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Releasing hatchlings...

tradernick

Just another Florida guy
ok so I'm still a newb but am learning a lot, thanks to you all.
The herp guy that sold me my Corn spoke with me about breeding and said that not only is breeding Corns easy but if I couldn't find a buyer or home for new hatchlings that I could always just release them, since they're indigenous to Florida anyway no harm would be done. Luckily my house is next to a permanent conservation area so there's plenty of woods to release them into. A collector friend of mine said said this was a bad idea since Corns in the wild are territorial.
Of course there's always local pet shops etc that may buy my future hatchlings for a few bucks, but if I'm unable to place them anywhere, maybe releasing them is ok?
What do you folks think?

Nick
 
No it's not. Just don't breed. Actually, the whole question is retarted. You can't find anything wrong yourself with that statement?
 
NO! It is NOT ok to release captive bred corn snakes into the wild, no matter WHERE you live! It is detrimental to the native corns in your area as it is highly impactive to the habitat. These "released" snakes will cause strain on the habitat by consuming food that should be getting consumed by the "local" predators. They also pose a threat in terms of competition for mating, shelter, water, "prime real estate", and a variety of other necessary components of survival.

It is patently irresponsible to purposefully breed captive snakes without having an outlet "locked in", or even worse, using "release to the wild" as an outlet for your unwanted hatchlings.

Do yourself, your pets, and the native fauna a HUGE favor...do not breed your snake's unless you have a captive outlet for your offspring. It is the only responsible way to breed. Pet stores, swap meets, friends, online...there are options available for selling off your hatchlings. Release should NEVER be an option. Euthanasia should be considered before wild release...
 
Double het said:
No it's not. Just don't breed. Actually, the whole question is retarted. You can't find anything wrong yourself with that statement?
Tone it down. He just asked a question. Your reply was unnecessarily harsh.
 
I don't know if corns in the wild are terratorial or not, but purposely breeding an animal just to dump the hatchlings is the height of irresponsibility. That "herp guy" should be ashamed of himself!
Tyflier is absolutely correct about the damage such a release can do to the wild population.
Plus, in the wild, most hatchlings become food for other animals. Is that the fate you want for the babies you hatch?

Ethically, you are responsible for any life you bring into this world, even if it is "just a snake".
Please don't breed unless you have a plan in place for the hatchlings.
 
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to tyflier again.

Very well said.

Nanci
 
Someone who lives in Florida may be able to help on this, but I believe it's illegal to release captive snakes into the wild in that state.

Why do you want to breed them? If you don't have a really good reason for breeding (starting a business, producing new morphs), then please don't breed them. There's just no need to create more lives that you don't seem ready or willing to care for. It's irresponsible to produce animal babies of any kind if you aren't prepared to take on the task of finding them homes (through a pet store, newspaper, online, whatever) and to care for them until they have been rehomed. In the case of snakes, it can take months.
 
Someone who lives in Florida may be able to help on this, but I believe it's illegal to release captive snakes into the wild in that state....

I don't know about Florida, but this is the main reason behind the California Indigenous Species Propogation Permit that is required in California to breed, trade, sell, import or export most native reptile species, including Cali. King, Gopher, Rosy Boa, Rubber Boa, and several species of lizard, newt, and amphibians. There are other species, such as lampropeltis zonata, that cannot be captive bred, sold, bought, traded, imported or exported even WITH the permit...
 
Guys please. I'm just a newcomer to the hobby asking a question. I'm not irresponsible and I'm certainly not retarded (Thank you Roy).
IF I decide to breed sometime in the future I will make certain that I have "outlets" for the babies.
Nick
 
That's good to hear. Stay in the hobby for awhile and you'll understand why your question sparked such emotional responses. :cool:
 
Consider this scenario (however unlikely it may be, I'm just making a point):

If a breeder released dozens of het-for-albino corns into the wild and native corns bred with them, more of their offspring would turn out albino, and fewer of their offspring would survive to adulthood. It could have a long-term negative impact on the population.

