Breeding Rescued Snakes

[Crazy4Herps]

I just want to know your opinions on the breeding of rescued snakes, as long as they are revived to perfect health and have no permanent damage.

[LadyOhh]

My thing is this.

If you rescued an animal, and ther person that gave up the animal made no specific requests for the animal to not be bred, it should be fine.

IF that person did request that you do not breed the animal, I would not.


This has come up a few times with a few animals I have gotten from previous pet homes.

I honor the previous owners wishes, but I also make sure to ask first...

[Bruce Whitehead]

I think it is fine, depending on the animal.

If you take on rescues your number priority is ALWAYS the well-being of the animal. Never breed an animal that is not acclimated and fit to breed.

That should be any animal keeper's motto.

I have many rescues and a few that I have not ruled out breeding someday. But my concern when acquiring them was never whether or not they would breed.

But I do think we can at times get a bit overly emotional when we see mistreated animals and we get this notion in our heads of "just let that sweet snake live out its life in peace".

And somehow breeding that same snake becomes off-limits, when at the same time, I personally do not know that breeding a snake does not provide it with a novel experience that may actually benefit it.

Does that snake want to live out its life "in peace" or does it want to complete several life cycles? Not that it consciously wants much, but you get the gist?

In the case of any snake that is scarred or otherwise permanently disfigured I would get a vet OK, and talk to several breeders that have experience before making that decision.

But a scar does not mean a snake cannot breed. Much depends on severity, where it is, etc. Same with previous RIs. A snake that has been compromised is at greater risk, so precautions need to be taken, as well as ensuring the resources are available should that happen again.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Bruce

[Bruce Whitehead]

And because i have a big mouth I will add.

I think adoptions are separate from rescues. We tend to attach the *rescue* term to every snake that is acquired, when I think the term is more about whether or not the snake is in peril if not removed.

If I take your sick snake and rehab it, then you do not get a say. If I adopt your snake and rehome it and we agree as to your future input then it is all good.

If I buy your snake for market value... then again... my snake... my decision.

But as noted by Heather, that is something you have to consider.

I think what surprises me is how many people are willing to give me their snakes. I acquired 3 healthy adult females just this year, by people that want their snakes to go onto productive breeding careers. And they prefer a breeder over someone that wants a pet.

Bruce

[WingedWolfPsion]

Well, there are so many unknowledgeable people out there, even now--a breeder is a safer choice for someone who has to give up a pet. They can be reasonably sure that a breeder actually knows how to care for the animals, or they wouldn't be able to breed them. I was given a normal female for this reason too--I was up front about the fact that I will be breeding her. She came with stuck eyecaps with fluid buildup under them, but we cleared that up no problem. She wasn't up to size this season, but will be for next.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I agree with Bruce when he says that many people adopt a snake and call it a rescue.

My definition of a "rescue" is a snake that when I take in is in bad shape.... either several layers of stuck shed, sick, underweight, parasites, etc. . Sometimes I will give a person a couple bucks for them, but even if I do, if the snake is in bad shape when I get it, it is considered a rescue.

When I get a snake for free or cheap, and there is nothing particularly wrong with it, I consider it an adoption. If someone wanted me to adopt a snake, but told me that it could never be bred, I would refuse to take it. No way I am going to care for a snake for 30 years and not do with it as I please.

I have / will turn several of my rescues into breeders. As long is there isn't something fundamentally wrong with the snake after rehabilitation, why wouldn't you? Once you take over the responsibility / costs of a rescue, if you choose to breed it is your decision and nobody elses business... including the person you got the snake from.

"Rescues" once they are healthy again IMHO can make some of the best breeders. I have several females in my collection that were 5+ years old virgins when I got them. That is a BIG, fully mature momma that is just waiting for her opportunity to lay a BIG clutch!

[Simpson Balls]

In my opinion it's fine. I have rescued several snakes and when I go to pick it up I normally ask, "in the future would you be fine with me breeding it?", if its a yes then its a yes if it's a no its a no. I never break peoples request I have 3 rescues that have been requested not to breed and I am fine with that.

Daniel

[kellysballs]

I agree 100% with Mike. I bred an adult female this year that we have had for 2 years. She origonally came from animal control, she was found under some one's porch. She has a few scars along her back but she checked out fine with the vet back when we got her and this year she laid 6 of the most beautiful white eggs I have ever seen.

[SlitherinSisters]

I think it's fine as long as the animal is healthy-no deformities. Honestly I don't think you would really know that much more if it came from a breeder or from a pet store/rescue.

[kc261]

Sometimes I wish these polls would force a person to explain why they choose the answer they did. I'd like to know the reasoning of some people who go against the grain. Sometimes they might have a really good reason.

I agree with those who are saying why not breed it as long as it is healthy enough, and as long as that is true, I don't think it matters if it is an adoption or a rescue.

Once you take over the responsibility / costs of a rescue, if you choose to breed it is your decision and nobody elses business... including the person you got the snake from.

That depends. I believe a "handshake contract" still carries just as much legal weight as a written one, although perhaps it varies from state to state. The issue is that it is often impossible to prove, much like a written contract isn't worth anything if you lose the piece of paper and therefore can't prove it.

So, if part of the terms of you taking ownership of the snake is that you are not to breed it, then it IS that person's business. I don't think I'd accept a snake under those conditions. Not that I expect the person would ever know, or do anything about it even if they did, or be able to prove anything even if they tried. But it is just wrong to adopt an animal under false pretenses.