if the snake ban goes thru?

[Adam_Wysocki]

Actually, many people believe that it will hurt the ball python market in a big way.

Because the ban is only on import and interstate transport, it's not the case that people will be giving up their large snakes and replacing them with smaller species. So there certainly won't be a boom in ball python and other smaller species sales as a result of the ban. Also, most large snake owners own large snakes because they like large snakes ... it's not like they're going to wake up and start buying up small snakes just to have "something".

The true initial impact will be in captive breeding of the nine species. The largest producers in the industry will be faced with two choices: One, getting out of the business completely. Or two, selecting a smaller species to breed and sell. Both options will negatively affect the ball python market and the industry as a whole.

The breeders that choose to get out of the business will cause a broad, national reduction in the reptile market. Supply will be reduced, and less people will be buying very popular snakes. Less consumers of animals (due to lower supply and the new laws) will result in less people buying cages, heating elements, water bowls, thermostats, hides, water bowls, rodents, etc. Lowered sales in those goods will result in the manufacturers and distributors that support themselves by producing and selling those products to be forced to raise their prices in order to make up for the lost sales. Those higher prices will make it more difficult for new buyers to get into the market and force others that are already struggling financially to get out. Higher prices of dry goods and feeders will also prevent people from expanding their collections as regularly as they have in the past.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that many breeders working with the nine banned species (if the ban goes through) will start breeding other species ... which means more ball pythons, carpets, geckos, bearded dragons, etc on the market ... more supply means lower prices and greater competition, so people that are investing into designer animals in markets not directly affected by the ban will see their animals devalue even quicker than in the past because of higher supply created by large snake breeders moving into new markets.

This ban is bad for everyone.

Do your part to stop it for the sake of the entire hobby by visting www.nosnakeban.com and taking action!

-adam