the ethics of giant snakes

[mumps]

Keeping the true giants is something that, for me, was desired from day one, but not actually accomplished until many years with smaller, yet similar snakes like boa constrictors.

Learning how to "read" the snake takes time. Learning how to get a snake to "trust" you takes time. Once the knowledge is acquired, however, it can be applied to almost all species of reptile, though I have not worked with venomous species yet. I use patience, scent and behavioural cues (and audible ones with lizards and crocodilians who can hear them) to accomplish this "trust".

To me, there is nothing more rewarding than interacting with these fascinating creatures such as large snakes, large monitors and tegus and crocodilians knowing full well that if you follow the protocols, so will they.

Chris

[wilomn]

knowing full well that if you follow the protocols, so will they.

Chris

Now THAT is an interesting theory. Not a single thing to do with ethics, but a heckofa .....fact, I suppose, yes, let's go with fact, it's ever so much nicer than saying it's bullsnot, ever so much, yes, much much better....

[TheOtherLeadingBrand]

I don't know about ethics here.

Is it ethical? If you do it "right" (who defines that? If I define it, then I know what I think is right) then it can be ethical.

Things not ethical: neglecting the animal if help to handle it is not available, putting other people or pets in danger due to your animal, frightening others with it and therefore encouraging anti-reptile activists, releasing the animal to the wild, selling these animals (at any age) to someone you know will not be a suitable home... to ME those would be unethical things to do

[mumps]

Now THAT is an interesting theory. Not a single thing to do with ethics, but a heckofa .....fact, I suppose, yes, let's go with fact, it's ever so much nicer than saying it's bullsnot, ever so much, yes, much much better....

I don't know what you're getting at.

I interact with my animals daily, and have established protocols that if I follow, I am at no risk of injury/harm. Some examples:

Never smell like food.
If the first thing they smell is me when the enclosure is open, they know no food is forthcoming.
For monitors/tegus a feeding cue is used of an audible nature.

I say these things with certainty because after keeping giants for over 19 years (over 30 with herps), I have been bitten by giants (let's say over 6 feet as sometimes I've acquired larger specimens that needed to establish the protocols still) a total of ONCE. And I'll accept full responsibility for that occasion, it was certainly not the snake's fault.

Chris

[wilomn]

I don't know what you're getting at.

I interact with my animals daily, and have established protocols that if I follow, I am at no risk of injury/harm. Some examples:

Never smell like food.
If the first thing they smell is me when the enclosure is open, they know no food is forthcoming.
For monitors/tegus a feeding cue is used of an audible nature.

I say these things with certainty because after keeping giants for over 19 years (over 30 with herps), I have been bitten by giants (let's say over 6 feet as sometimes I've acquired larger specimens that needed to establish the protocols still) a total of ONCE. And I'll accept full responsibility for that occasion, it was certainly not the snake's fault.

Chris

Nothing personal, it's just the way people say things sometimes.

The snake follows no protocols. You can't say that he does if there are none for him, which there aren't unless you have the secret of direct communication with your snakes.

While YOU may do well, and I'm in the same boat as you, never had a big one bite me that wasn't my fault, however, I am not faultless, hence the rare bite.

But, by your statement, it makes it sound as though if the human involved does all it should in the partnership, there will be no problems with the snake. This is largely but not 100% accurate.

[mumps]

Just listing my experience.

I for one believe reptiles are a lot smarter than actually given credit for.

Chris