Reptiles Magazine Community / Reptile Forums / Beginner Herpers Discussion / HELP!! / Latest Posts

RE: HELP!!

KK — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:17:20 GMT

it isnt like you are making thei life miserable he getsfood everyday, he doesnt have to worry about preditors and the heat will always be there and like most of the people before me said a lot of reptiles are captive bred good luck

RE: HELP!!

Dragon Queen — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:43:39 GMT

herps are just like dogs, so if you think that dogs arent wild then neither are herps

RE: HELP!!

robin29 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:13:58 GMT

I love keeping reptiles they are quiet, they're easy to clean up after,but they still need more attention than a cat or a dog.My suggestin is to go to a zoo and check out the reptile exhibit with your mom, and do research and show her you are capable of keeping a reptile. My mom thought i was crazy but now she ask how they all are doing, and when i go somewhere she coomes to my house and feeds them and holds them. I think she has come to like them pretty good.

RE: HELP!!

herpfreak211 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:59:22 GMT

try to find a herp that is from north america, so if it gets out its in its environment....... also explain to her that a lot of reptiles are very mellow. hope that helps

RE: HELP!!

Turtle Boy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:51:01 GMT

hey guys what about turts? my first reptiles were 2 red ear sliders!

RE: HELP!!

Momo — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:42:44 GMT

It took me five years to convince my mom to let me have a snake. I found a very docile snake and let my mom hold it and check it out and watch it for a while and when she seen how docile that snake was she finally let me get a snake

RE: HELP!!

Loraine — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:34:49 GMT

She could be using this argument because she doesn't want a herp in her home.

Let her know that buying a captive bred herp is actually HELPING keep the wild ones alive. Get an issue of Reptiles magazine and let her read it. I'll bet she'll walk away with a better outlook, as she is bound to learn some great things! (I love Reptile Magazine!) Petco gets their corn snakes from a very reputable breeder and corns are a great "first herp" because they are very sweet and docile. Take her to a Petco and let her handle a baby corn -- and watch her heart melt.

RE: HELP!!

reptilewriter — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:30:18 GMT

Any reptile whether born in captivity is in fact a wild animal just as is a cat or dog or any animal just because they are domesticated doesn't mean they are not potentially dangerous. Fact there are more dog attacks in the U.S. than snake attacks that could b because more people own dogs. Can snakes be lethal? Of course if you own anything above and beyond six feet but I would start with a leopard gecko or corn snake and try it out. Other than that there is really no detail in your post to make sure that mom is right or wrong.

RE: HELP!!

JazzyWazzy — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:49:46 GMT

If its a lizard your looking to keep start out with something easy to care for and small. Like a leopard gecko. Present your case professionally. Show her some credible websites that breed and sell that species. Be polite and not argumentative. You want to appear responsible enough care for said animal. No whining or begging. If you don't already, take up some household chores. Save your money to pitch in with some or all of your animal's purchase price and equipment needed to care for it. Make sure you do your homework on the species your getting or there could be problems. Best of luck!

-Caitlin(The lizard lady)

RE: HELP!!

echojennarazy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:17:27 GMT

if u look on the price signs on the tanks at big pet/herp stores, they usualy say if they r captive bred. also, if u ask the store where their herps come from, u can usually track the supplier and make sure that the reptile is captive bred. if u get 1 from a breeder 2 they usually say which herps were their parents.

RE: HELP!!

BeardedDragonLover — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:45:18 GMT

Is it all herps she doesn't like, or specific ones? I know my mom was willing to let me get a lizard, but was scared of snakes and didn't like the way turtles smell. Maybe you could try for a tortoise, which can't exactly run up and attack you. They are pretty much the opposite of the wild, nightmarish creatures she's probably imagining, and are supposed to be fairly easy to take care of. Does she have any reason besides that she thinks they are wild? If you had more of her reasons why, then you might be able to make a stronger argument.

RE: HELP!!

RGS — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:33:33 GMT

Ah, mothers...
Your mum's heart seems to be in the right place, firmly lodged between the lungs, but her brain is using antiquated software. May I suggest that you read this article (http://hubpages.com/hub/TO-THE-PARENTS-OF-A--YOUNG-HERPETOLOGIST) and then give your mum this letter:

Dear Concerned Mum,
Thank you, truly, for caring about taking wild animals away from the wild. You obviously know that conservation is a pretty important issue today, and as a scientist who has devoted decades trying to save our dwindling wildlife I applaud you.

Alas, several factors have changed the plans and projections we had back in the 1980s. Your son/daughter would very much like to have some reptiles at home, and you fear that the animals are wild and should not be taken. In this case your excellent intentions are based on incorrect information, and here is why:

1) Habitat destruction is the biggest killer of wild creatures. The numbers collected as "pets" is only a very tiny fraction of those lost because they have no homes, or are imported only as leather products.

2) Once reptiles make it to a pet shop, their chances of survival are very low. Pet shop employees are (with few exceptions) totally ignorant about reptile care, and keep animals in conditions that are the reptilian equivalent of death row. Only the animals purchased by someone who gives them proper care will survive.

3) A great many reptiles have been captive bred (just like dogs, cats, and tropical fish) for the past decade or so. If you want to be SURE your reptiles are captive bred, purchase them at a reptile show or from a breeder. Shows and breeders are advertised in the excellent magazine, REPTILES. (And if you get reptiles, you should subscribe!!)

