Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well i like to start out just saying that i have been keep herps for a about 8 years,but I have a serious thought.I am manly a snake keeper but i have some lizrds and an american alligator.I read on here alot of people complaining about people dumping animals,and I am one who believes that they are and should be a life lond commitment.I also see people talk about keeping other species as a step toward owning something bigger or potentialy dangerous.Do you think that say for example i was new to the hobby and wanted an alligator,do you feel that i should start out with say a gecko and move to something bigger in the years to come say a savanah? Then to something a little quicker and not as tolerant to mistakes such as water monitors then if and when i feel that i have gained exsperience move to the alligator,most of us should have a basic knowledge of longevity of some herps so we would know that now when i get my alligator i will also have a gecko,a savanh monitor and a water monitor and the alligator.So my point is, is it o.k. to dump the animals then? If you only had room for one animal that obtains substantial lenghts? Do you think that does our hobby justice? If people dump a water monitor because its to big and they have used it to gained the knowledge they need to care for something larger.Well I believe that everyone should gain exsperience but not by owning "a steping stone" animals to step up to bigger.I think they should start out working or shadowing someone who already has the knowledge,and as their knowledge grows they should shadow people who have exsperience with larger.Am I making sense? I hope so I do not feel that people should use reptiles as stepping stones.Thanks for your time and I hope i hit home with some people and i hope to have a decent un heated reply thanks again..Cheers and happy herping

Ghost Pit,

I agree in theory, but just as you have your opinion, I as well have mine. Not everyone has the option of shadowing someone. That is the way that I would prefer most people to start but that isn't always an option. Unfortunately, we must leave humans up to doing the right thing. Would you prefer someone that wants to own a venomous snake, later on to just wait and go straight into hots before ever handling an aggressive non-venomous snake? You would be giving most people the death penalty. I live in Ohio. Good luck finding someone who has the expertise, and is willing to help you learn how to handle crocodilians or hots. For some people, stepping stones are their main way to learn. It is how that person handles their stepping stones afterwards that makes the difference. There is always a right way and a wrong way of going about things. Dumping the animal in a park to dispose of it quickly, wrong way. Finding someone who is responsible, knowledgeable, and who will give the animal proper care, right way. If the person can't find a good owner for their animal in a timely fashion, then that is part of being responsible. This is just my opinion. Stepping stones for some people are sometimes all the training that they get.

Chris

as always good answer