Bring home a wild snake?

[mues155]

My boyfriend brought home a wild bullsnake tonight and im concerned that my BP collection could be in danger?
The BS with never be in my BP room but i still think i should be concerned of a wild snake bringing in disease or something?
Hes very mad at me that I want him to let it go but i wanted to ask if anyone has ever had a problem bringing home a wild snake before.
Thanks guys

[Vypyrz]

There are Wild Caught snakes being imported all the time and in peoples collections. I would say, at the very least, a strict quarantine should be maintained, as well as, a vet check-up and fecal exam to make sure there are no parasites. Also, a preventative treatment with Provent-A-Mite probably wouldn't hurt either.

[loonunit]

Strict quarantine, change of clothes, different room. Better to not even handle on the same days. It's going to be hard on the bullsnake, by the way--bullsnakes are pretty tough, but wild caught snakes have a hard time adapting to captivity.

[angllady2]

I'd also make sure it's legal where you are.

Even common wild snakes can sometimes be illegal, which could result not only in fines and possible jail time, but the loss of your pet snakes as well.

Gale

[Evenstar]

Three words: Provent-a-Mite. A wild snake is almost certain to have them.

And Gale's right - check on the legality. But my thoughts, to very simply answer your question, is that if he wants a bullsnake so badly, get one from a breeder and let the wild one go.

Wild snakes often just don't do well in captivity. Sure, wild caught BPs are imported all the time, but they are notoriously hard to feed and keep and often loaded with parasites - some of which don't neatly manifest in a month or two long quarantine. 6 months is the shortest QT I would recommend for a wild snake - and this is STRICT QT: seperate rooms, changing clothes, washing thoroughly without fail, seperate feeding days, the works. Is that overkill? Maybe, but it's safer. IMO, it's just not fair to keep a wild-caught native species in captivity. Not when you can pick up and nice, healthy, captive bred individual for not much money.

Your boyfriend will understand once he goes through the fun of a rept expo or talking to a good breeder and is able to pick out his own snake that way. ... Or at least, he should.

These are just my thoughts.....

[iCandiBallPythons]

If its a wild snake it belongs in the wild, there are plenty of captive breds

[mpkeelee]

If its a wild snake it belongs in the wild, there are plenty of captive breds

Exactly!!

[EchoPyrex]

If its a wild snake it belongs in the wild, there are plenty of captive breds

+1