How many is to many

[Arachne]

I think another factor in the "how many is too many?" discussion is this. How much time/money are you willing to invest. I know many people keep certain kinds of pets as a hobby. Like, people who breed corns. A lot of people over on the spider forums I used to hang out on kept very high numbers of tarantulas, always swapping for breeding and collecting them. I think that's great, if you have the time/money/interest level to keep a kind of pet as a hobby. Same goes for keeping finches, tropical fish, showing dogs, or some kind of special dog training, or whatever.

Me? I already have enough expensive and time consuming hobbies. I happen to love snakes and tarantulas, and always wish to share my life with them, because I find them fascinating, but because my time is already invested elsewhere (work, family, the aforementioned other hobbies) keeping 2 snakes is just exactly enough. I get to enjoy them as pets, learn about them, observe, handle, and have them, without donating a HUGE chunk of my free time and money for maintenance. Once, I tried to get into tarantula keeping on a hobby level, and I enjoyed it for a time, but I realized that I was spending loads of money/time/house space, and the pets themselves became less special. Like, I cherish my Ts two now, and spend a lot of time watching them. At one time, they were just two of over twenty, and I was more collection focused. It really wasn't for me. I'd rather collect tarot decks or miniatures, than maintain and upkeep a collection of living things, but I definitely understand how rewarding of a hobby it could be.

So, two is enough for me, any more would be too much. Also, there's four people in our house. We have enough responsible adults and older children to care for the two each, dogs, and cats. The snakes and spiders are my pets and mostly my responsibility. The furred foursome are part of the family, and well integrated into our routine. Any more than that, though, and the pet responsibilities move from a pleasant routine, to a chore.

 

[solo1979]

I tend to get a bit suspicious when people keep buying and buying corns but then you don't hear much about the ones they already have. In that case I almost feel like what they are after is the thrill and novelty of having another new animal. But how would you even bring the subject up with somebody? It's a touchy area for a lot of people. In the past I may have suspected a person might have "too many" but unless that person is comfortable enough to let me into their house and I can see first hand the condition the animals are kept in, it's just a feeling.

I completely hear what you are saying Jen. I'm not new to reptiles, but new to corns so many would say I'm in the collecting phase, as all of mine have been added this year. My corns are pets first and foremost and MAYBE I will do a few select breedings in the years to come. I know that my pets are well cared for, I know that YOUR pets are well cared for but someone else might click on our iHerp links and think good gawd how do those chicks care for all those snakes? I tend to post more updated pictures of my babies on their iHerp page than here just because to me it seems more personal, sort of like Facebook for the pets.

I truly feel it depends on the individual and how much is too much. Just like there are some people that are completey incapable of multi-tasking at work (and I think we ALL work with at least one of these people) such is the case in their personal lives as well. With a well established routine, I think it's possible to own a pretty large collection of reptiles if space and money permits. Similar to how someone on a farm can have a multitude of cows, horses, chickens, etc. The important thing is that the fundamental needs of the pets are met. So to me, in terms of reptiles, that means they are fed on a schedule, they are handled on somewhat of a schedule, cages are checked routinely for poop/puke/etc, water is changed several times a week, they receive veterinary care as needed, etc. Other animals, are much more hands on. I have a diabetic dog that requires insulin twice a day and monitoring of her blood glucose levels. I have a dog with major allergies that flare up a few times a year. And then I have another one who is just downright nuts and sometimes needs Prozac when he gets too high strung. Some people would wonder how in the world I could possibly own any other pet and deal with all of this. But it works just fine for me because I am able to prioritize. My upstairs neighbor has one puppy that she isn't caring for properly and as of last week, just got another. She can't manage 1 or 2 dogs and I am maintaining a mini zoo downstairs. I've even had to supply her with some items needed to care for HER pets.

 

[cornsnakelovah]

I have 2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 bunny, six chickens, 2 chicks, and of course, Marty the cornsnake. I have 1 brother 1 sister 1 mom and 1 dad.we love all our animals so they live life to the fullest. all our animal meet or eceed life expectancy. we find time to love our animals. would you belive I don't live on a farm?

 

[cornsnakelovah]

oh and my sister has fish.

 

[Dreamsnake]

My cat has decided that there is only room for one feline in this family. I'd rather have her sleek and happy and not stressed out under a bed. When we can afford more corns I'd like to get two more, pushing our snake collection to five. We're not going to breed so I only want my favorite morphs and not bother with matching hets or gender specific purchases. I'm sure when the boys get big enough they'll want their own reptiles as well.

As for people not taking proper care of their animals: I see it everyday in my town. Dogs get left outside all day in 100+ heat; cats put outside and unaltered so they breed indiscriminately. The people across from me left their injured dog howling in pain for a week before taking her out of state and shooting her. They just got a new puppy too. Three cat hoarders got busted in one week as well putting more pressure on overcrowded shelters. Not everyone claiming to love animals truly has their best interests in mind.

