Next animal discussion

captaincaveman · #1 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 01:21 PM

Just another discussion that would be good to hear

theres many threads on here of i own a leopard, whats the next step up, usually followed by beardie or i have a corn, what snake next, again followed by royal

Whats peoples views on this?

I personally dont understand the step process, yes ofcourse a gtp or mandarin rats not an ideal first snake but it just seems a shame that people go through the same process when there is such a vast amount of variation out there and with following of care sheets, most of the hard work of the past is reduced

Emmaj · #2 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 01:55 PM

i started with a hamster then ended up with a skunk or 2 or.........

No i know what you mean

i think though people like to see if the have what it takes to look after the simpler of animals before they getting into the more demanding ones

Lisasgeckonursery · #3 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 01:59 PM

I can understand people wanting to gain experience with an "easier" reptile but some of the so called started reps get a bad rap.
I have Leopard geckos (as well as other pets) they are described as a starter lizard but instead of thinking "great i've tried them learnt about their basic care, whats next?" I strive to give them the very best care they can have and to breed lovely morphs and healthy hatchlings but thats just what interests me.
Theres always something interesting to be found with Corns, Geckos etc its just some people look down on them as easy options, calling Corns bootlaces and dismissing them as not "serious" snakes or calling Leos too common.

Each to their own but i do see people dismissing some species which is a shame as they have a lot to offer.
Especially guys but maybe thats a male posturing thing

captaincaveman · #4 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by about_a_girluk

I can understand people wanting to gain experience with an "easier" reptile but some of the so called started reps get a bad rap.
I have Leopard geckos (as well as other pets) they are described as a starter lizard but instead of thinking "great i've tried them learnt about their basic care, whats next?" I strive to give them the very best care they can have and to breed lovely morphs and healthy hatchlings but thats just what interests me.
Theres always something interesting to be found with Corns, Geckos etc its just some people look down on them as easy options, calling Corns bootlaces and dismissing them as not "serious" snakes or calling Leos too common.

Each to their own but i do see people dismissing some species which is a shame as they have a lot to offer.
Especially guys but maybe thats a male posturing thing

yeah, the whole "starter animal" thing bugs me, like its some sort of grading thing

Its like "im ready to move on, whats the next on the list", i wish more people would look at what they really like, then research it they can keep it, there is such a vast amount out there thats missed out

i remember the days of going into reptile shops and seeing things like madagascan hognoses, trans pecos or chuckwallas or whatever, not knowing whats coming next, i went in one the other day that was just a few species, maybe 7 species, repeated over and over

HalcyonInverts · #5 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 02:29 PM

i totally agree with what your all saying,

My first Tarantula was a crazy Selenocosmia, figured rather than start with the reccomended docile ones i may as well go for the meanest craziest one, if i get bitten it wont happen again.

It worked, ive never been bitten, and now whenever i get a new T, i think its ace cos they are so pretty and docile compared to the hideous brown killing machine i started with!

Step up process is a crock of s**t. Go for a harder species, learn your lessons and then you are already on they way to becoming a real herper rather than being stuck on a dull species! (no offence to any corn, leo, or beardy keeping fanatics!)

captaincaveman · #6 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HalcyonInverts

i totally agree with what your all saying,

My first Tarantula was a crazy Selenocosmia, figured rather than start with the reccomended docile ones i may as well go for the meanest craziest one, if i get bitten it wont happen again.

It worked, ive never been bitten, and now whenever i get a new T, i think its ace cos they are so pretty and docile compared to the hideous brown killing machine i started with!

Step up process is a crock of s**t. Go for a harder species, learn your lessons and then you are already on they way to becoming a real herper rather than being stuck on a dull species! (no offence to any corn, leo, or beardy keeping fanatics!)

dont get me wrong id you love common species cool, im a massive fan of fatties, not rare or unusual but they tick all the boxes

Just wish people would be braver and go for what they love, rather than whats popular(which isn't always the case with everyone), and as you say, learn, theres plenty of info out there to know what your getting into and what you need

I worry that the hobby will be reduced to single figures of avaliable species in all the moprhs

, i scan a few reptile magazines with articles on certain species, then look at the photo page for keepers and its 6 species

Im going on again

Lisasgeckonursery · #7 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 03:35 PM

Yep its about research, asking experienced people and knowing you have enough time and money. If someone really wants a species then they should go for what they want, people mean well with saying try something easier first and sometimes that is the right route but if you really want a species of reptile or invert then go for it.
Just get as much info and help as possible.
I remember when i used to keeps Tarantulas and people would always recommend a Chilean Rose to people, they're lovely but sometimes thats not what you're after and you want something a bit more exciting.

Athravan · #8 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 03:40 PM

I get annoyed a little when people say what do you keep/breed? And I say well I specialise in corn snakes. And they go "oh", and look bored... and suddenly I'm branded a newbie or a beginner because I keep & breed corns. I keep them because I love them, not because I'm not "good enough" to keep something "harder". There's no shame in keeping something simple and loving the animal you first started out with, but on the forums there does seem to be a lot of pressure to "step up" to something that's considered more difficult in order to get respect from some people.

I see what you guys are saying though, no one should want a boa but be told to buy a corn snake to start with, there's no point. I do believe anyone can keep almost anything with due diligence and research and you shouldn't ever settle for second best because someone told you that you weren't good enough to keep the species you want to.

But if the simple stuff is what you love then don't ever feel that you have to get something else

I guess it boils down to just keeping what you love and not listening to stereotypes or labels.

purpleskyes · #9 (**permalink**) 27-10-2009, 05:18 PM

I started out with leopard geckos because I think they are lovely lizards and they come in lots of pretty colours. Then I joined this site and started seeing species of lizards that I had never heard of and it went from there.

Now I have leopard geckos, crested geckos, gargoyle geckos, 2 species of uromastyx and a fire skink. 2 royals, 1 corn and a ringneck snake.

I dont think you need to start out with the beginner animals but on the other hand I dont think a 13 year old who is just getting into reps should start out with a monitor or a retic or burm that could do some serious damage in that sense I think you need to build up experience before you take species like that on.

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