I give up!

[Minkness]

So, as with most of my posts, I will start with a story.

For weeks I have seen a specific snake for sale on craigslist. I figured he'd be sold for sure. As we all know by now, I lack certain motor functions....mostly the ones responsible for self control lol. So...spur of the moment, I decided to text the person asking if they still had him, assuming they didn't since I firstsaw this same snake for sale MONTHS ago! A day later, I get a reply....they still had him! My hands shook as I quickly replied, asking several questions to make SURE I wanted to take the leap once more to defy my conscious and add to my collection ahainst my mother's wishes. (I am SUCH a bad pwrson...)

Fas forward hours of texting back and forth and the person selling him feels I'd be a great home and lowered his price, even agreeing to hold him until I got paid again.

Sooooo...a lovely male, 2ish year old IJ carpet het granite, will be joining my collection this Sunday (so long as the owner will meet me where I work, which they already have agreed to do lol). He has a pretty cool name but I can't spell it right and really wanted toname my future male carper, Hades since my female is Persephone. So name is undecided for now.

Here are some pics I got from the current owner.

[Klaire]

He's beautiful! congrats on your soon to be new addition :)

[EL Ziggy]

You're hopeless Mink :). Congrats AGAIN on ANOTHER beautiful ADDITION!!

[Minkness]

Yup...I probably need an intervention lol. Don't want one though!

He will have my 1st custom tank though! I want to give him hight since the owner says he really likes being 'up'. Buuuut, that will be after the move. For now, he will be religated to a tub...granted, it's a big tub and I will nake it extra comfy for him lol.

[Aaron_S]

Yup...I probably need an intervention lol. Don't want one though!...

Nobody who gets one actually wants one...that's the point of one. To intervene on someone's self destructive behaviour as they have chosen not to seek help on their own.

[Minkness]

You and your factual point need to hush! Lol

I want more...MORE I SAY!

I still have an actual list of future snakes and possibly other lizards though, and would like to eventually breed. So I am no different than Manslaughter who has 26 snakes and more on the way lol. ;)

[trailblazer295]

Nobody who gets one actually wants one...that's the point of one. To intervene on someone's self destructive behaviour as they have chosen not to seek help on their own.

I was thinking the same thing....

You and your factual point need to hush! Lol

I want more...MORE I SAY!

I still have an actual list of future snakes and possibly other lizards though, and would like to eventually breed. So I am no different than Manslaughter who has 26 snakes and more on the way lol. ;)

As if she is closing to stopping either lol

[Aaron_S]

You and your factual point need to hush! Lol

I want more...MORE I SAY!

I still have an actual list of future snakes and possibly other lizards though, and would like to eventually breed. So I am no different than Manslaughter who has 26 snakes and more on the way lol. ;)

Difference is she doesn't hide or try to hide behind some semblance of restraint lol.

[Minkness]

Aaron....I hate you... XD

Don't point out my flaws!

Seriously though, I give up. If it's a good deal, and on my list, and I have space...I'm getting it.....

I technically have space for 1 more snake in another large tub and saw a REALLY nice adult female okeetee corn for $40. Corns are lasylt on my list so whole it's nice, I have space, and cheap...not interested right now lol. I'd rather wait and get a nice tessera striped corn or ridleyi rat. Either way I'll be paying about $200 and already have the space...soooo...yeah XD

Bow I am just rambling...anyway!!! ^_^

[Tsubaki]

Mink you're crazy <3... again congrats on your new addition! He's gorgeous.

[trailblazer295]

Aaron....I hate you... XD

Don't point out my flaws!

Seriously though, I give up. If it's a good deal, and on my list, and I have space...I'm getting it.....

I technically have space for 1 more snake in another large tub and saw a REALLY nice adult female okeetee corn for $40. Corns are lasylt on my list so whole it's nice, I have space, and cheap...not interested right now lol. I'd rather wait and get a nice tessera striped corn or ridleyi rat. Either way I'll be paying about $200 and already have the space...soooo...yeah XD

Bow I am just rambling...anyway!!! ^_^

Welcome to the dark side .......

