problem with w.c. gravids from africa!!!!!!!

[ColinWeaver]

If you put down your pitchfork for a moment, you would understand what Tracy actually had to say. No, I don't have a transcript in front of me, but this is along the lines of what she said... (paraphrasing here)

"Our captive populations and gene pool is sustainable without continued importation of ball pythons."

I don't recall her ever saying she didn't import animals. In fact, she is one of the first people to get different wild caught species to successfully breed, hatch and live in captivity, even though she may not work with each species any more.

They do still import other species of snake. Species that do not have high numbers here in the US.

She firmly believes that continuing to import ball pythons is not needed. Never has she said she hasn't imported them, or that they aren't importing any other snake species.

It's good advice to get your facts straight before you start calling someone a hypocrite.

The credibility of a reformed ball python importer will be restored when their new found convictions compel them to pass up on the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the next new morph dug out of a hole in Ghana.

The cry of the reptile philanthropist: "Leave those poor [normal] ball pythons alone. Let them live their lives in the wild!!! We have enough captive bred production to sustain the pet trade." ...oooh!!! Look at that pretty new morph they just found. I'll take it!!!

That IS hypocrisy. People don't get to preach to the masses about the virtues of supporting the trade with only captive bred animals and then pluck the choice animals from the wild whet it suits them. People should have the courage of their convictions.

[azpythons]

The credibility of a reformed ball python importer will be restored when their new found convictions compel them to pass up on the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the next new morph dug out of a hole in Ghana.

The cry of the reptile philanthropist: "Leave those poor [normal] ball pythons alone. Let them live their lives in the wild!!! We have enough captive bred production to sustain the pet trade." ...oooh!!! Look at that pretty new morph they just found. I'll take it!!!

That IS hypocrisy. People don't get to preach to the masses about the virtues of supporting the trade with only captive bred animals and then pluck the choice animals from the wild whet it suits them. People should have the courage of their convictions.

Yes!!!!

[wilomn]

The credibility of a reformed ball python importer will be restored when their new found convictions compel them to pass up on the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the next new morph dug out of a hole in Ghana.

The cry of the reptile philanthropist: "Leave those poor [normal] ball pythons alone. Let them live their lives in the wild!!! We have enough captive bred production to sustain the pet trade." ...oooh!!! Look at that pretty new morph they just found. I'll take it!!!

That IS hypocrisy. People don't get to preach to the masses about the virtues of supporting the trade with only captive bred animals and then pluck the choice animals from the wild whet it suits them. People should have the courage of their convictions.

Such advanced thinking....and from a guy who lives on the wrong coast too. Wow.

Back in the day, the day before balls were the super snake and burms were the bees knees tracy and dave told a bunch of lies and did some underhanded stuff to get in on those burms.

Of course that was burms and almost 20 years ago and who remembers that far back, but they were not nice people to those who stood in their way back then.

[stormwulf133]

and burms were the bees knees

Totally off the subject but I didn't know ANYONE still used that saying LOL

[wilomn]

Totally off the subject but I didn't know ANYONE still used that saying LOL

Chronologically, compared you you young whippersnappers here, I'm pretty dang old.

We won't even go close to mentally.

Now, where are my glasses....

[JLC]

Such advanced thinking....and from a guy who lives on the wrong coast too. Wow.

Back in the day, the day before balls were the super snake and burms were the bees knees tracy and dave told a bunch of lies and did some underhanded stuff to get in on those burms.

Of course that was burms and almost 20 years ago and who remembers that far back, but they were not nice people to those who stood in their way back then.

I wouldn't even begin to expect a straight-answer explanation about this post, so I won't ask for one. I just want to say this...

What I've learned from spending some personal time with some of these big breeders, including having dinner with Dave and Tracy at their house and spending a few days with Kevin and Kara at NERD, as well as meeting many others face-to-face and hanging out at after-show parties...

There's not a single "big" breeder that doesn't have someone accusing them of having some underhanded, unethical, hypocritical behavior in their past.

My feeling is that in the days of stiff competition for truly rare, high-dollar investment-potential animals...ANYone who lost out on a "sweet" deal would feel like the "winner" must have cheated to get there. Not to say I believe there wasn't growling and eye-scratching going on...but if you listen to everyone talking about everyone else, not a single one comes out smelling particularly pretty.

[wilomn]

I wouldn't even begin to expect a straight-answer explanation about this post, so I won't ask for one. I just want to say this...

What I've learned from spending some personal time with some of these big breeders, including having dinner with Dave and Tracy at their house and spending a few days with Kevin and Kara at NERD, as well as meeting many others face-to-face and hanging out at after-show parties...

There's not a single "big" breeder that doesn't have someone accusing them of having some underhanded, unethical, hypocritical behavior in their past.

My feeling is that in the days of stiff competition for truly rare, high-dollar investment-potential animals...ANYone who lost out on a "sweet" deal would feel like the "winner" must have cheated to get there. Not to say I believe there wasn't growling and eye-scratching going on...but if you listen to everyone talking about everyone else, not a single one comes out smelling particularly pretty.

And when you were there and know all parties involved you can make statements that are not suppositions.