What got you into reptiles?

[ZARADOZIA]

My mother raised snakes. The first reptile I ever caught was a Horny Toad. This is why I love Bearded Dragons so much, they are similar in appearance.

http://www.uta.edu/biology/herpetology/DSC03594op.JPG

Fun fact: Horny Toads can shoot streams of blood from their tear ducts. This is a defense mechanism to scare off preditors. I have caught hundreds of these guys and never seen this happen. When I first learned it was possible I didn't believe it until I researched it and found it was true.

[stephanbakir]

First herp was a rescued ball python when I was 4, (I was born with an iguana in the house) The BP stayed with me till it died when I was 19 ( It was an adult when we got it))

[snake man12]

I caught a nasty northern water snake and then i realized i want a snake ,so the collection started

[lionslappy90]

I am a late bloomer, I have always loved snakes and other reptiles but my parents wouldn't have it unfortunately. So I had to bide my time until I had my own place. Now however I am living a life of herper love and still looking for more beauties to add to the collection. Besides spending time with my wife and kids my favorite time of the day is in the evening when I take each of my 6 boa's out individually to play and handle them to keep them familiar and friendly. My 3 year old daughter loves them and often plays with my Mexican Rosie. But she loves my big guys too. She will handle them with me only of course and I can see that I have a future herper on my hands. Take Care all

[lady_bug87]

Like lionslappy90 I was also a late bloomer, I was always interested but couldnt have them as pets when at my parents house, when I met my husband and learned he was interested in herps too, we moved in together and started our collection which is steadily growing in 2 years we acquired 6 herps which involve various degrees of experience and I see many more in our future

[CDN_Blood]

Research got me into herps. I grew up with ophidiophobia (big-time) and was working at a pet shop and knew I was going to be transferred to a location where it was legal for them to sell snakes, so I figured I'd better at least do some research on them so I knew what I was talking about in the event that a customer wanted one.

The more I read about them, the more interesting I found them and also discovered how horribly misinformed I had actually been all my life. Once I learned the facts, it seemed my life-long fear was unfounded and I began to slowly expose myself to them in order to dispel my fear.

That was 24 years ago and I haven't been without a python or boa since :)

[stephanbakir]

Research got me into herps. I grew up with ophidiophobia (big-time) and was working at a pet shop and knew I was going to be transferred to a location where it was legal for them to sell snakes, so I figured I'd better at least do some research on them so I knew what I was talking about in the event that a customer wanted one.

The more I read about them, the more interesting I found them and also discovered how horribly misinformed I had actually been all my life. Once I learned the facts, it seemed my life-long fear was unfounded and I began to slowly expose myself to them in order to dispel my fear.

That was 24 years ago and I haven't been without a python or boa since :)
Fantastic story, gives those of us who are working on helping people out of their fears some extra hope.

[infernalis]

I grew up right here (third generation owner of this estate) so I have been exposed to the herps on this land forever.

Our first ever captive was a small brown snake that my daughter caught and asked if we could keep it.

We were at PETCO getting some supplies when Dorothy fell in love with this little baby corn snake, so we brought home CY who is now a fully grown 4 foot adult.

Then I found the garter snake forum and met my breeder friends, it exploded from there.

Dorothy had a Savannah Monitor before I met her, the poor girls ex husband killed her monitor and she swore that she would never have another pet again ever...

That's why she cried when I bought Chomper for her birthday 4 years ago, it was awesome, She opened up the box and there was this little neonate fresh out of the egg Chomper looking up at her.

have not looked back since.

[RegenerationRep]

Herping with my dad and growing up with a ball python in the house and Steve Irwin on tv had everything to do with it.

[alessia55]

I used to be terrified of snakes. I was terrified of the big venomous ones (With good reason, right?) but also of teeny tiny garter snakes, garden snakes, corn snakes, pythons, boas, you name it. All of them. When I was 15 I thought to myself: "I don't want to be afraid of snakes anymore. They are beautiful creatures." So I talked to my dad and we got me a baby corn snake. That little corn snake was very nippy.......and NEVER outgrew it. She bit me every time I took her out for the next 5 years. But, my fear of snakes went away when I realized I could start reading her body language and predicting when she was going to bite (I used to think that snakes give no warning and bite randomly). I got more comfortable, despite all the bites. After those 5 years, I decided it was time to find a snake that would be nicer and more enjoyable to handle. I gave my corn snake (who was then an amazing 6 feet long) to a man I know who rescues reptiles who was delighted to give her a forever home. I then got Kaybe, my adult ball python) who was wonderful from the start. He tolerates handling like a pro, and has been my buddy ever since. A few weeks ago I got my second ball python, Pika, the albino one in my avatar. Now I can't get enough of snakes. I go to the most reptile expos I can, and I teach my friends about them too. I get bit all the time by baby snakes at expos and I don't bat an eye. I love them! It's hard for me to look back now and imagine how I ever lived without them. I am totally enamored.

