Quote Originally Posted by WhompingWillow View Post
With all due respect, you have barely over 1 year experience with reticulated pythons yet consistently disregard advice from those with much more experience with large constrictors.

Licenses for retics in TX don't exactly sound like they are difficult to obtain. The licenses also don't say anything about being used to provide educational shows with the regulated snakes. They are for personal use only, unless you've obtained the breeding license, and that just expands it to breeding, not public displays. I read the statutes because your practices made me curious. So how exactly are you a) licensed to take such large snakes into public and b) give educational shows? Are you registered as a non-profit? What is your curriculum, what topics do you cover? What information are you really trying to convey? Or are your shows simply a way to show off your animals to make yourself feel good?

I, for one, am happy nothing happened to those 5 girls and am relieved nothing major has happened at any of your "shows" yet. But you are fooling yourself if you believe it's a good idea to have such a large constrictor out in public in a pet shop of all places, around young children and people who do not have experience with any snakes, let alone retics. I don't believe you even have a second handler to help you if something goes wrong? Do you think retics are taken out at zoos as educational animals? No. They aren't.
Yes I have a year+ experience with them. I am a sponge on care and animal handling. I learn quick. I don't know everything but I take everything I learned and am still learning to heart. To own one you need a license. Educational shows do not require one. Do I "feel good taking them out" yes but that is not the point. I love the animals. Why snakes? because they are often misunderstood. Little education goes a long way. You are welcome to visit my show anytime. My animals have proven to be good for showing. If one is having a bad day they stay home. Rainbow was always in my hands and under my control. I had help with handling waiting to jump in and help if necessary. One day a couple of people to help will be necessary. The store staff was there also keeping an eye on us to help if needed. I understand my animals and how they move and communicate.

I guess I am missing something.

1. Educated.
2. Spent time getting to know my animals and who they behave.
3. I respect my animals.
4. I work hard to keep everyone safe.
5. I have help if needed.
6. I fallow all the laws associated to owning my animals.

Where am I wrong here? Rainbow is one of the most easy going snakes I have. Even though she has earned a certain level of trust I keep a healthy dose of fear and respect for them.
Is there a "risk"? Yes. Wild animals and will always be so. That is my responsibility and I think education goes a long way and I love doing it.

Yes I enjoy when I help someone pick out a thermostat when they don't have one. Or get a BP owner to provide the extra hide to the animal self regulates. I also enjoyed it when a pet shop worker said he wanted a retic and had no experience with any snakes and I handed him Rainbow and showed him he was not ready. Seeing her full of energy right out of her transport container running and him struggling to hold her. It was great. Not just because it was funny but because he got some great experience with a well behaved animal that showed him he needed more experience before getting one. I also let him know that some are feisty. We took Rainbow outside and put her in the grass to move around a minuet. She pooped and peed. I told him to either work with someone taking care of one to get some experience and get a smaller active species to work with first.

I am happy to make a positive impact on the hobby. For me it is a way of life.

Will I ever stop taking Rainbow to do educational shows? Not if she keeps behaving as she does at the moment. Even when she hits the 20 foot and around 100lbs... she will be respected and enjoyed by those who choose to do so.