Elephant Nose Snake????

[Lee]

The one at reptile gardens in rapid city looked healthy and I do believe it was feeding as it was a good size at probably 4'-5'.

[adamanteus]

I've only seen these snakes on the TV, but I have spoken to people who have tried to keep them, with little success. I guess that if they must be kept, they are best with specialist keepers who have the time and money to create the environment they need.

[Stefan-A]

Personally I like the doom and gloom approach. For animals that are delicate, make it sound like they are impossible. This will hopefully scare off many who are not so dedicated. If someone is still interested then tell them what needs to be done.

There are plenty of animals out there that make wonderful pets for the average person without having to resort to purchasing something that is impossible for all but the most dedicated to take care of.

I can't say I completely agree with that approach. The cold hard facts about its difficulty should be enough to scare away most people that are incapable, and the rest probably won't admit it to themselves anyway.

I know I lost interest in this snake the second I noticed it was aquatic. That it's notoriously difficult to keep certainly didn't make it more attractive.

[adamanteus]

That it's notoriously difficult to keep certainly didn't make it more attractive.

Some snake keepers are more "collectors" than serious enthusiasts. So a rare animal with such a reputation would be appealing to them. This will always be the case.

[Stefan-A]

Yeah. That's probably what the snake in the opening post will have to deal with.

[adamanteus]

I hate it when a new "novelty" snake comes on the market...you just know thousands will die.

[Stefan-A]

I hate it when a new "novelty" snake comes on the market...you just know thousands will die.

We're experiencing the same thing with the rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) right now. All that are sold right now, are wildcaught and very few even know how to care for them properly.

And I could of course be wrong, but I think the same thing might be going on with Dasypeltis in Sweden.

And here I am, still dreaming of garter snakes and eastern milksnakes.

[adamanteus]

I have an empty 4 foot viv and an old table lamp....Mmmmm, wonder where I can buy a Komodo dragon.

[Stefan-A]

Couldn't even keep a V. timorensis in a 4 foot viv.

And I always get the urge to clean my shotgun whenever somebody starts asking about crocodilians..

[adamanteus]

Gulp! Never mentioned them!

Stefan, save me looking it up...what the scientific name of the little spiny tailed monitor?