[dawnhorn]

I have always had a fascination with reptiles and amphibians and would spend my days catching snakes, lizards and frogs when I was a kid. I had always wanted to own reptiles, but when the kids were little I was broke, when they were older the ex said no way. I got my current husband into field herping and aquatic entomology and he loved it. Then we discovered a species of lizard here in Washington that was only endemic to Colorado. It was so exciting to him and the herpetologists that came out taught him so much more than I had and I think he got hooked on reptiles too. We rescued a year and a half old bearded dragon and things just snowballed....when it comes to lizards I think he's nuttier than me. I still haven't got him cured of his phobia of snakes, but he is getting a little better.

[Terranaut]

Used to field herp as a kid but could never bring them home as my parents were freaks about it. Later in life my kids asked to own a snake. I was excited but my wife wouldn't have it. We eventualy talked her into it and bought the kids a small gopher snake( haha small now ;) ) now she is more open to the idea of me getting my own larger snakes ( I want eastern indigos) and my son wants to start a breeding program. What a great learning experience for all of us and such a family tie. Thank you Skittles ( our gopher). So here I am 40 and just getting started. Awsome how thing work out isn't it.

[CK SandBoas]

My father was the main reason i got into reptiles, specifically snakes. When i was growing up, my father had this beautiful snake room in our basement, with over 100 enclosures filled with snakes such as Milks, Kings,Corns, all the way up to an African Rock Python and a few Balls.He was the go to guy in Massachusetts for anything reptile related. He actually helped form the Massachusetts Herp Society years ago (It is now known as the New England Herp Society).

He taught me that snakes,like all animals, are to be respected, not feared. That they are not evil creatures that should be killed on sight. I thank my father every day for opening my eyes to the wonderful world of reptiles:)

My first snake that i ever kept was an Eastern Hoggie my dad found out behind our barn, i kept him 2 days, then i released him.

[Snakefood]

I grew up a tomboy, my brother and I had pretty much free reign (bar a few years) all over first Northern BC and then, mainland BC. We were always out exploring something, somewhere. Mamma tells endless stories of me capturing snakes and lizzards and "telling her" I was bringing them home. They always "escaped" fairly quickly.

When I was 9, I had proved well enough that I could care for a small reptile, and Mamma allowed me to get a pair of Anoles. I can't remember how long they lived, but I was pre-teen when the first one got a big lump on his neck and died, the other one "looked" healthy, but stopped eating and also died.

Then, 10 years ago, I got a fully adult 6' iguana for hubby's birthday. Misty was Awesome, although I couldn't hold her very well as she was far longer than I am tall!! We knew she was already older when we got her. The people I got her from (friends parents) had had her as long as I could remember and did not get her as a hatchling. She is no longer with us.

In the last few years I have started up a small business for snake food, I get my customers because no one else does larger prey, I do and they are willing to pay a bit more for my rats and mice for the convenience of 1 stop shopping. Talking to my customers about thier snakes re-peaked my interest and I started doing a little research on snakes. These creatures fit into my lifestyle much better than my beloved dogs (ATM) as my special needs son is taking up much of my time and they don't get the attention they should from me anymore. Whereas snakes simply don't care if you don't play with them!! So I made up an account here and started talking to you good folk, and VIOLA!! I am a snake lover like the rest. Once I started getting snakes, it just didn't seem to stop!!

First I got Khuno ,my hatchling Blizzard
Then I "rescued" (but bought) Ananta ,my Okeetee
Then I went to the local show and came home with Helios, my Amel
Then 2 days ago, a customer of mine dropped off an Anery A and another Amel, both of which were surrendered to him by thier owner because they produced a clutch of infertile eggs.

So that's 5!!

[infernalis]

All I know is if someone would have said I would be building a room and filling it with dirt for a lizard 5 years ago, I'd have thought they were nuts.

[Will0W783]

I've been fascinated with scaly creatures as long as I can remember. My mom is terrified- like, crying and running away sobbing terrified- of snakes, but my dad likes them. I think he didn't want me growing up crippled with fear like my mom, so he used to take me to a reptile zoo when I was little. One of my earliest memories is of my dad and a zoo worker resting a massive Burmese python on my shoulders, and feeling its heft and power. I was hooked for life. I "rescued" my mom from all the little garter snakes and black racers too, so I was always playing with them, and had pet lizards and frogs growing up.

[Quack]

I grew up watching Steve Irwin, but my parents aren't deathly afraid of snakes(my dad is somewhat afraid, and my mom is actually starting to like them). I started keeping reptiles when i was 6, I got a leopard gecko for my 6th birthday(and at first, my mom said no, then my dad and i convinced her).

[UwabamiReptiles]

I've always liked animals and was naturally drawn to reptiles. I started off with lizards about 10 years ago with a leopard gecko. It didn't take much convincing for my mom because she told me later on that she thought it would just be a phase and I'd lose interest hahaha. She couldn't have been more wrong.

