Sadly, I have to agree with Homebody's post above. I was trying to think of a tactful way to say much the same thing. I hope some very experienced snake-keepers will be devoting time to these kind of snakes & successfully captive-breeding them, but it's an awful lot for a beginner, no matter how well-intentioned & determined. W/C imported snakes are usually heavily parasitized & highly stressed, and when they're not even eating, they don't fare well.
Plus, having them in your home puts your new & presumed healthy pair of Trans Pecos at risk. You can spend a lot of time & money on these others, but they'll most likely not survive. I have decades of experience with many kinds of snakes, & personally, I wouldn't take them on. But back when I was first into herpetology, I might have made the same mistake- almost everything appealed to me too.
Still does, but I'm a bit wiser now.
I'm also against selling wild-caught snakes as pets in general- it's a very cruel trade, with many if not most of the animals dying along the way. I don't like to support the wildlife trade, because when you buy one, that guarantees that they have an incentive to catch & sell even more. Those sold make poor, & frustrating pets, and what's worse, taking them from the wild means wild populations may not survive either. Recommended reading: "Stolen World" by Jennie Erin Smith (It's a sad but true story.)
Originally Posted by Bogertophis
Sadly, I have to agree with Homebody's post above. I was trying to think of a tactful way to say much the same thing. I hope some very experienced snake-keepers will be devoting time to these kind of snakes & successfully captive-breeding them, but it's an awful lot for a beginner, no matter how well-intentioned & determined. W/C imported snakes are usually heavily parasitized & highly stressed, and when they're not even eating, they don't fare well.
Reply With Quote