Ball python "mills" *rant* (Not trying to offend anyone)

[wilomn]

So I read a post in a thread somewhere that reminded me of an aspect of this hobby that bothers me quite a bit and not wanting to hijack that thread, I figured I would rant about it in my own darned thread

This would be the snake equivalent to puppy mills. People who see these animals as money-making breeding machines and little else. I have heard from more than one person (not necessarily on here) that their goal every year is to basically start power feeding their females the second they've laid so that they can lay even more next year; lather, rinse, repeat. I guess I understand that money is a strong motivator and BP's are a way to make money buuuuuut they are LIVING, FEELING, ANIMALS!!!

The idea of making them breed year after year after year just so you don't loose out on any money is repulsive to me. That's gotta be detrimental in some way. Every other year okay if they are healthy and well kept, and back to back sometimes if they really plump back up quickly and seem ready to go again. But please don't breed them to death. I look at my snakes and thinking of any of them being treated that way makes my heart feel sick. It almost makes me not want to breed so I can be sure I won't be selling any snakes that may be treated in this manner. That's not even touching on the people who hear they can "make lots of money breeding ball pythons" and get them but don't even bother to learn how to properly take care of them or are just too frugal to spend the money on proper basic husbandry tools or veterinary care.


Okay... well, I think I feel better. I just get sad thinking of how a lot of people treat animals: like they're expendable or just a product.

And to all of you who actually care about your snakes and really try to treat them the best you can and give them a good life: thank you, you're awesome!!!!

You name no names.

You site no sources.

You are unknown.

I'm pretty good at reading and I'm reading you telling me that your way is the good way and anyone doing anything for money is bad. Sort of. You do manage to hedge just enough to cover your backside if someone, as is now the case, calls you out on your insistence of your correctness in spite of the fact that you have ... how much experience?

Who are these people you have heard these terrible things from? Are they, like you, relatively new, inexperienced and prone to expressing poorly formed thoughts in words not quite adequate to convey what they, as you, thought they meant to say?

It's not so much waffling, though that is exactly what it is, but saying one thing yesterday and another today, when with a bit of thought about any point of view other than your own you could have avoided the hoof-in-mouth outbreak you're obviously suffering from.

Yes, yes, I realize you were just ranting.

But seriously, are you going to use that as an excuse for your inability to express what you REALLY meant, now that you've changed your mind, seen the error of your ways, decided that maybe you don't know everything, even though you obviously thought you did, until now? Because if you are, I'll clue you in on a little something that I've found to be pretty much true all over, it's not MY problem. You wanna be understooded? Speak more gooder.

Think twice, post once. You who carpent should recognize the origin of that old but true adage.