Originally Posted by essexchondro

I agree with you, and I've posted on here many times criticising the lack of research that people seem to do before making their purchase. However, looking at the bigger and more immediate picture, the kind of person that doesn't do their research beforehand is probably the type of person that wont do it at any point - they are just irresponsible keepers end of story! If this is the case then probably the best thing they can do is put the animal up for sale when they get bored with it a month or two down the line or when it grows out of that overly small viv. That way at least the reptile has another shot at being bought by someone responsible. Far better for a reptile to have 10 responsible owners over its 25 year lifetime that one bad owner who'll ensure it never attains anything like 25 years of life!!

Originally Posted by essexchondro

I agree with you, and I've posted on here many times criticising the lack of research that people seem to do before making their purchase. However, looking at the bigger and more immediate picture, the kind of person that doesn't do their research beforehand is probably the type of person that wont do it at any point - they are just irresponsible keepers end of story! If this is the case then probably the best thing they can do is put the animal up for sale when they get bored with it a month or two down the line or when it grows out of that overly small viv. That way at least the reptile has another shot at being bought by someone responsible. Far better for a reptile to have 10 responsible owners over its 25 year lifetime that one bad owner who'll ensure it never attains anything like 25 years of life!!

Originally Posted by intravenous

Hmm, I think I would feel far too guilty if I sold or swapped any of my snakes because I wouldn't know where they would end up in the future. I wouldn't want them to be badly treated and I kind of feel that by buying them I have a responsibility to care for them as long as possible.

I do have corns at the moment and they aren't exactly my passion...there are some snake species that I would far prefer to own but if it came down to it I still wouldn't pass them on. I don't think its fair to say they are boring. I think that what people say they are boring all they really mean is that they are "common" and therefore not seen as "interesting" or "exciting" to own but I think thats a little harsh...why should it matter if heaps of other people own them? My personal reason for not enjoying them as much is that I like my chunky snakes. I prefer big chunky boas ...and no, thats not a penis size issue .

The only reason I could s ee myself selling up would be if I had huge financial problems (not enough money to feed myself let alone the snakes) or if it got to the point where I could no longer care for them through illness.