Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys,
I have been keeping reptiles in somewhat moderate amounts for a few years now, the collection is ever growing slowly but surely. I really enjoy the hobby, it is forever a learning experience. When I first got into it, I was simply intrigued by the complexity of caring for them, and their behaivors. What amazes me though, is the extent of some of your collections. I can only dream of having near 100 herps. I would really like to know how you all have time to care for each of them with feeding, cage cleaning, etc. Currently I have a full time job, and I am in college, and with the small collection I have I am kept very busy. I am hoping that some day in the future when I am settled into my own house, with a regular work schedule I can devote an entire room to keeping my herps. I would really love to find a career working with reptiles, but it seems like short of being a veternarian the job market is really not all that big. Does anyone out there have a job where there collections are a part of it? Another thing that blows my mind is the genetics behind all of it. I have been reading all the posts in regards to genetics the last couple weeks and I have felt more like I have been studying than anything lol. Its really kind of Ironic because as the posts have been going on, I have been studying genetics in Bio-101. I actually love the topic. Anyway I guess the meaning behind my post really is just how do you do it? And does anyone out there have any advice for a 20 year old guy trying to make his way in this crazy world, while trying to build his reptile collection lol? Who knows the secret to life ?

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1.0 Bearded Dragons
0.3 Fat tailed geckos
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa

I don't know any secret to life but I can say that is one good looking rainbow
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Hi! I couldn’t help but notice a similarity between you and me (when I was your age). Well… I’m only 30 now, but I was at where you are when I was in college AND I am now where I want to be w/herps, as far as what I’m keeping and breeding. I believe your experience starting out in this hobby is probably similar to most everyone else’s start.

I currently have about 150 snakes. I did not obtain them all overnight. Rather I worked hard over the past 10 years to collect some of the nicest animals for respectable prices…meaning I didn’t always pay top market value. I have had my share of bad deals and heart aches over receiving poor quality animals over the years and even sometimes things can mysteriously go wrong with healthy ones. But I’ve also had some phenomenal deals…like the possible hypo Nic I’m hoping to prove out this year…that I got for $30.

Anyway, I’m a currently a high school biology teacher and sometimes it can be difficult to manage my collection, with having a family. My wife barely tolerates it and my daughter, who’s almost 2, loves my snake room and doesn’t want to leave it. There is definitely a level of sacrifice and in my opinion, I took on the responsibility to care for living animals, so I always try to place them on the top of my list of priorities, which isn’t always a crowd favorite…especially among friends. However, reptiles are what makes me unique among anyone else I know. I enjoy it and have never made it about making money. In fact, I did my very first reptile show a few weeks back and sold a few animals, made a few hundred AND spent a few hundred.lol. My wife was happy I came home with the same amount I left with.lol

As for the ‘herp’ job market…it is tough. A long time ago, I interned at a zoo for a few years and when an opening came along to work with reptiles, their hiring practices were very political. Plus, you get paid very little to work with some of the deadliest animals in the world, such as a Bushmaster...scary stuff….I give zoo keepers much props for doing what they do…b/c they have a love for it that very few others have. At any rate….I have a job where I get to work with reptiles everyday AND educate the next generation of herp keepers….and that’s teaching science. Our school has no official policies on keeping classroom pets and I share a room with another teacher who has a ton of herps also. Our class is like a zoo, and the students love it, especially on feeding days. Teaching in my opinion is simply the best job in the world. You don’t make a ton of money BUT money doesn’t always equate to happiness for everyone. I worked in business management and made twice what I make as a teacher yet I was working twice as long each day and was very stressed out all the time. I was unhappy. Now I get summers off to go field herping with my friends and little girl. You simply can’t beat it.

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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@verizon.net

We have a small collection of boas at the moment, 6 going on 7 (ill post pics next week when we get the new one!) We hope to have a larger collection someday as well. My husband is into business and I love snakes, so we stuck the two together... I take care of the snakes, and he takes care of the business aspect.. works out great for us! Get to do what I enjoy and make a little extra cash on the side. Hes 20, and i'm 21. I'll be out of college before we have a larger collection so I should have time to care for them all. And as for the secret of life, I'd say do what makes you happy and somehow make it work for you. ^_^
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1.1 96, 04 Het Albino - "Suzie" & "Lumpy"
0.1 03 Poss. Het Albino - "Ami"
0.1 05 Super Salmon - "CreamSicle"
1.0 04 DH-Sunglow - "Dwayne"
1.0 06 TH-Moonglow - "Gargamel"

You could go to work for one of those folks who have 100 snakes. They need cage cleaners (!!) and it could work into a management position someday. You could own a per store, or be a vet assitant. You might be able to start as a vollunteer at a zoo. You could be a teacher, or a wildlife biologist.

Caden

Hey guys thanks for the replys. Keeping reptiles is definately a hobby not a lot of people, at least that i know, can understand. Any time I mention my snakes and lizards at work, I get instant "ewws" and looks of either terror or disgust lol. My parents think its a waste of money, and my brothers think its insane. The only solace I have is that my girlfriend is actually into it as well. I think I'm gonna marry her lol. Like I said, I am in college right now, studying to be an English teacher. I love literature almost as much as I love my reptiles! More than anything though, I would really like to open my own pet shop. I have dreams of having a store that actually gives out ACCURATE information on husbandry, breeds or buys from trusted breeders our own stock in order to sell HEALTHY CBB animals, and is actually a clean and respectable place to go into. I went to a reptile show recently, and there was a table set up representing a local pet store. I thought to myself I bet that is a really nice pet store, surely anyone who comes to a reptile show and sets up a table has to be a top notch "herper" so I decided to check out their establishment. I was sorely mistaken, to say the least. The first thing that got to me was how FILTHY the store was. It looked as though it hadnt been cleaned in years. The store was covered in dirt, and in some cases what looked like feces. The employees were actually walking around with fly swatters killing flies, and leaving them lay were swatted! As if the utter contamination was not enough I went to look at their reptiles and they were giving out inaccurate information on the care of bearded dragons to a woman seriously interested in purchasing one! This is not the first time this has happened to me either. I have often stepped in and corrected the employees at my local petco when they give out inaccurate information to their customers. I find it comical watching the customers as they loose trust in the pet store clerk, and start coming to me for the rest of their questions. But it i have digressed enough for the evening I will let it go with this parting thought. Kingsnake is truly a gift. It is great to have a place to go and be surrounded by our fellow reptile keepers, and to get away from those who do not understand or tolerate our hobby.
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1.0 Bearded Dragons
0.3 Fat tailed geckos
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa