Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

My wife Alexia is doing her honours degree in Sociology, specifically looking at how communities and networks form. She has of course chosen herpers as her study group. Could you all please have a look at her post http://www.venomdoc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=336 and make any suggestions? We'd really appreciate it.

Fangs
Bryan
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
Deputy Director
Australian Venom Research Unit
University of Melbourne

www.venomdoc.com

Should post this on the corn forum, should get a good response.

tom

I believe some interesting questions might include the following:
1. Why do you find these animals to be so fascinating?

(I admire the variation that the animals display and particularly the survival abilities and efficiency of snakes)

2. How would you attempt to justify your hobby to a person who would prefer it to be banned entirely?

(The animals with which I work, ball pythons and small colubrids, are not capable of hurting anyone and are less likely to transfer disease to humans when compared to other common household pets)

3. Are there any general personality traits that you have found a typical "herper" to possess? What seems to characterize the typical "herper"? *

(I have found "herpers" to possess integrity that is frequently proportional to their love of the animals with which they work.)

* I believe that it is also important to distinguish between a person who chooses to keep and/or breed these animals primarily for interest vs. the few individuals out there who may be involved ONLY because a profit potential may exist within a few niches of the hobby. However, I believe that the vast majority of persons active in the "herper" community do so primarily for love of the animals regardless of whether they have managed to benefit economically or not. For example, I personally will both keep and breed snakes whether I make money, break even, or take a loss. However, I have purchased fairly high end ball pythons since I was breeding them anyway (might as well have the best of both world where possible - pleasure in working with the animals as well as potential economic gain).