Will reptiles ever be considered pets like dogs or cats?

slowhite03 · 10-25-13, 01:47 AM

I'm just curious, I always see people saying how they used to have or they traded a snake for another snake. I'm just curious if people will ever consider reptiles in general as a pet for the duration of there lives and not keep them for a short duration and then trade them for something new. Now before this turns into a "I plan on keeping mine forever" thread, I know some will but its safe to say that most reptile owners won't

rhiannon79 · 10-25-13, 02:05 AM

Why would u want an animal if u didnt plan on loving it like a member of the family I love all my children my ball bo is one of my children and I only thouggt about finding him another owner because my husband freaked out when he bit me but hes not the animal lover I am and because of the place of the bite it bled real bad but he was worred for me but bo is doing great know that these great members have taught me a few things so I will not be letting him go and my husband has calmed down but like I said my pets are my kids and I love them all weather its my human kids or my bird or my turtles or my snake or my cat or my fish wouldnt trade any of them ...well my 17 year old human sometines is very aggressive and tge thought of trading ....lol just kidding love them all bad moods and all

formica · 10-25-13, 05:12 AM

most reptile owners wont keep their reptiles fro life?

can you provide the stats which show that this statement is anything more than conjecture? is this how you view reptiles??

As far as I am concerned, a reptile is just as much a life long pet as any other animal, people who treat them as passing fads to show their friends how cool they are and swap around like pieces of clothing, are frankly...well...i'd better bite my tounge. needless to say they need a perspective adjustment, and to grow the ____ up.

Starbuck · 10-25-13, 05:21 AM

I think part of the reasoning behind that is that it is easy to care for reptiles, and easy to breed them and care for the offspring, at least easier than a dog or cat, say. Also, rwptiles do not form the same, reciprocal emotional attachment as dogs and cats. In light of these things, it is very easy to view them as a 'project' rather than a member of the family. This is NOT saying that tjese people dont care deeply for thwir animals, but if you sell the offapring or a retired breeder, or trade them for the next upcoming morph or species or whatever, i dont think that in itself makes you a bad person. People are not going to treat.reptiles like dogs or cats, because they are NOT dogs and cats. You dont keep a bicycle the same way to maintain a car, to phrase it in another analogy. That doesnt mean you care more about the car, but you have.more financial (emotional) investment into it. Doesnt mean you sont love risi g your bike.'

formica · 10-25-13, 05:28 AM

you seem to be saying that it is acceptable to treat a living animal as a disposable commodity - only 20-30 years ago, people had this same opinion of dogs and cats, and it took allot of work to get rid of it - I am dismayed to hear it being spouted in relation to reptiles. Yes, it does make someone a bad person, as far as I am concerned.

StudentoReptile · 10-25-13, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

most reptile owners wont keep their reptiles fro life?

can you provide the stats which show that this statement is anything more than conjecture? is this how you view reptiles??

As far as I am concerned, a reptile is just as much a life long pet as any other animal, people who treat them as passing fads to show their friends how cool they are and swap around like pieces of clothing, are frankly...well...i'd better bite my tounge. needless to say they need a perspective adjustment, and to grow the ____ up.

Not everyone feels this way. I mean, I do now....but it wasn't always this way. I don't have stats or anything, but I go by my own experience and observation. Many keepers [at least here in the US] often get rid of herps a lot more readily than for dogs/cats. Reasons include, but limited to: gets too big or difficult to keep, boredom and ready for something new, it doesn't fit into their "breeding projects" and/or they have an opportunity to trade for something better, need money, etc.

IMHO, there will always be the "pet keepers" and then there will be "collectors" and "breeders" who only view the animals as assets to their collection or program, and these "assets" can change value at any time. As long as the animal is being cared for properly, I do not judge too harshly. Just pointing out that not everyone views their reptiles in the way.

StudentoReptile · 10-25-13, 05:44 AM

We were just talking about this at our herp society board meeting the other night. The captive breeding of reptiles in the private sector is getting closer and closer to the level that dog breeding is. More and more people are wanting to get into the hobby for the wrong reasons, thinking its a get-rich-quick scheme. And you see more and more "normals" popping up on classifieds, mainly the staples like: BPs, corns, geckos, bearded dragons, sulcata tortoises.

Now as far as reptiles equaling the emotional capacity or companionship level of a cat or dog, I don't think that will ever happen, but that topic has been discussed at length many times before and I don't think that is what the OP was asking anyway.

formica · 10-25-13, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Not everyone feels this way. I mean, I do now....but it wasn't always this way. I don't have stats or anything, but I go by my own experience and observation. Many keepers [at least here in the US] often get rid of herps a lot more readily than for dogs/cats. Reasons include, but limited to: gets too big or difficult to keep, boredom and ready for something new, it doesn't fit into their "breeding projects" and/or they have an opportunity to trade for something better, need money, etc.

IMHO, there will always be the "pet keepers" and then there will be "collectors" and "breeders" who only view the animals as assets to their collection or program, and these "assets" can change value at any time. As long as the animal is being cared for properly, I do not judge too harshly. Just pointing out that not everyone views their reptiles in the way.

this was the case with cats and dogs aswell until not long ago, and its an attitude which must be changed, it shows a distinct lack of maturity within the culture of reptile keeping, understandably perhaps because it is younger than the domestication of dogs and cats - I am sure it will change, just as it did with dogs in the 80's, you may remeber the ''a dog isnt just for christmas'' campaign? its our responsibility to ensure that we push the principal imo

reptiles have enough stress to deal with being in captivity in the first place, let alone being shunted between owners - and if boredom really is a major factor in the decision to get rid of them, how long do those animals have to suffer at the hand of a bored person before they sent off to someone else?

