I give up!

**Minkness** · 01-06-16, 04:49 PM

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 · 01-06-16, 04:58 PM

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

**EL Ziggy** · 01-06-16, 05:06 PM

You're hopeless Mink

. Congrats AGAIN on ANOTHER beautiful ADDITION!!

**Minkness** · 01-06-16, 05:19 PM

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** · 01-06-16, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

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** · 01-06-16, 06:46 PM

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 · 01-06-16, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

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....

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

As if she is closing to stopping either lol

**Aaron_S** · 01-06-16, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**Minkness** · 01-06-16, 07:56 PM

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** · 01-07-16, 05:23 AM

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

trailblazer295 · 01-07-16, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!!! ^_^

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

Derek Roddy · 01-07-16, 09:10 AM

Can't go wrong with a Carpet.

D

Jim Smith · 01-07-16, 09:17 AM

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** · 01-07-16, 09:59 AM

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** · 01-07-16, 10:50 AM

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

.