Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone! I've got a problem, I'm 17 years old and ive been into reptiles since I can remember. I've kept snakes and a few turtles through the years, but in the last year or so, I've had 4 snakes that i keep for a while and then sell...they end up sitting in my room with no attention, i take care of them of course but as far as coming out of the cages...notta. I dont know if its just all the [bleep] that has been going on with the rest of my life or if im losing my interest...does anyone else have this problem, and is there a cure? this might sound silly but i need to figure out if i need to just let it go all together. thanks a lot.

PITBULL

Dude, you're 17. Over the next few years you will probably be going through all sorts of life changes. It shouldn't come as a surprise if you become less interested in your past hobbies. If keeping your animals is starting to seem like a chore, then by all means find some new homes for them. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you handle things responsibly and make sure the animals will be properly cared for.

-Imp

I have the same problem. Im not sure though i get them hold them for a day or two. than all i do is feed them and water maybe hold them 1 a week for 10 min.then i always want more lol waht kind of snakes do u have?

zach

Sounds like you are a little dissappointed that you are getting bored, but boredom is a sign of intelligence you know.

I would suggest you start doing a bit or reaserch on species you like, or species that live in you area...find out what cool herps live near you, how they live, what their habits are.

Then get some buddies together, go out and find them...photo them...figure out what populations are around you...etc.

Learning about the natural history of the animals may re-kindle your interests. "Back in the day"...when I was a kid (and I have a son that's your age...just FYI), we didn't have animals avaiable everywhere, and we learned through learning the habits and natural history of the animals.

Warning...it can be addicitive. Check on on some of the field herping websites, you'll see what I mean. But it's a healthy hoppy, a lot better than a lot of the other things teens get messed up in, you'll learn a lot, and TRUST me...it's a hell of a lot more fun than just cleaning poop out of a cage twice a week.

Yeah, I'd like to do that...I look for people in my area who have the same interests as me, but living in smalltown illinois...i havent found ne one who isnt a complete jackass. I was supposed to be moving to south carolina and i was really looking forward to the diversity of herps, but that fell through I'm tryin to get my new gf into reptiles...she had a kenyan sand boa, but someone stole it, but we'll see what we get after we get an apartment...im thinkin my lifestyle might have been a lil too busy, but we're getting an apartment and im cool it on the partying for right now...maybe things will pick up.

if you are 17 and moving into an apartment with a new girlfriend....maybe you have more important things to worry about then your herps. You sound kinda burnt out, but I don't know if moving into this apt will solve any problems or just create more (that's a big step, especially if you guys are still gettin to know each other) I know this forum isn't really for personal advice and I never post on here but....well, I wish you good luck and maybe sending your animals to a caring home will give you more time to get your stuff straightened out, then if you decide in the future that you want to rebuild your collection, you can do that. There are always more out there.

Hey

It's definately a tough one.

I wouldn't bow out on them just yet. Just don't let it get to the stage where the snakes are neglected.

Maybe you could find a capable friend or relative to mind them for you for a while. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

But, it's your call.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Cheers.

As someone else pointed out, you are 17 years old. You are still young and have a lot of years ahead of you and all the changes in interest that those years hold. And 17-19 are tough years. You are figuring out where you want to be going for the next stage of your life. (I'm not trying to sound old and wise, because I'm not...wise that is!).

Give yourself a break. It's good that you have a problem with not spending time with your animals. Others get to where you are and don't care about the animals anymore and the critters suffer.

Get rid of them. Then take a break from keeping herps for a few years. If you move on and never want them again, it just means your interests changed. If you find yourself desparately wanting them again, then by all means, get back into it.
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Chris Harrison

I agree, I think everyone loses interest in their hobbies at that age, to busy with hormones and the opposite sex, which is a good thing. And years later when you get back to it, it will still be cool, which isn't true of alot of hobbies, take collecting star wars figures for example.

I agree with what pretty much everyone here has said. Drop your collection down to one or two prized animals, and find good homes for the rest. There will be a lot of changes coming up in the near future. You are 17, and it's a time to explore yourself (metaphysically) and the world around you.

I was very much into animals, but that fell second to a social life, school, ect., when I was a teenager, until I was half-way through college. Hell, I met my husband when I was 17!!! Irronically, it was getting married at 19 that rekindled my passion for animals, because it made me need college work study to pay for school (no more tuition from mom and dad), and the only place in town I could work with animals was the university's natural history museum work study program - with snakes!

Katrina

Just another point to consider though...

You don't want to find your snakes better homes, and then, in a year's time, decide you want to get back into herping, only to discover that you want your old snakes back.

Like McDowelliCheynei mentioned, maybe find someone to mind them for you for a year or two (preferably someone with experience).

Remember, some relationships with humans can become dull and *boring*, but with a little work, can be made fine again. So maybe you should just hold off for 6 months or so, and make a real effort to spend time with your snakes

Believe me, it's all worth it in the end!

I know how you feel, 2 years ago we had to move from the house that I lived at for most of my life. I had to sell my snakes, luckily to friends who took care of them. Since then my lifestyle didn't allow time for snake(s), but now things have slowed down somewhat and I am getting a new snake tomorrow. I couldnt stand not having a snake anymore, so I bought one of my personal favorites, a Red Tailed boa (BCI nothing amazing).

I think that my absence from herping did me some good, I found that it isnt some passing intrest, and I hope to keep snakes for the rest of my life. I might even move into breeding at some point down the road, I dont think that my appartment manager would care for some adult snakes making babies upstairs LOL.
Taking a break may or may not do you good, we dont know your personality, but it is a good sign that you care for your pets still, and you don't neglect them.

The choice is yours, we're just offering some suggestions

-Happy herping
Travis

I agree with the others in that at the first sign of neglection find the snakes a good home. I have a 14 yr old friend who thinks of me as an older brother and he kind of got into snakes at the same time i was able to actually own one but he has a lot going on like most teens and attention and dedication to his animals has fluctuated so i limited him to one snake and even with everything else he gives that snake good care and takes it out. So i say try keeping just one for awhile and spend quality time with it.
I have the opposite problem after 10 years of pleading, waiting, and researching i was finaly able to own my first snake at 18 now (at 19) i can't get enough of them since the first snake(that i have since given to my sister) I have three new snakes and scraping every dime i own to get more snakes.

Any way give yourself time and frequent these forums I am ever inspired by the members of kingsnake.com.
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Love small boids always looking for new ones.
1.0.0Hogg Island Boa, Quey
0.0.1Ball Python, Apophis
1.0.0Irian Jaya Carpet Python, Riddick
1.0.0Spotted Python
Snakes to get list: Solomand Island ground boa, Soloman island tree boa, Bolivian Boa, Savu(or sawu or sabu all work) Python, Rosy boa(san felipe or san matias) and ATBs. Have any of these guys? or have recomendations for me? email me