Sometimes herp people frustrate me

[Kanchii]

Sometimes I run into herp people who don't seem to actually care about the animals. Like, they think they are cool enough to breed them, but are only in it for the money. Today I was at an invert club meeting that I go to because I like the people (don't even keep inverts anymore) and this one guy who had seen my pics of my Cayenne Fire's on the forum said "hey do you have babies yet?" and I said "no, my pair just turned one year old." and he said "so?" I was pretty taken aback. I told him generally female corns aren't bred until THREE years old and he just shrugged and walked away.

What the heck? Do other people breed their corns that young? Jeesh my girl is only eating small fuzzies she couldn't possibly be bred could she? Ugh I dunno... It just kinda bothered me. :shrugs: Sorry, just venting.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Maybe he just didn't know when they matured? As in he'd never kept them, he was just showing interest.

 

[Kanchii]

No, sorry forgot to add, he's bred corns several times before.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

No, sorry forgot to add, he's bred corns several times before.

:bang:

 

[jesserca]

Wow. While that would make me very angry and upset, I don't think that it is just herp people. I have found that there will always be idiots and people who don't really care no matter what it is. Living in Missouri, we have a huge amount of puppy mills, its very disheartening.

 

[Tara80]

Here is a debate about that specific subject if you are interested:
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98737

 

[oneirogenesis]

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience I worry about the amount of reptiles being treated as shiny, pretty, collectible things, as if they were expensive trading cards rather than living creatures. I'm very new to the hobby but have noticed a bit of this mentality when I go to the local reptile store or to shows. It's a big part of why I like to hang out on this forum, where whether a snake is part of a big breeding project, or one of a handful of pets in a small collection, its welfare always comes first.

 

[Calift]

I have seen many reptiles kept in terrible conditions by reptile keepers- they are given the bare minimum necessities to live....and are treated more like objects than animals!

 

[Dorgrim]

did you rip his heart out there on the spot? I would have..... ):

yeah there are just some herp people who dont understand the basic concept of animals having feelings, stressing them out, keeping them clean. some people i think just assume because its an "animal" it is savage and savage is dirty....

some people.. ):

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

I think the issue is that this hobby has a tendency to attract people who only want a snake/lizard/whatever because most other people don't, and therefre they see it as a symbol of their own perceived uniqueness. These are the teenage boys who put videos on youtube of their alligator snapping turtle eating live mice, or come on here wondering why the five snakes they've stuffed into a 10gal keep fighting over the mice he tosses in once a month. And then they find out you can breed them and sell the babies for a little spare cash, and they don't bother to research it, they just do it. These are the people that folks outside the hobby think of when they think "reptile owner", and the same people that cause others to write bills to neuter our hobby.

 

[TandJ]

I see them types of people all the time..


Regards... Tim of T and J

 

[Tavia]

I think the issue is that this hobby has a tendency to attract people who only want a snake/lizard/whatever because most other people don't, and therefre they see it as a symbol of their own perceived uniqueness. These are the teenage boys who put videos on youtube of their alligator snapping turtle eating live mice, or come on here wondering why the five snakes they've stuffed into a 10gal keep fighting over the mice he tosses in once a month. And then they find out you can breed them and sell the babies for a little spare cash, and they don't bother to research it, they just do it. These are the people that folks outside the hobby think of when they think "reptile owner", and the same people that cause others to write bills to neuter our hobby.

Agreed. This also happens quite a bit with other animals as well. For example, pit bulls or other "tough, cool" dogs.

 

[Kokopelli]

God knows what that person learned and from whom.
Regardless, allot of the things that we consider to be "wrong" are things that happen in the wild... no one teaches corns sexual education in the wild... once the female is ready... she will be courted- even if she's one year old. Due to the risk for the female, it is generally accepted not to allow such a thing... but it really is based on a sentiment many(most) herpers seem to share... but as long as it does happen in the wild and corns -are- thriving there too... I can't really call them irresponsible or "evil".

I know that I choose the best course of action with my snake's safety firmly in mind... as I perceive it... and I try to not mind others.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

God knows what that person learned and from whom.
Regardless, allot of the things that we consider to be "wrong" are things that happen in the wild... no one teaches corns sexual education in the wild... once the female is ready... she will be courted- even if she's one year old. Due to the risk for the female, it is generally accepted not to allow such a thing... but it really is based on a sentiment many(most) herpers seem to share... but as long as it does happen in the wild and corns -are- thriving there too... I can't really call them irresponsible or "evil".

