Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my name is zac,do you think a 14 year old can keep helodermus suspectum.evan if they know what they are doing please answer me.

1st: it is against the law
2nd: they're very hard to keep and not for the novice keeper by any means!
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Greg
www.imageevent.com/gmherps

np
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

They're not even legal in your state, bud. (CA, right?) Although I'm personally jealous that you can think about affording one!
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

n/p
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

Yes, you can have one. Feel better now. Everyone keeps telling you no, so go find something venomous, let it bite you, and it will be out of your system if you survive. I will probably be the only one that says yes so enjoy it. No one wants you to get hurt no matter how many times or ways you ask. Wait a few more years and move to Pa. There you won't even need a licence. In the mean time read everything you can and try and find someone who is older and keeps venomous. You'll be old enough before you no it and if you study up now you will be ready. It may seem like a long time but you will want a venomous just as bad when your 18 if not worse. This interest is like a virus. It never goes away so there is plenty of time. Now quit asking everyone if they think it's ok for a 14 year old to keep hots and ask some questions that will help you learn what you need to know when you are of age and somewhere legal to keep venomous.
Kevin

You also should consider yourself lucky that you can keep reptiles at all. When I was your age I had a guinea pig. She died and I wasn't allowed to get another one.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

Even though I am sure you have great intentions and are very confident of your abilities, wait until you are older and on your own (first, get a college degree, a decent job, your own place and then get a gila). I have some real quality kids who help me at the wildlife center that I direct (that also features venomous herps) and they shadow me when working with hots but they NEVER get to actually work hands on with them. There are MANY other cool herps to consider and I would strongly recommend looking at a non venomous herp and down the road, get yourself a gila. Gilas were always a lifelong dream of mine to own and I didn't get my first one until I was 30....so just be patient, your time will come. Rob Carmichael, Director/Curator of the Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm (IL)

I have to agree with Rob on this. You should focus on school, and perhaps find a local museum, zoological garden or university that will be willing to take you in as a volunteer. You should check with a zoological garden, pending you have one close enough, as several of them have programs for young persons, such as the Explorers program.
I have to wonder how you parents feel about you bringing a venomous species into the home? One key element with maintaining a venomous species is the liability. There is no way you can be 100% certain nothing can go wrong.

Jeff