My Giant Pet Python, Anyone else?

It is kind of like owning a firearm and keeping large snakes, the same rules apply to large animal keeping. The strange thing is that most CB snakes are accustomed to eating a certain prey such as Rabbits, Quail, Rats, etc. It can be a real headache to get the animal to eat anything else.

I do not know if you are trying to be rude or just a stale joke. It is not like either of us are Martha Stewart. When both people in the home work, go to School, and have two properties to watch over, things get cluttered during final examination time. I would like to see someone attend Law School, work on a task force to try to stop the Human Trafficking outbreak that is sweeping most states, all while taking classes to get a Master Degree in Criminal Justice, and still keep two houses spotless...

 

I was not trying to be rude but I can see how it came across like that. But yes, it's a mess. (No personal offense meant.) And many of use here have been where you are now. Dont be surprised when you run for president these dont come back to haunt you!

 

I don't like snakes but a serious question - are snakes house broken?

When I was young, about once a year I would have my snake nightmare. Most times, I would literally jump out of bed for fear of a snake. Once I landed on a short dresser and bruised a rib. I love watching snakes but have some deep fear. I learned not to leave belts on the floor as this had the best chance of setting me off several days later.

 

I'm a new snake owner but I'm pretty sure snakes can't be house broken. Mine eats once a week and uses the bathroom approximately once a week. You wouldn't take it outside on a leash to use the bathroom.

 

Lol, all I have to do is buy a 348 or 360 and all will be forgiven. Or if worst comes to worst I have yet to find a problem that could not be settled with a good barbecue and beer.

Honestly they are very clumsy and get into mischief constantly if left unattended. The large ones are generally perplexed by ceiling fans and television screens, a bunch of the cops I hang out with always get a kick out of the fact my snakes will literally spend hours trying to determine what the heck a T.V. is, good times.

 

I used to have one similar to that !!
a Columbian red-tailed boa....
Maybe 12-13 feet long

 

If I didnt have my dog Id love to have a big retic like this. I love snakes. I dont think people should judge as a typical Shepherd could really mess you up if it wanted to.

 

I don't have any pictures but I had a rattler for about a year, until he got to be about 4' long. When the nightmares started to come 2X/week, I called the guy from Shakebusters to pick it up and he released it in the Santa Mountains.

It wasn't until that day that I actually touched it!

 

We have 2 high end green tree pythons in a custom cage in my office and I love to watch them. They are a smaller tree species and both are very tame during the day. My son would have a room full if I would let him! Had a retic back in the day and love the color of the sun fire albino.

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/snake-infestation-hits-california-high-school.html?track=icymi

 

Here is one of ours!
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Not a python, but I have a 5' green iguana named El Jefe!
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The problem with domesticated non-native animal species is the number of careless owners that release them into the wild when they are either bored or unable to afford the required upkeep. We have a real problem here in Florida with both pythons and iguanas. Just like bringing non-native plant species into a new environment, bringing non native animals wreaks nearly the same havoc. I think if people are going to keep these kind of pets, they need to either be sterilized (the pets, not the owners!) or have some kind of GPS tracking chip so the animals can be controlled.

They are very interesting creatures, that is certain!


BT

 

i did not know a reticulated python could be a pet. i once saw a 24 footer!

a legendary reptile!!!! not my cup o tea but wow!!!

 

Crazy but Cool!!!!!!! My brother in law has snakes.

 

I know a lot about the so called "invasion of Python Molurus Bivittatus". The story is no different then the Columbine Shootings in that some real facts are conflated with lies and the end result is a laughable character of the truth. The fact is that a number Burmese Pythons ended in Florida swamps, some because of careless owners but the vast majority was the result of Huricane Andrew. The Strorm hit 4 reptile breeding facilities very hard, thousands of animals where never accounted for, and later down the line the Burmese Python eventually esabablished a decent size population in Florida. However, the fact remains that the Burmese Python is a fairly fragile animal that is plagued by Respiratory Infections if not kept in temperatures above 78 degrees. The cold snaps have really taking a toll on the population as would be expected.

As far as damage to the ecosystem, I am not buying the argument. My parents live in Florida and I have first hand experience that the run off from factorys, invasion of domestic cats and dogs, usage of the lands for farming, and the invasion of exotic birds that carry new parasites cause more damage to the local widelife than can possiable be described.

As far as sterilzation, I do not see the logical connection, especially since nearlly all Burmese Pythons sold in the herp trade are the result of generations of Captive Breeding in captivity to promote certain key aspects such as behavior, coloration, and disposition. It would be like no longer breeding dogs and instead going out and buying Wild Dogs from Africa. The last thing the Reptile Hobby needs is government oversight from a bunch of people that do not know the facts about the large snake hobby.