OK I keep getting flack for keeping my snakes in a rack system

[RoseyReps]

Nothing about captivity is natural, granted. But does that mean just because one aspect of keeping isn't, you just disregard the rest and make everything completely unnatural? Size is also another thing, a lot of the time racks are used so people can cram in as many snakes as they can. Which is wrong again, when my Gaboon Vipers are older maybe 6ft, they will be going into 10ft Viv's - not because i'm a millionaire but because i want to provide the best enclosure i can. I would rather have less snakes, and all kept in big vivs where they can exhibit their natural behaviors rather than more snakes and cramp them in racks which aren't even the length of the snake.

You seem to be under the impression that a snake will only feed/breed if it is happy and healthy...That isn't correct, it is survival. It is programmed into animals to survive and keep the species going. There are many reptiles that aren't feeding consistently, and are ridden with disease yet they will breed.

It's got nothing to do with what i keep my snakes in, you could keep yours in a cardboard box for all i care. But it's the way in which so many keepers are satisfied with providing just the bare minimum. This is my opinion, and nothing for you to be offended by, this is what i don't understand about so many reptile keepers you all get worked up so easily.

We have a voice and an opinion for a reason, to voice it.

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Oh really now? Do you understand the word evolved?

e·volve 1. a. To develop or achieve gradually: evolve a style of one's own.
b. To work (something) out; devise: "the schemes he evolved to line his purse" (S.J. Perelman).

2. Biology To develop (a characteristic) by evolutionary processes.
3. To give off; emit.

Tell me how these ball pythons you have, have done any of what the definition of the word suggests? Maybe they've developed reading glasses to read the newspaper!!

Voicing your opinion is great, and more than welcomed. But you are not *just* voicing your opinion. You are voicing your opinion while putting down a huge majority of people who DO have a passion for their reptiles. You are on ball-pythons.net, not gaboons.net, hots.net, cobras.net or anything else. You are voicing your opinion in the BP Husbandry section, of the ball-pythons.net forum. So please, stop comparing your hots, to our bps. They are not the same, and should not be kept the same. Ball pythons do NOT thrive in large enclosures, in fact, there are quite a lot of them who will go off feed entirely in large enclosures. (This is more so for younger ones, but is not unheard of for adults).

I'm well aware of the fact that animals do not need to be healthy and happy to breed, which is why I specifically did not say "Breed". I said feeding, active, and disease free. Not one word about breeding. You put that in, because you assumed that is where I was going. Negative.

If you want to tell people that you think aspen, or cypress is better than newspaper or paper towels, and give your reasoning why (IE: humidity, burrowing/comforting, etc) it will be warmly welcomed. You don't have to flip everyone off at the same time.

You don't understand why so many of us reptile keepers get upset when someone stands on their soap box saying "Anyone who doesn't do what I do is not passionate. People who use rack systems have dollar signs for eyes" and you are surprised people are getting upset and defensive?

And yes, I know you didn't say anyone who doesn't do what you do is wrong, but the insinuation was pretty darn close. Also, exaggeration is super fun