[Derek Roddy]

Can't go wrong with a Carpet.

D

[Jim Smith]

All kidding aside, it is very easy to become obsessed with a hobby, especially when it is related to animals. I know that this is a serious problem among some people who keep exotic parrots, to the point that they rationalize breaking the law to get that "one last" special bird that nobody else has. Then when they get caught, they are ostracized by their fellow bird community members, face very serious fines and potential jail time; almost always losing most or all of the animals they already have in their collections. I believe that this is how some animal hoarders get started.

Minkness, Sometimes you need to consider potential bad scenarios that could happen in your personal life when you're considering any new commitment. For example, "What happens if you lose your job and can't find new employment" Can you pay for the care and feeding your animals require? Or, "What happens if you get sick or are injured etc." Will you still able to care for your animals the way they really need it? If you have a few animals, the answer is probably yes to both scenarios, however if you have allowed yourself to amass a large collection, that very well may present problems. All too often well-meaning people get in over their heads and unfortunately either they or their animals suffer for it. It's actually not too different than committing to additional debt. People who buy the biggest, most expensive house that they qualify for often end up losing everything when one of life's speed bumps hits them. You really should consider stepping back and asking yourself some serious questions about how many animals you can properly care for and limit yourself to that number; or better yet a couple less than that number. Usually more doesn't always equal more pleasure, it just devalues some of the animals you already have. Just a couple of thoughts to consider...

[Minkness]

Thanks Jim. And honestly, those scenarios could happen to anyone, with any number of animals. The line I draw and stick to is this. If it is more than you can physically or financially care for. Also, I am willing to let animals go that I cannot properly care for. Such as when I had a mouse breeding colony. I loved them as pets, and while I could financially care for them, I couldn't keep up physically because of my work schedule.

And, I am luckier than most with my job. It is very solid and I'm a very recognized employee. Not to say it will never happen, but it is VERY unlikely I will 'loose' my job. Now, I may leave to graze on greener pastures, but even that is unlikely as I rather adore my job and it pays very well as it is and I get regular pay increases and bonuses. So really, I'm pretty set financially, and physically it's very easy if not rewarding and relaxing for me to tend to the reptiles needs.

=)

Thank you for the insight though. It's a good thing for ANY pet owner to realize, regardless of the size of their pack, heard, flock, or collection.

[EL Ziggy]

I'm with you Mink. I know my limits and happily operate within them. I can probably afford more animals, and I may add 1-2 more at some point, but right now I have the perfect balance. It's easy enough to care for all my critters and I still enjoy it. I don't want my hobby to ever become a job. If feeding, cleaning, and caring for the animals becomes too much then it's time to scale back. In any event I'm committed to making sure that none of my animals will ever suffer while in my care. They will always have an infinite supply of heat, light, food, water and LOVE :).

[Minkness]

Exactly! I have the funds to feed them and keep them the way they should. Where I am no I only have 1 more tub open but I'm also saving it just in case I need it for Treasure when he comes in. So then that's the likit of 'physical' for me due to space. Buuuut, when I get the house (which will also be carefully assessed and in our budget) I will have a WHOLE room just for reptiles. Though I will probably put the onea who need cooler temps like my cresties and future BRB in my room so they don't get over heated.

Unlike Ziggy, I don't mind it turning into a 'job' since I would actually like to consider being a long term breeder (eventually) to support me and give me something to do when I am retired.

As it is now, it takes me 30 minutes a day to check on all my reptiles, including fill water and spot clean, and once a week I spendabout 2 hours in total (but not all at once) fully cleaning, handling each animal to evaluate health, ect. The only annoyance is when my BPs decide to crap before I go to bed or when I first wake up because then I end up going to bed late or rushing to work lol. Buuut....that is a only a minor annoyance for me lol.