4) No, I am not an employee of REPTILES magazine. I am, however, a Ph.D. herpetologist who has spent a life in museums and universities studying the creatures.

5) WHY is having some household reptiles a good idea? Read my article (written just for parents!) at http://hubpages.com/hub/TO-THE-PARENTS-OF-A--YOUNG-HERPETOLOGIST.

Best wishes, good luck, and happy reptiles!

RE: HELP!!

Ratsnake — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:52:19 GMT

I was snakesless throughout my childhood because my mother is very afraid of them, although irrational, the fear was very real. So I went without and respected her wishes. If you can't convince your mom after a couple of tries, then suck it up and don't pester her. You may have to wait untill you move out like I did.

RE: HELP!!

mississippiensisman — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:46:58 GMT

I use usually do tons research on the herp, my mom and dad make me save up money for it and its habitat. But they do like herps, they are real animal lovers and support me in everything I do, even if it is out of ordinary.

RE: HELP!!

LeopardGeckoManiac — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:10:49 GMT

You can say that when you are buying a pet from the pet store you are saving it...

RE: HELP!!

PsychoKittyNet — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:30:36 GMT

When I was a kid I manged to convice her to buy me anoles. Later I got geckos and iguanas, but I wasent allowed to get a monitor or a snake until after I grew up and payed for it on my own. Sometimes you have to wait.

RE: HELP!!

proud_2_be_filipino_herper — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:15:47 GMT

ask your mom to bring you to the reptile shop and how gentle and kind they are i just convinced my mom to buy me a snake but by zoo

RE: HELP!!

Katschamne — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:25:48 GMT

Not all reptile are captive breed. If you are looking at balls for one and you are getting a baby that they are selling them for $20 they are probably wild caught. Captive breed are usually a little higher priced. Also they also have it that they are captive hatched. They collected the eggs from the wild and hatched them in incabators. Do not assume that it is captive breed until you ask.

RE: HELP!!

matt94rocks — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:23:09 GMT

probaly the best the thing to do is go to a reptile show and talk to some breeders and let them talk to your mom thats how I got my first snake.

RE: HELP!!

Python4life — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:19:21 GMT

I agree with everyone else, most are captive bred.

My parents told me the same thing. All you have to do is research the reptile industry and give some data to sway your mom.

RE: HELP!!

Katschamne — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:05:55 GMT

I'm not sure how to convey what I want to say. I hope that this doesn't come off sounding bad, as it's not intended to. As you can see I have a lot of animals. My kids would like to have a dog, but we really can't, one son is allergic. I had dogs all my life until a got married and I lived in an apartment, now we have a house. I have taken care of my sisters dogs from time to time. After talking care of them I can say that I don't want a dog, I'm not a dog person.

When I was growing up my mom was pretty good at letting us have some animals but drew a line at others. Since I've been married, we have always had a variety of animals. Before I worked at a pet store I would never have had a lot of the pets we have right now, tarantulas for one and a snake no way in heck. I have learned a lot of my misconceptions were unfounded. I have even tried to educate other people about reptiles and other "exotic" animals. There are a lot of animals that are still wild caught animals. If it is possible to buy a captive breed animals I would encourage it. There are a lot of animals that are only captive breed because they are protected in the wild and though the hobby they continue to live on.

Now on to the part you may not want to hear. Your mom is your parent. If she really doesn't want a certain animal in her house it is her right to say no. When you are an adult and are living on your own, that is another story. Good luck.

RE: HELP!!

luvmymuraco — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:14:10 GMT

you might want to point out to her that. dogs originally came from the wild and it took centuries for them to be domesticated. as is the same with cats. chinchillas, which are an awesome rodent pet, have been in captivity over 90 years and still aren't domesticated. reptiles can be awesome pets and some are relatively inexpensive to care for. in fact, having reptiles in captivity can be a blessing. my friend has had a pair of sri lanka pythons for about 15 years, and its good that they have some in captivity, because due to the recent hurricanes Sri Lanka pythons may become extinct in the wild. so just a thought you might want to remind her that years ago, people thought it was wrong to keep dogs as pets because they were wild animals. times have changed. hope that helps.

RE: HELP!!

ReptileChannel Moderator — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:45:55 GMT

http://board.reptilechannel.com/Topic45468-8-1.aspx

R.M.

RE: HELP!!

Crested Man — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:10:31 GMT

Well first off reptiles are NOT WILD!!!!! Second take her to a reptile store were they will let you hold the reptile. Show her a Leopard Gecko or a Corn Snake ( something Docile) to prove that reptiles are not wild

RE: HELP!!

matt94rocks — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:49:35 GMT

There is alot of CB reptiles now like corns,ball pythons,boas,most kingsnakes and milksnakes,leopard geckos,bearded dragons and more.So its not the same as catching and taking them from the wild.

RE: HELP!!

SNAKE CHARMER — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:08:11 GMT

its true many herps are now captive bred they still import some but,there are captive bred specimens available except for monitors theres not alot of captive breeding with monitors because there a bit hard to breed most monitors for sale are usually wild caught or captive hatched

if your looking for a good beginner herp then get a ball python there bred in captivity alot heres my caresheet for them

HELP!!

Gaboon33 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:55:21 GMT

HELP MEEEEEE!!!!!! My mom thinks its wrong to keep herps as pets because they're wild. I keep telling that they're not wild because they're born in captivity. SOMEONE!!! ANYONE!!! HELP ME PUT UP A CONVINCING ARGUEMENT!!!!!