Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a highschool student taking a "college-prep" English writing class at the moment called Expository Writing. Our current assignment is a 5-10 page argumentative paper. My choice was why reptiles are good pets. I chose this topic because many of my friends who know I have an 8 foot red-tail and a 3 foot ball python are a little apprehensive at times to come over, and have the wrong idea I think about reptiles in general. I talked with many students in my class asking me what they thought about reptiles as pets, and many of the responses consisted of "ewww they're slimy" or "I can't believe you feed it live mice!" and the list goes on. I am asking anyone out there who would be interested in leaving me some feedback here, why you think reptiles are good pets/what makes them better than others. Also, what are some of the negative responses you have gotten from people who find you have reptiles as pets, any in general, I'm talking about all reptiles. Not leaving any out, not just the big snakes and nile monitors or crocs, but the salamanders, newts, toads and frogs, turles, tortoises-the works! I want to know what everyone thinks here. Obviously the main goal of this paper is to educate anyone who reads it who has the wrong idea about reptiles in general, I want to know the positive AND negative responses everyone has gotten. All of your help will be greatly used and appreciated and when I finish the paper I might just post it on here and let you all know how it went. Thank you for your time and thank anyone again for your help

I'd like to respond to you because you can actually spell and correctly form a sentence unlike some college students I know.

I can't think of anything very negative that has happened to me over my pet choices though. I won't argue with people over them. I have 6 turtles, 1 tortoise, 1 lizard, 1 frog and I have other pets that aren't reptiles or amphibians. If people don't like it then that's their tough luck. Take it or leave it but don't try to argue with me over it because you won't win. I have a 'tude I guess. lol

There was one time when I took a sick turtle to a vet then had a neighbor make fun of me over it for about 5 years. He thought it was ridiculous but then after he moved away, I found out from one of the neighborhood kids that this man who had the nerve to make fun of me for being a responsible pet owner had actually lost a dog to a rattlesnake bite. Why did he lose the dog? He was too cheap to pay a vet for treatment. What a jerk! If I had known at the time that this was happening I would've reported him for criminally neglecting that dog.

I don't care what species a pet is, if you take it into your home and call it your pet then you are 100% responsible for all it's needs. No matter what the animal is, if you don't provide for it then you are being cruel and that's a crime. It doesn't matter if it's a $2 rat, a $5000 horse or a $50 turtle, snake, or whatever... it's a living being and it deserves respect.
While there are some pets I wouldn't want I would never chide someone for their pet choice, to each his/her own.
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PHRatz

PRO:
1) Reptiles don't shed, so no allergic reactions. However, if you're allergic to rodents, a snake might not be for you.
2) Most reptiles can be left alone for a long weekend, unlike a dog.
3) Some reptiles don't make noise - no barking to wake up the neighbors. (Sorry, but my iguana can plenty of noise when she thinks I'm too late with breakfast - lots of clanging and banging and scratching on the front of the enclosure.)

CON:
1) There is a greater risk of salmonella, even though dogs and cats can carry it, also.
2) Harder to find a vet that can care for a reptile.
4) Harder to find a pet sitter that can care for a reptile.
3) Some reptiles are harder to care for than dogs or cats. My iguana was as much work as my dog, more so in some cases. She needs a freshly prepared salad every morning, while the dog just needed a few scoops of dry kibble. Some tortoises grow so large that they need thier own room in the winter and need an acre to roam and graze in the summeer - eat like a cow, deficate like a cow. Red-eared slider turtles need very large aquariums or outdoor fenced-in ponds, at least 55 gallons, but more often 75 gallons or more.

Katrina

First I'd like to point out a mistake - frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders are NOT reptiles, they are amphibians!

I have had many pets in my life, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamster, gerbil, guinea pigs, chickens, parakeet, and turtles. One thing I like about the turtles over mammals is that they don't require much of me. As long as I keep them safe, clean and fed they are happy. I don't have to pay attention, pet them, walk them, play with them, etc. In fact, they would prefer I didn't!

So, if you don't have a ton of time to interact w/ your pet, a reptile may be the way to go!
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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
0.1.0 Australian shepard
2.2.0 chickens
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

Well, right now I have a hamster and I have an iguana, bearded dragon, and turtles. My reptiles, any one of them, takes up 3-10X more time and effort than the hamster!

Katrina