Things to keep in mind....

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Posted by James Van Dyke on April 11, 2002 at 00:15:37:

In Reply to: Keep or release? posted by JP on April 10, 2002 at 22:50:03:

Many ratsnakes don't constrict their prey all of the time. To them it seems like they do it only if its completely necessary (especially when you feed them pinkies and fuzzies, which don't usually bite or struggle much- live or dead). There is probably no risk of it having trouble killing its prey in the wild.

About releasing in the wild, it can be risky for two reasons. One, it can be detrimental for wild snakes to be removed from the wild and placed in a different area (by that I mean farther than 0.5 mile from the place they were found). This can only become worse with time in captivity, though nobody really knows how dangerous it would be. There is also the very small possibility that it may carry an exotic parasite or disease from being near your other snakes. Please understand that I'm not trying to imply anything about your keeping practices, merely pointing out that ANYTHING can have ANYTHING and there's no real way to be totally definitely sure. The chance is there, however, for a single snake to wipe out a native population from the introduction of an exotic bug.

Me, I'd keep it since its been in captivity so long, or find a new owner. Make sure its dewormed and everything first though (if you haven't already).

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: Many ratsnakes don't constrict their prey all of the time. To them it seems like they do it only if its completely necessary (especially when you feed them pinkies and fuzzies, which don't usually bite or struggle much- live or dead). There is probably no risk of it having trouble killing its prey in the wild. : About releasing in the wild, it can be risky for two reasons. One, it can be detrimental for wild snakes to be removed from the wild and placed in a different area (by that I mean farther than 0.5 mile from the place they were found). This can only become worse with time in captivity, though nobody really knows how dangerous it would be. There is also the very small possibility that it may carry an exotic parasite or disease from being near your other snakes. Please understand that I'm not trying to imply anything about your keeping practices, merely pointing out that ANYTHING can have ANYTHING and there's no real way to be totally definitely sure. The chance is there, however, for a single snake to wipe out a native population from the introduction of an exotic bug. : Me, I'd keep it since its been in captivity so long, or find a new owner. Make sure its dewormed and everything first though (if you haven't already).

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