 

[Irish Eyes (Mrs.Z)]

For us, 1 cat is too many. I have a lot of pets (dogs, snakes and parrots), but I don't feel the need to justify numbers to anyone. My husband and I know what is enough for us (or too many, for that matter), and that's good enough for me. In other words, I feel that, as a family, my husband and I know what's best for us (and our furred, feathered and scaled family members) MUCH better than anyone else does, and we won't let strangers dictate that to us, or judge us based on the number of pets who live with us.

We figure that as long as our "pets" (aka Family Members) are well taken care of and loved, we're good. It isn't always about numbers so much as it's about what fits into our lifestyle and budget. Hence one cat being 1 too many, but a bedroom full of snakes isn't quite enough (yet). That, truly, is no one's business but our own.

Yes, that's right. I AM a cranky old hermit, and I like it that way! *grins*

Or, in other words, love me, love my pets. If you can't, then don't come knockin' on our door. We welcome friends. We don't welcome "judges".

 

[solo1979]

For us, 1 cat is too many. I have a lot of pets (dogs, snakes and parrots), but I don't feel the need to justify numbers to anyone. My husband and I know what is enough for us (or too many, for that matter), and that's good enough for me. In other words, I feel that, as a family, my husband and I know what's best for us (and our furred, feathered and scaled family members) MUCH better than anyone else does, and we won't let strangers dictate that to us, or judge us based on the number of pets who live with us.

We figure that as long as our "pets" (aka Family Members) are well taken care of and loved, we're good. It isn't always about numbers so much as it's about what fits into our lifestyle and budget. Hence one cat being 1 too many, but a bedroom full of snakes isn't quite enough (yet). That, truly, is no one's business but our own.

Yes, that's right. I AM a cranky old hermit, and I like it that way! *grins*

Or, in other words, love me, love my pets. If you can't, then don't come knockin' on our door. We welcome friends. We don't welcome "judges".

AMEN!!!!!!!!!! :cheers:

 

[toxiclight]

I don't feel the need to justify numbers to anyone. My husband and I know what is enough for us (or too many, for that matter), and that's good enough for me.

Sounds like us

We currently have a dog, cat, three ferrets and eight snakes. Our kids help take care of them, and they all get as much attention as they want/need. When my daughter wanted a snake of her own, we sat down before we made the purchase and went over all of the logistics, financial, where we'd keep her, who is responsible for her, etc., before she was purchased. The same is done before each animal...hubby's way of making sure that I've thoroughly thought through each animal that comes into the house (I'm very impulsive and without his restraint, am quite likely to get in over my head)

It's up to each individual what they are able to care for. I don't work outside the home currently, so I have more time that I can devote to my animals. Maybe if I eventually get a job, I will end up having to downgrade our menagerie slightly...but that's the beauty of my kids...mini-zookeepers in the making

 

[xStaticSnow]

Like everyone else said, I think it's an idividual thing. I have 2 snakes right now, and 1 on the way. I know 3 is my limit and I've know that from the start. I WANT more but I know I can't have any more. Limited space, time and resources keeps me from having all the animals I want. There was a reason I got into snakes and it was because I could get a couple of them without ending up negliecting them or breaking the bank when it comes to food, bedding, etc.

My dogs on the other hand are more like family. I wouldn't really consider them "pets". They're indisposable and I would figure out a way to come up with as much money and extra time as I needed to make sure they were happy.

There's not way in hell I could manage the upkeep for 3 of some other type of animal. I use to have 2 guinea pigs and I got so sad because I never had time to cuddle them and cleaning and feeding was more like a rushed thing thatI just needed to get done. Plus their food was expensive and cleaning, fresh food preparation, etc was time comsuing and rather unpleasent sometimes.

 

[MegF.]

Absolutely individual. If you are able to properly care for, interact with and feed the animals you have, then it's not too much. I have two horses, 3 dogs of my own, 2 foster dogs, 2 cats and over 30 snakes. I don't handle my snakes much...some are not ones you handle anyway, just observe and the dogs I spend the majority of time with. The cats interact when they want to. My one cat loves to be with you and is in fact kneeding my belly while I type on the computer right now. He loves to hang out with you. My other one is asleep on the couch with the dogs. My horses don't get ridden much due to my work schedule but they are groomed, fly sprayed and get supplements every morning and night and are out in turnout 24/7 so they really don't care. The snakes are checked twice a day, sprayed each night and fed when they are due. they don't care if they are handled or not and most would rather not get handled at all. My BRB gets out more than any of them although I generally open the cage and pet my false water cobra female. She's a sweet girl and loves to be rubbed on her back and neck. I have a couple of chondros that don't mind handling as well as a few amazons but in general they like to be admired not handled. The venomous never get handled except with snake hooks and only when necessary. Never for fun. If you can't feed them, provide veterinary care or interaction when they need it (such as in the case of dogs) then there's too many.