Snake Jobs??

I've been thinking for a while that I want a profession that includes snakes, not so much breeding, but something along the lines of snake specialization or something. I'm not really sure what field is out there that might include them or what sort of training I would need if any.

I had originally been thinking of being a vet tech, but I really want something narrowed down to reptiles. :awcrap:

Any advice or help in this department would be greatly appreciated. :cheers:

There are a few universities that offer herpetology degrees, and almost every university offers a general biology degree, in which you could then specialize in herpetology. The problem with that is jobs will be few and far between. Expect to travel and work for low pay at first, with no benefits, in order to get established.

I'll put you to work if you want to clean my snakes.

The most likely job is cleaning and feeding animals, either for a zoo or private breeder. The pay tends to be pretty low, though. And it does get old after a while.

If you want to advance, you should either get a degree in biology / zoology if you want to work for zoos, universities, museums, government wildlife programs, private ecology / naturalist programs etc, OR get a degree in business if you want to work for a private breeder and hope to eventually become a manager either at a breeder, wholesaler, pet shop, or other pet business, or to start your own someday.

My suggestion is to decide whether you want to go the scientific route or the commercial route, and get the appropriate degree while working part time at a vet, pet shop, or other animal facility nearby.

Don't expect to make a lot of money for the amount of education, compared to some careers. A successful commercial animal career will probably pay better, with less education, than a successful scientific / public career. But if you do what really inspires you, you will probably be more successful (both financially and emotionally) than if you just choose based on finances alone.

You can get a vet tech license and still specialize in reptiles. My girlfriend does that. Heck, I don't even have a vet tech license, and the animal hospital calls me when they have sick reptiles they don't know how to care for.

It's tough to find a good reptile vet, and alot of vets rely on the knowledge of their techs for specialties, like reptiles or birds.

You could also look into a Wildlife Rehabilitation Certification, which will allow you to operate as a rescue and rehabber.

Neither of these jobs pays a whole lot...but they are very interesting, and very rewarding in terms of dealing with the animals...

Yes, I have a local friend who is a vet tech at a local animal hosp that does exotics. But still, most of their business is birds and dogs and cats, although they do get in lizards, snakes, and even pet rats now and then. She got trained "on the job" and doesn't make a lot of money. But she REALLY does love her job.

If you had a degree / certification, and were willing to move anywhere in the country where you could find the right job, you might be able to find an "exotics only" vet and maybe make a little more. But I don't know if it would ever be enough to support a family on. Guess it depends on the job and location.

I am working on a Biology/Wildlife Management degree right now and would like to do some kind of fieldwork in the future, whether its herps or mammals I don't really care...I just don't want to be in a lab. My Research Methods professor said there is a term scientists use to describe people like me...unemployed! So, you might want to check out that vet tech idea. From what I have seen, decent herp jobs are few and far between. Good luck!

one of the things ive wanted to do with my life was get a degree in herpetology and travel studying reptiles..... but i cant be a family man and travel so much at the same time and i got a family first... so now im just gonna start collecting and breeding myself... in light of that i wish you luck on your ventures whatever they may be

One thing you might want to consider about the academic world is that you can get the best of a couple of worlds. If you decide you're interested in studying snakes in that sense, you usually get a field season and a lab season. In that sense you get to spend a good chunk of the year whereever you can convince a grant agency is worth spending their money. At the same time, you can make a steady living and have a central home for a family or stability in your life back at the university. Also, as a person who has been involved in that sort of research, there hasn't been all that much done! So whatever you publish, if well done, is going to be brand new.

As to the vet world, I'm finding out that it can be a challenge to make a living as a reptile vet. If you do decide to do this, be prepared to actively go out and cultivate a clientele. Good luck, the fun part is getting going!