And the whole argument about breeders annoys me too - Cat breeders do not behave in this way, so why should it be acceptable for reptile breeders

StudentoReptile · 10-25-13, 06:36 PM

Remember that for the most part, reptiles are not social animals and do not suffer the same "separation anxieties" or whatever as a dog does from being passed around.

Nor do they have the same level of intelligence. Dogs, cats and to some extent, hookbills are very attuned to their surroundings and the behavior of their owners/keepers. Herps, fish and invertebrates are more primitive and straightforward in their needs: shelter, food, water and ideal environment. Meet those needs and most of these thrive well enough with minimal interaction from humans.

I think the problem is mostly with how people perceive them as opposed to actual stress to the animals themselves. Do I think it is right? Not necessarily, but on the flip side, this is never going to change. There is simply not enough people that feel as you do about pet reptiles as those who are for dogs or cats. As far as "pets" go, herps are more akin to fish [something to feed and look at it, but not companion animals] than they are to furry animals. You going to have to change the general public's perception of reptiles before start advocating pets' "humane" rights...a debatable topic within itself.

lisas · 10-25-13, 06:49 PM

Although reptiles are very basic and straightforward in their needs, I, as a human, would never consider selling, trading, or giving away any of my pet reptiles. Although reptiles are primitive, I think routines must bring them a sense of security. I feed mine in the same areas every time, handle them in the same ways, etc. I just wouldn't feel right about giving them up because I made a commitment to them when I took them in. When I lose one, it is like losing a part of myself (especially if it was my fault). I'm sure I need them more than they need me, and I don't judge anyone else's choices at all. My humble opinion is just my personal view.

SSSSnakes · 10-25-13, 07:21 PM

I work at a pet store and unfortunately a lot of people treat all animals as disposable. They buy a pet and when they get tired of the pet they sell or surrender it to someone else so they can get something different. In today's disposable society even animals are not considered a lifetime commitment. But, why should this surprise any of us, as we also treat people and marriages the same way.

rhiannon79 · 10-26-13, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

I work at a pet store and unfortunately a lot of people treat all animals as disposable. They buy a pet and when they get tired of the pet they sell or surrender it to someone else so they can get something different. In today's disposable society even animals are not considered a lifetime commitment. But, why should this surprise any of us, as we also treat people and marriages the same way.

I agree that this is true people do treat all species and marriages this way disposable and replaceable I myself dont see any living breathing soul as disposable so I don't get it

mrgrimm · 10-26-13, 06:45 AM

The only way I would ever "re-home" an animal would be if I felt that the animal was suffering in some way under my care...I am 30 years old now and currently own a Rottweiler (had him for 11 years) a Pit bull (about 2 years) 3 fish (7 years) 2 mice (1 1/2 years) and now "Pickle" our Ball Python. I would never consider getting rid of any of them for financial interests or just because I got bored.

Not everyone gets emotionally attached to living creatures like some of us do, just the way it is. The best we can do is raise our kids in a way that teaches them everything is special in it's own way and therefore should be respected and treated as you would like to be.

rhiannon79 · 10-26-13, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgrimm

The only way I would ever "re-home" an animal would be if I felt that the animal was suffering in some way under my care...I am 30 years old now and currently own a Rottweiler (had him for 11 years) a Pit bull (about 2 years) 3 fish (7 years) 2 mice (1 1/2 years) and now "Pickle" our Ball Python. I would never consider getting rid of any of them for financial interests or just because I got bored.

Not everyone gets emotionally attached to living creatures like some of us do, just the way it is. The best we can do is raise our kids in a way that teaches them everything is special in it's own way and therefore should be respected and treated as you would like to be.

Very well put I am 33 married 13 years together 15 and he does not have the love for my animals they are mine we have for children 17 ,16 ,12 and 2 and I have 5 fish for 10y , my cat 9y, my dog 8y ,my ball 7m ,my turtles 5m and my baby jenday conure a week and a half and they are all mine and trust me all the animals r way easier to clean up after and handle way less stressfull and my animals love me and arent near as snappy as my humans my ball bit me once and it was my own fault but I rather take a bite anytime oppossed to getting in agruments with the hubby or my teenagers their down right viscous. ..lol

Hannibalcanibal · 10-26-13, 07:32 AM

Alright, so since we are all spewing information about ourselves...

I am Fifteen years old, And i have a KSB, ball python, uromastyx, a hognose snake, two axolotls, a tiger salamander, two leopard geckos, and of course my little dog. It is a lot of work for me, but i still do it and would never dream of giving one animal up for a dumb reason, and if there is an animal i want but know i can't have (i.e monitor lizard), then i don't get it.

If i ever did have to give an animal up (i.e my family is not willing to take care of them and i'm going off to college), then i'd make darn well sure that it is going to a good home, i.e a ssnakess member or a friend.

Of course, before i got my leopard geckos (my first reptiles), i did a lot of research, and made sure my family would take care of them when i went off to college. Whenever i leave home, (ex- going to my grandparent's to visit), then they take care of them, and i always come back to happy animals and clean cages. This goes for all my pets.