I’m gonna ask straight out: seriously, what’s the deal with having a spider? Non-cuddly pets without a practical purpose are in general at least pretty or interesting to look at. This is a big hairy spider that sits still.
Where did he get the Ball Python? I am sure it is legally obtained, but just have your son keep in mind that illegal animal trade is third behind drugs and guns in illicit i nternational commerce, just in case his apetite for exotric animals grows.
Ooh, ball python! A former boyfriend of mine had two, and through handling them, I became far less afraid of snakes. I remember that they were quite pretty. Do the other members of your family handle it, or just mudgirl? How big is it right now? Does it make itself into a snake-bracelet like my ex’s snakes did? (the first time that happened to me, I thought, “Oh, no, it’s trying to constrict me! Good thing I’m too big for it to eat!” but it stopped bothering me after that)
I can appreciate that some spiders are beautiful, as that kind certainly is, but I’m still really scared of them. I feel a bit creepy-crawly after looking at those pictures now.
Y’know, I don’t really ‘get it’ myself. I mean, I want a pet who can love me back, you know? Give me something cute and furry and affectionate.
But what can I say? The kid is fascinated by these things. A couple of years ago, my FIL asked me if he could get her a tarantula for Christmas, and I said sure, as long as I don’t have to take care of it.
Her father got it from a perfectly legitimate exotic pet rescue outfit in Baltimore, MD. They require that you fill out an adoption application, and charge an adoption fee. Perfectly above-board.
Totally agreed. In fact, when she first got it, I said “If that thing ever gets out of its cage, the can of Raid will come out of the cupboard so fast it’ll make your head spin!”
Don’t go gettin’ all twitchy. At least they’re big enough to keep your eye on. Those freakin’ black widows though. I go hunting for them when it’s dark. A bic lighter and a can of carb spray. That’ll learn em’.
You can tape the lighter to the can if it makes it any better. It’s like a flame thrower with 2 triggers. Best to soak them a bit first anyway.
Right now, it’s just mudgirl and her father who handle it. I will “pet” it if my kid is holding it, but have no desire to hold it. My middle daughter wouldn’t rescue it from a burning house. My oldest daughter may handle it in time.
I suppose this one is attractive enough spider as spiders go. I still don’t like it any.
I’m not going to hijack the thread, but I used to co-own an exotic pet store.
MOST ball/royal, Burmese, green tree, and reticulated pythons are captive bred now in the US. While imports are still common, none of those species are endangered. The reason is simply cost effective. CB animals are disease free, healthier, fatter, better looking, and generally more docile than imports which have to be wormed and often die. The same is true of Boa constrictors, blood pythons, the more common lizards and nearly all turtles. WC animals are used primarily in breeding operations now though they do find their way into unscrupulous shops. It’s as easy as asking though. Most exotic dealers should be willing to tell you who bred the animals. In reptiles this can be extremely important in terms of price and color of the animal: “Clark line, Bell line, etc”.
Where it is really important to watch out for illegally traded animals is flea markets, roadside turtle guys, and espescially in exotic birds.
There is a standing local reptile show near here that you can pick up ball pythons at for less than 20 bucks. I don’t think you can import wild caught animals that cheaply. These are th ones that don’t exhibit the desired characteristics so are sold off rather than keeping them around sucking down mice.
Speaking of mice, Norinew, where are you getting yours?
On Saturday afternoons, I go to the pet store in the next town over and ask for “one feeder mouse and a dollar’s worth of crickets”. The crickets are for Fred (the tarantula) and the mouse is for Spot (she named him that because he has spots all down his back).
We were afraid mudgirl might be freaked out by Spot eating mice, as she has kept rodents as pets before. But she’s really quite fascinated by the process.