Goofy genetic traits are one of the main reasons we breed these snakes. They won't do any good in the wild.

Also, there's the chance of introducing disease, and ruining pure locality strains like the miami and okeetee corns.
 
tradernick said:
Guys please. I'm just a newcomer to the hobby asking a question. I'm not irresponsible and I'm certainly not retarded (Thank you Roy).
IF I decide to breed sometime in the future I will make certain that I have "outlets" for the babies.
Nick
I wasn't trying to be condescending, nor was I accusing you of anything. I was simply trying to inform you that, IMO, there is no uncertainty about the situation. Don't take offense to my words, please...they were intended as informative, not accusatory.

And yes...stay in the hobby, develope your husbandry skills, refine you techniques, and by all means...breed corn snakes. It is a natural progression of the hobby, IMO, and I encourage it. Just be responsible about it, that's all.

FWIW...I didn't think the question was "retarded", nor did I think it implied anything negative about you. It was a question about this hobby, and some of the wrong information you have recieved. I don't think there is a better place available to clarify your options, or to get a variety of opinions. It's a shame that some people react negatively and harshly to such inquiries. I don't see it as necessary...
 
My remarks were not directed at you, tradernick. They were directed at that bonehead who told you that releasing babies into the wild was a good idea.

I am really glad you came here and asked us.
Stay awhile, I'll get ya a beer. :)
 
Double het said:
No it's not. Just don't breed. Actually, the whole question is retarted. You can't find anything wrong yourself with that statement?


and you all said I was the rude one... :rolleyes:

Good think he didn't say "ummmmm...." LOL

Just kidding Double, but yeah, still haven't had your coffee in the morning huh?

Tradernick, that is the reason why I haven't bred yet...(not me, the snakes, I got two kids --- which if I had known that I couldn't have gotten rid of them by releasing them in the wild, I might not have had them :)) ). I have no made enough contacts that I have the outlets to find homes so I am starting off with a 1.1 pair next season and I have two different 1.2 '07 pairs coming next week. This way I will get a little experience under my belt in the next few years and be able to be certain that once I increase the number of clutches, that I will be able to find homes for the babies. Wild releasing is not a good idea, just call your conservation office or game commission, ask about it and offer to help out by providing your snakes. 99% sure they are going to ask you not to do it, but if there is an avenue for it, they will certainly let you know. Good luck!
 
Or, if you do breed and can't get rid of the babies and don't want to be overwhelmed with diapers, I guess you can get a king snake and feed the hatchlings to it. :sidestep:

I AM JUST JOKING . . . . (I can see TYFlyer just gearing up to lambaste me.)

The only hatchlings I would feed to my King, Queenie, are those who are not viable. I'm too soft hearted.

Look for little "Mom&Pop" pet stores in your area and see if they would be interested in buying. I have one in my town that will be willing to sell on consignment. My future plans on, when my "youngsters" are breeding to first go to a Reptile show, left overs will go on consignment and if any are left, Oh, well, the more the merrier.

Snakes are like chips, can't have just one, eight, twenty - Aw, just give me the whole bag. :crazy02:
 
You actually shouldn't have an issue selling them to pet stores in your location. I only say this because my last batch of eggs, I found a pet store that bought them off me for $7.50 each. Since I wasn't mating for the sake of making money I was happy to get them out of my hair before I had to start feeding them.

I would highly recommend doing a search in your area using Yahoo maps for reptile pet stores <-- Worked for me... Giving them a call and seeing if they are buying any baby corn snakes. If you were thinking about just dropping them off in the wild, then you won't mind not getting paid off them or taking a hit compared to what you could sell them for in the future.
 
dionythicus said:
Someone who lives in Florida may be able to help on this, but I believe it's illegal to release captive snakes into the wild in that state.
That would be correct. Not only that but you're not even supposed to release a snake you have taken from the wild.
 
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