I know that I choose the best course of action with my snake's safety firmly in mind... as I perceive it... and I try to not mind others.

Corns also live significantly shorter lives in the wild, assuming their eggs even hatches or isn't eaten.

 

[BloodyBaroness]

This is what happened to me last week.

Thursday night one of my "herp acquaintances," I refuse to call her a friend anymore, was at my house to pick up the 7th non-feeding snake I have helped her with. The reason she keeps having non-feeders is because she uses no heat, period, on any tank in her house ever. I even made her a little shelf with flexwatt for the baby corns and kings she has and she flat out refused it because, "corns and kings are native here they don't need heat." Okay yeah they are native but come on the young ones at least need some kind of belly warmth when your house is cooled to 72 degrees and cold air is blowing over them.

We argued about this for a while as I finished cleaning a ball python tub. She leaned over to look at the BP and asked if she could hold it, and I told her no this male is aggressive and I'd rather not stress him out. She said here let me show you how to grab him by the head, and reached out for him. I grabbed her hand and asked her what the hell she thought she was doing, grabbing him by the head is not necessary and I don't want him hurt.

Her response: "Well he's just a normal BP, what does it matter if I accidentally break his neck since he's so mean?"

WHAT! First off who cares if he is a normal or not???? His life is not worth any less than if he were any other morph, he's still a living animal. SECONDLY, that's not a normal BP, he's my het pied breeder and that's why I take the attitude from him, he makes beautiful feisty babies.

At that point she had already packed up her snake in the car and I screamed at her to get out of my house before I call the police. I have never been more mad in my life.

 

[Kokopelli]

Corns also live significantly shorter lives in the wild, assuming their eggs even hatches or isn't eaten.

statistically? sure. But there are tons of variables that cause that- falling to predation, intestinal blockage due to eating dirt/whatever, infections and so forth...
we can't say that the only reason, or if it's even a major reason, to shorter life span in the wild.

I wouldn't do it myself, because once I keep these animals, they will get the best conditions I can provide(though I don't know if they appreciate living in plastic tubs/vivs much).

It's just... well, who am I to condemn them? I disagree... but to hate them seems a tad strong.

 

[azhketh]

Her response: "Well he's just a normal BP, what does it matter if I accidentally break his neck since he's so mean?

She shouldn't have any pets. Period. What an awful woman. What does it matter? He's a living creature, a bad attitude in a BP isn't that big of a deal, he's not yours psycho woman, and he's het for pied! Ya shoulda slapped her.

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

This is what happened to me last week.

Thursday night one of my "herp acquaintances," I refuse to call her a friend anymore, was at my house to pick up the 7th non-feeding snake I have helped her with. The reason she keeps having non-feeders is because she uses no heat, period, on any tank in her house ever. I even made her a little shelf with flexwatt for the baby corns and kings she has and she flat out refused it because, "corns and kings are native here they don't need heat." Okay yeah they are native but come on the young ones at least need some kind of belly warmth when your house is cooled to 72 degrees and cold air is blowing over them.

We argued about this for a while as I finished cleaning a ball python tub. She leaned over to look at the BP and asked if she could hold it, and I told her no this male is aggressive and I'd rather not stress him out. She said here let me show you how to grab him by the head, and reached out for him. I grabbed her hand and asked her what the hell she thought she was doing, grabbing him by the head is not necessary and I don't want him hurt.

Her response: "Well he's just a normal BP, what does it matter if I accidentally break his neck since he's so mean?"

WHAT! First off who cares if he is a normal or not???? His life is not worth any less than if he were any other morph, he's still a living animal. SECONDLY, that's not a normal BP, he's my het pied breeder and that's why I take the attitude from him, he makes beautiful feisty babies.

At that point she had already packed up her snake in the car and I screamed at her to get out of my house before I call the police. I have never been more mad in my life.

 

[dionythicus]

She shouldn't have any pets. Period. What an awful woman. What does it matter? He's a living creature, a bad attitude in a BP isn't that big of a deal, he's not yours psycho woman, and he's het for pied! Ya shoulda slapped her.

These people shouldn't have children, either!!