. It sounds to me like you wanted view points from people. Although many points have been given, you continue to argue that the microchip is the only way to go. It seems that your mind was made up before you asked for others opinions. So, I say, go for it. It surely won't hurt anything, but I don't think it will help much either. There are ways to prove that an animal that died shortly after delivery is the one you sent. Sexing the animal right before shipping is an excellent practice. Lastly, you continue to bring up legal matters, and courtroooms, yet in the 10 years we have been in the hobby, I have only ever heard of two actual cases over reptiles and money. I just don't think many events are actually ever brought to court.

Just my opinion,

Actually, my boyfriend and I have thought about this as well. We know of a theft here in town with a local breeder losing all of his morphs. While microchipping cannot be used to locate them, you can register with any of the companies to prove ownership.

Here is another scenerio for you, what if there is a natural disaster and your snakes are able to escape. Having your snakes microchipped will help you to be able to identify them. Plus, here in FL, they are trying to get that microchipping is mandatory for all ROC reptiles (ok, so Balls are not on that list, but still, you get the point).

Even the SPCA are now microchipping all animals that are adopted out regardless of what they are.

Bottom line, if its something that you want to do for your own peace of mind, then do it. They are your snakes and your opinion is the only one that matters in that regard. ;)

All this talk about theft, home invasion, court, etc.
Time to find some new friends.
As for microchipping a snake, about as useful as a tattoo behind their ear. Hey wait a minute, balls don't....
As Muddoc said; it's your money, waste it anyway you want.

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Originally Posted by mykee

All this talk about theft, home invasion, court, etc.
Time to find some new friends.
As for microchipping a snake, about as useful as a tattoo behind their ear. Hey wait a minute, balls don't....
As Muddoc said; it's your money, waste it anyway you want.

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I'm beginning to see the trend...
Thanks for all the friendly help!

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Originally Posted by asixtwo

A question for the other breeders out there....
I was thinking of micro-chipping my hets and high end morphs to keep better track of them.
Does anyone have any ideas on the matter?

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Back when I spent a bunch of $$ I bought a scanner and a case of the chips in the needles. I know how to do it but the fear of infection or slipping it in wrong. It was better to wait until the animals was older, so I waited. Looking back on the grand I spent I would have been better off getting surveillance cameras for security or a better camera to take their pics and file them.

For us, I still have the stuff and would sell it all cheap.

I'm going to bump this thread, because I want to bring something else up that relates to the OP. I did competitive showjumping for 15 years and dealt with horses that were worth over $1 million. Most of the horses had insurance. My saddle has a GPS tracking device/microchip in it to prevent theft etc. While I completely understand the OP's concern etc, what I am curious about is if there is insurance you can buy for your snakes ... and considering how much people change their stock of snakes how it would work in terms of updating the policy to keep up with the collection of the policy holder.
As for the scams that buyers/sellers have- I am a highly experienced ebay seller and there will always be people trying to scam you-microchips or no microchips... while these extra precautions may lessen the chance of someone trying to scam you- in the end, when it comes to a het- it is going to be your word against theirs...

I own 3 balls that are micro chipped. One pair of het pieds and one unknown het. The unknown het was sold to me for the price of a normal because the breeder lost his software and had no idea what she was het for. I bought 3 of them. They all looked different, but I only could feel the chip on the one so only time will tell. The breeder is the one who runs the show, so I don't think he would lie. If he did I know where to find him. LOL:)

I agree that the chip does not mean a thing unless from a reputable breeder. I would love to micro chip my snakes because I am very anal with records. I always like proof.

If anyone could chip in with the equipment they use and where to buy it would be great!!!!