Why Reptiles?

TSKA Rory Matier · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 05:02 AM

Hi,

Why did you become interested in reptiles?

What made you buy your first one?

What was it, hobby, gift, passion, what?

I am a mammal man predominately, l like looking at reptiles, l like their colours and l do find them fascinating....when they eventually move.

But l don't get it really. As a mammal man, and if you are not into them, l would expect you to feel the same way, lol.

With so much political pressure on reptile keepers as an example, tell me, genuinely , why this species what captivates you to them?

Thanks for reading

Rory

LeeH · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 05:13 AM

i like the variety you get in reptiles which keeps your intrested plus being they are a lot less work than mammals and things like fish,birds and that really do nothing for me
my intrest was sparked by looking at them at petshops and holding a californian kingsnake at the zoo

Katiexx · #3 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 05:16 AM

i got into tortoises as my mother and aunt had kept them many years previously and had always gone on about them.

As a child my mum always had nature programmes on..so i became fascinated with all animals, their behaviour, feeding habbits etc

I got into snakes years ago initially after doing research for a school project, though I was never allowed them when i used to live with my parents. Then my brother left home and him and his friend had quite a nice collection. My brother kept mainly corn snakes, with the odd king and milk snake, whilst his friend kept boid species

So at weekends i'd go around visitin n would be surrounded by these creatures..which had such individual personalities. which you don't expect really, as an outsider lol

I thought snakes would just sit there and wait for there food but the majority of theres were active, friendly..enjoyed being handled. So i gradually fell more in love with them.

my brother used to have a snow corn female named ebony (

think he thought he was being ironic) who was absolutely stunning, and such a doll. she was fully grown when he got her and died about two years ago.

So i knew partly from that I definately wanted a snow corn.obviously i knew it wouldn't be the same, but her colours really struck me. and then i found Claireburnison..she had a snow corn hatchling, local to my other half (who i've since moved in with) and the rest is history.

Only got 4 corns atm and a royal python. But i'm getting a brazilian rainbow boa in December(on hold already)

I wouldn't say i'm more passionate about reps than i am mammals.. I adore all animals. Horses are a particular passion of mine, and i've always adored my dogs.

If i had to choose one animal to keep out of all of them i'd be hard pressed to choose a 'favourite' they're all very different.

But it's their differences which keep me captivated

Ally · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 10:35 AM

I started on the more common rodents (hamsters, mice, gerbils) then a few more exotic ones (Jerboas, spiny mice, duprasi, harvest and pygmy mice). At the same time as these I was working in an aquatics shop and kept a lot of fish too. I've also kept finches...
On a visit to another aquatics shop I always looked at the reptiles and one day when I had space I took the plunge... It went from there and has only gotten worse since I've been working with them.
I've always gone whole hog with whatever I've kept - one type is not enough and breeding them is something I really enjoy. I think reptiles is where I'll stay - they're long lived generally, I like the colours - both wild and man made, they're generally easy to care for, but there ar enough challenges to keep anyone happy!
There really is a reptile for everyone!

Athravan · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 10:39 AM

Reptiles are what I have always done, from as young a child as I can remember, I was collecting slow worms in the garden... and asking my mother for a snake. I have always been fascinated by them - I went to zoos, and I would head to the reptile house first. When I was a young teen getting my own snake was a matter of simply what the pet shop had on chance and what he sold to us.

It simply progressed from there, I can't imagine not having reptiles or working with reptiles, I can't really adequately explain the "why" though.

Mind you I like mammals too of course

BecciBoo · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 11:36 AM

My mum was incharge of the animal studies department at a college in Manchester; the college didn't have the room or facilities to accommodate animals so my mum started a massive collection at home which included many reps and inverts. Cos I loved animals and was planning on doing Animal Care at college she had me taking care of them. She had loads of books and info and I just kept reading more and more about reps. Was a great way to get lots of experience and knowledge, I eventually got my own Beardies and I was hooked

ratboy · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 01:48 PM

Because they smell better than cats and dogs, don't need walking and the kids are not allergic to them.

claire_e_dodd · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 02:05 PM

I always liked snakes, but never really considered one as a pet. I bought my first snake for my ex, who really wanted one, but I loved her too, spent more time caring for her and bought all the provisions, then I bought him another one, and well he turned out to be a complete lying ****, so he went, and I kept the snakes, I've bought another one since then and I love them. They are easy to care for, less expensive than a dog or cat, i'm allergic to cats and rodents, don't have time for a dog and are more active than fish. They just kinda suit my lifestyle, couldn't care less if I only fed them and changed the water but will tolerate handling, (I do interact a lot with my snakes I just meant that they're not social and don't need it like a puppy would) and of course they're addictive.

tokay · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 02:18 PM

Ive been interested in Reptiles from a early age aparantly from the age of 3 i caught a Sloworm in the garden (cant remember myself lol ) and it went from there.
My parents bought me my first pet snake at the age of 5 which was a Dice Snake (Natrix tesselata) the following birthday i had my first Tarantula (Mexican Red Knee) at the age of 8 i got my very first Royal python

i think thats why my favorite python is a royal always loved them since jimmy

since then ive kept various snakes (mainly Boids) which were Carpets , Argentine Boas , BCi's , BCC's Rainbows sand boas etc. i can never see myself without reptiles in my life i love em to much

brittone05 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 06:50 PM

Well my interest hd always beent here I think - my brothers usedt o bring slow worms and frogs home every day from school (cut through fields to get home!!)

When I met my hubby, we decided we would like a pet of our own, a family animal but were stuck in the bind that my hubby is allergic to cat and dog fur, has an ear problem which means high pitched sounds leave him in excrutiatin pain so birds were kind of out (even though he still bought me love birds for Valentines one year).

Then I came across a family in Manchester who were wanting to find a new home for thier iguana. We did some research, spoke ot the family a good amount of times and begun building what turned out to be a £600 walk in enclosure in our once dining room. Things kind of spiralled form there on in - I was hooked, my hubby was fascinated and my children were amazed that we lived with a dinosaur int he house!!

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