The ONLY reason I was trying to hold back was because my mom wanted me to. But other than her weirdness of wanting me to 'stop until we got a house' just didn't make sense to me since I was never spending much money on them to begin with, which just made it hard to keep to my promise.

I told her that last night, and told her about the carpet coming home this weekend. She was not pleased, but I explained MY points of the 'why not' side of things and she 'kind of' understood....or just gave in. Can't really tell. I just hate breaking promises and told her I would no long keep to it just like she can't promise not to smoke inside any more. Not quit, just not inside...she ahain understood it's just one of those things about living together as adults.

I see my personal collection being somewhere in the 40s-50s once it's 'complete', but when I start breeding, my numbers will easily jump into the 200-300 amount. That may be overwhelming as well, so I plan on starting slow. Breed only 2 or 3 a year instead of everything I have all the time.

I may be a Reptiholic, but I am a well thought out Reptiholic lol

[SerpentineDream]

Overcommitment is a real concern and one I've given a lot of thought to. I agree that if you can physically and financially handle the number of snakes you have and provide each with optimal care you're OK, but when it starts to become a strain it's time to scale back.

I think my comfortable limit is probably around a dozen. I put my guys into elaborately-decorated display enclosures because I love to watch them, so I can't afford to keep as many snakes as someone using rack systems that are less labor, space and money-intensive.

[dave himself]

You really are a hopeless case mate but I salute you ;). Congratulations on the carpet he's a beauty :)

[Minkness]

Thanks Dave!

As for enclosures for all of my animals, I actually plan on building alot of my own vision caging so that I can fully appreciate each one. The only exception will be be if I choose to breed. Babies will go into a rack system.

My 'collection' will slow down a bit again once I get my house because of my desire for nice, custome caging. Not only that, but I'm getting closer to my desired collection as well.

Animals I still want:
Super hypo hog island boa
Jag IJ carpet (if I choose to breed, a granite IJ female)
Ridleyi beauty
Super dwarf retic
Brazilian rainbow boa (most likely a high orange from Cliff)
Ball pythons (BEL, Lesser or butter genetic stripe, banana. More if I decide to breed, but not to exceed 3.6 ratio)
Asian vine snake
Corn snake (tessera striped)
Leachie gecko (I DO want to breed these, so will have 2 or 3)
Gargoyle geckos (also want to breed so will have 2 or 3 as well)
Red eyed crock skinks (also something I want to try to breed)
Abronia Ganemea (probably spelled wrong, and also want to breed)
A dwarf monitor (still researching what kind, but probably a red ackie)

I may be missing a few off of my extensive want list, but these are the ones who have been on it the longest with the most passion. It's certainly going to be alot of work, and not a collection for just anyone. However, I really enjoy my animals and put alot of love and care into them. I never want children, have no plans to go back to school, and have a good job with a (begrudgingly) supportive mother. I also have a supportive partner who is currently long distance. But that should be changing in a few months.

So.....while I have crappy timing in purchasing my animals according to my mom, it's not as 'uncontrolled' as some might think. Though I do admit to being a little impulsive for a good deal. (ie. 5 western hognose and 2 angry rough scale boas. Both of which I have fallen in love with, but have no plans to breed...ever...lol)

Also, I don't believe in planning so far into the future about 'what if' I loose my house or job. Not that those things can't happen, but they are in the more extreme sode of life, and if I worried about THAT all the time, I wouldn't have ANY animals.....and really....an astroid could kill us all tomorrow...I'd like to enjoymy life while I can.

^_^

[Minkness]

Oh yeah....and a still water or red hypo bull! Totes forgot about that one XD

Everythingelse I want is illegal in my state, and I don't break laws soooo....No hairy bush vipers or gilla monsters for me ;-;

[Pogie]

Grats, it's beautiful!

[Salty Rob]

Awesome!!!!!