Reptile & Amphibian Forums

just because your 10 doesnt make it bad. its not about your age. its about the responsibility level, and attention span of a 10y/o. which is very low at that age. and honestly at your age i wouldn't recommend any reptile. they take too much time and care. now if your parents are ready to do 99% of the work then maybe. i would still go with a beardie though. they are awesome little lizards.

It's not about age, it's about resposibility and the animal.
My son is only 9 yet we bought him a beardie. He's always wanted his own lizard and picked a beardie.
While he is only 9, he's never had anything but A's on his report cards and he just got his blackbelt in taekwondo.
Beardie was his reward for sticking with it for 2 1/2 years.
He's always ready to help us with the other critters we have but the beardie lives in the room with the other reptiles so we can make sure he's being taken care of. So far we haven't had to remind him to do anything.

Scott
-----
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

i started keeping reptiles since i was 11. now im 14. my first lizard was a leapard gecko and it grew form there. now i have a northern blue tongue skink, a veiled chameleon and with in the next month i will be getting four red ackies in an attempt to breed them. it isnt your age, but the maturity and responsibility level. reptiles are a lot more work than an average cat or dog. they have specifications liek heat and food. they are a long comitment. it only will become bad when your pet ackie is sitting there starving half dead and you dont care or do anything about it. thats when it becomes bad. so, if you take care of it and research your pet reptile and do everything you can in your power to keep it alive, then its ok. but, if you notice somthing the matter with your ackie, dont just sit there and let it die take it to a vet imediatly, if you refuse to do that then its bad for you to be keeping reptiles. if you have any questions just let me know.

Nathan

She/he already had a garter snake die that didn't get taken to the vets.. at least thats what I gathered from the "Well the garter snake died due to its injuries" post she had on the iguana forum... But I'm going to leave it at that for now. I really don't believe a 10 yr old should have any animal the parent's aren't willing to take responsibility for if/when the child loses interest. And she's already stated her parents do nothing but buy food for the animals. With that... I'm dropping the whole subject because I'm tired of dealing with it. She/he has been told repeatedly to stick to taking care of what she/he already has for a while by numerous people here as well as on the Iguana forum and on the Tegu forum.
-----
Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
2.1.2 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short) and 2 dbl. het blizzard x tang albino (Malice and Mystique))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
1 Gerbil
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

i would have to agree. there are a lot of reptiles that die annually from ignorant owners who dont care, they think that its a pet dog or somthing, but its not. they are a lot of work. and i do think that when you are 10, it is a little to young to be caring for an animal that needs a lot of work. then, if you arnt ready to take on the responsibility, then who is going to take care of the reptile? your parents who just buy the food? probably not. well, its a sad issue and all we can do is inform ignorant owners so they learn and either take better care of their reptile or sell it/adopt it.

Nathan

im noit ignorant, ask the people on the beardie forums, my bd is well cared for, same with my corn

the garter was found severly injured. with deep punctures from something, dont think i did it. and my parents wouldnt take a wild animal to a vet. but i may make a deal with them to take my things to a vet. im moving to turkey, and anyway, are vets there? if they are i could take an ackie to a vet.

if you take care of it, and are responsable enough its fine. If you fail to care for it then you have made it bad.

I started off very young and my son is also very young starting with animals.

Do your parents stick behind you and help out? Or is it all on you? If it is all on you be sure your ready to carry that weight on your shoulders. If your not ready or hesitate at all then I too must discourage you.

But again it all comes down to you.

Good luck

my parents dont help at all with care, but i can read up for months

cillie,i have had leopard geckos for 2 (im 14) years now and seem to be doing good with them and i am planning to get 3 baby yellow ackies soon. I think that if you understand their needs and how much it costs to take care of them then you should get the ackie(s), but did you know that a red ackie baby starts at 200$ and goes to 400$ with or without shipping for just one! their tank costs about 115$ for adults (75 gallon) and they need UVB mercury vapor bulb, bulb holder, 12" of 50/50 sand (washed playsand)/soil, large water dish, hidespot (plastic, or build your own(proexotics.com tells you how to go to FAQ's), calcium and vitamin supplements, thermometer/temp gun(proexotics.com then go to supplies), basking spot, night time heat emitter (undertank heat pad, red,blue infrared bulb) cage cleaner (Virosan at proexotics.com). As you can see there is alot of things you need my advice would be to keep a leopard gecko or bearded dragon first then get a yellow ackie and save 100$ plus. If you have any other questions please e-mail me @ Ekobialka@aol.com i'd be happy to help as much as i can good luck

-Math
Ekobialka@aol.com

1.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Bearded Dragon
1.2 Yellow Ackies (soon)

i have a bd and corn. and i can do that stuff

ok then go for and have fun

-Math
Ekobialka@aol.com

i would but the problem is i am moving to turkey and there arent any herp vets there i know of

If you're moving to Turkey you may be forced to give up your reptiles anyway.. Either that or Customs is going to make you quarentine them for up to 6 months before they can be allowed into the country. No reptile does well travelling... especially that distance.
-----
Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
2.1.2 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short) and 2 dbl. het blizzard x tang albino (Malice and Mystique))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
1 Gerbil
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

i heard that now all they need is a clean vet bill, plus, like, less than two days isnt that much travel.