After just having different types of lizards, I decided to try out a snake. I started a little scared of snakes because I really didn't know much about them. So I got my first snake in 2006 and he was a perfect first snake. He was an adult male IJ carpet, great temperament, ate well. Since then I've been hooked on snakes. I'm not scared of them anymore, I'm actually thinking about getting some bigger ones down the road. I'll probably always have some type of reptile, its a great hobby and I'm happy I got into it.

[Snakefood]

All I know is if someone would have said I would be building a room and filling it with dirt for a lizard 5 years ago, I'd have thought they were nuts.

I can relate!! I gave up 1/4 of my living room so hubby could build Misty a huge custom cage!!

[Wolfus_305]

I've loved them for as long as I can remember. Maybe because we see some snakes and frogs and such at the cottage? I remember when my sister and I were little we had a reptile themed party and some company brought over a bunch of reptiles and everybody got a polaroid picture with the reptile of their choice.

[Strutter769]

I had wanted a snake for literally as far back as I can remember. I think the fascination comes from Nature shows on WTTW "Your Window To The World." I grew up in a house with three dogs, four cats, at times my sisters had ferrets, birds, Canaries I think. I don't remember which of the cats finished them off. So anyway, I couldn't have a snake because my mom feared having a fat snake and fewer cats.

In '96 I got engaged (not married) moved out, into an apartment and a week later I met my first daughter, Lucy. About 14" I think, BCI. Now have an amazing BRB, working with Bryan Hummel (great guy!) to adopt two from his incredible line. Hopefully I'll soon have pics to share.

Make it a great day!

[marvelfreak]

Got my first snake 19 years ago. My ex brother in law was going into the Marines and ask me and my ex wife if we wanted to take is snake. He was told it was a boa when he got it. Turn out to be a Ball Python. I didn't know anything about snakes so i bought Pythons and Boas by Peter J. Stafford. This book is where my love affair for snake began. Page 16 & 17 (Blood python), then page 35 (Brazilian Rainbow) Boa, and then page 59 (Diamond Python). That was it i fell in love with diamond python IMO the most beautiful in the world. I was hooked and that was the start of the addiction.:)

[red ink]

Watch my grandad as a kid catch and clear retics from the rice fields in South east asia, then myself as a kid doing so as well with cobras...

Migrated to Australia (the land of reptiles) so it was destiny really...

[millertime89]

grew up pretty much across the street from a large field so I would find garters and bull snakes while traipsing through it and in the wells around the lower floor windows we would fine frogs and salamanders and I would catch and release those. I think the official beginning to my interest in reptiles was when I was about 5 or 6, my family went to the black hills and I visited the reptile gardens, rode a giant tortoise and got to handle a large albino burmese python. My brother bought a leopard gecko a few years back that interested me and I helped take care of it, but it didn't really interest me. I had an offer to purchase a BRB a few months back and made the arrangements to purchase it and had the tank set up when the owner backed out and I purchased Nero. No looking back now. Trading an old Ipod Touch for an adult normal royal python along with its entire tank set up here in a few weeks.

[blindfireak40]

I was into snakes from the beginning of my life; I don't remember a time when I DIDN'T think all things reptilian were cool. Mom was deathly afraid (still is pretty uncomfortable with snakes, but she wants a lizard now...Chomper's worked a bit of charm!! :yes:). I got a ball python for Christmas at age 11, but had to surrender him a year later as we moved and our new homeowners' insurance didn't cover snakes.

Fast Forward 8 years or so, and I was gainfully employed and pining for another snake, but I didn't think I wanted to go back in with an exotic, so I picked up Vermicelli from PetSmart, found this forum, and now I'm a hopeless case who wouldn't have it any other way; gonna have reptiles coming out my ears the rest of my life! :D

[jaleely]

It's funny, I was raised to kind of hate snakes...my parents were in constant fear i'd step on and get bit by a rattlesnake (northern California). I was always romping out in the fields, playing near the pond (against the rules)...but I was constantly picking up lizards, frogs, praying mantis...hmm catching mice, and you name it. There were even tarantula migrations (though really i found out later in life it was just the mating season for a certain black native tarantula) and I'd go out and pet them *lol* (it was the males looking for the hidden and buried females)
I'd be out catching tadpoles, etc.
No snakes!
Didn't get into those until this past January, 2011 actually...and now I have 9! My husband started it by wanting a ball python and now i've found my calling!
My parents think i'm crazy....muwahaha!

[spots]

First reps I owned was Tokay Geckos when I was 14 :) I have now moved onto snakes and bearded dragons.

[minaa]

I became fascinated with them when I was little, and was always an animal person--I watched documentaries and the like. My first memory with handling a snake, though, was when I was about 6 or 7, and my grandparents' neighbor was chatting with us and decided to bring out his snake. I have no memory of what it was, but I thought it was so awesome! I didn't realize my grandmother had a nasty fear of them until I wanted her to see it. She didn't freak out or anything, but she clearly wanted the animal no where near her!