Ever feel like giving up on herps??

Rebecca · 02-10-05, 03:39 AM

I'm just wondering how meny of us have had a really bad time with herps dying and the such, that you just didn't want to do it anymore?? I had 3 babies die in as meny days. I found out 2 were totally my fault the other I don't know why it died. Right now I just feel like selling all my nimals and giving up. It's very heartbreaking sometimes. Sorry I just had to kinda vent a little.

Brock · 02-10-05, 04:37 AM

Ah anyone who's into herps for any extent of time with any extent of a collection will tell you they've had herps die and it's been their own fault/they could have done something about it but didn't know what at the time. I've had a chameleon die on me cause he was too hot, I had all the right equipment, but the bulb was too close to where he basked, and another chameleon died on me because he fell and bruised his nose and it swelled up and he basically choked to death. Both of them were babies and I felt bad, buuuut hey, they wouldn't have even existed if it weren't for the pet trade and herpers like myself, so that and the fact that they woulda been food for something else otherwise or would have been part of the 50% or more difference in wild hatch rates kinda makes it not so bad. They die in nature from dumb causes-eating sticks or rocks, getting stuck in something, living somewhere inappropriate, etc, and that's life (and death). I suggest some Elton John - Circle of Life, and Eric Idle - Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, it'll put things in perspective.

Keep your chin up and do what you can, learning from mistakes and sharing on here is the best you can do.

-Brock

bighillreptiles · 02-10-05, 07:49 AM

I know the felling to well I just lost my intire coluction a few weeks ago and felt like Quiting but can't I love the hobby why to much for that so pick the pices and try again sorry for your loss

Rebecca · 02-10-05, 01:25 PM

Thanks. It's just hard. I love all my animals so much. I don't have kid, so they are my kids. So it really sucks when I loose one. Even worse when I find out it's my own fault. These were the first deaths that I know of that were my fault.

beanersmysav · 02-10-05, 02:13 PM

I've thought about it twice, once when my Savannah got sick, and a week ago when that guys Pictus had to be put down by me. Of course they were just thoughts and in reality I would never do such a thing. Too much passion involved. If I lost herping at this point in my life I'd lose 75% of what I have physically and emotionally. Gotta love the little ones

Mistakes happen, and the longer you're in the hobby the more mistakes you will make learning from them is the key. If you gave up on everything you made a mistake doing... you wouldn't have much left.

Katt · 02-10-05, 02:47 PM

Hello Rebecca, been a while since I heard from ya!

I have definitely felt what you're going through, and feel like that everytime something dies.

Thing, is reptiles are alive, and like anything alive, they do die. I'm sure this has happened to anyone with more than a few animals and especially with people who have bred. Hatchlings often die, complications in birthing/laying kills the female. Some of these things are beyond our control and some of them are stupid errors we make b/c we are human.

I have felt like selling everything (except a select few) many times, but unfortunately reptiles are too addicting to stay away from for too long. In a few days, or weeks, you will be feeling better about yourself and this feeling to just give up will go away.

meow_mix450 · 02-10-05, 05:58 PM

Well I have but not because my reptiles were dying, because none were. The reason was when i read some post how everyone is selling off there whole collection and getting rid of there herp etc. It just puts me down because they pointed out all the not so fun part about keeping reptiles. It always gives me second thoughts about keeping my reptiles

Meow

BoidKeeper · 02-10-05, 06:01 PM

I've wanted to because I get sick of taking care of all my rats and mice. I often want to cut back to just enough snakes so that I can buy all I need and not have to deal with breeding my own. But as it is now I have no choice but to breed my own. Buy all the rats I need would just be too costly.
Cheers,
Trevor