herp vs vet

[Pythonian]

Greetings.. well, I'm off to college in August OH CRAP! :bugged: :bugged:
Well I love animals to death!!! but i really really love reptiles. They asked for my major, and i didn't know what to tell them. Is it just as easy making a life as a herpetologist as it is for a vet? And Average, would you get paid the same? Thank You

Mike

[TonyL]

I think your best bet would be to become on in the same....a vet who specializes in exotics. I have a few friends who are vets and the money is there if the practice is in a good location. But we all know that a vet who has a specialty in exotics is a bit more rare!

Good luck!

[Nicky]

I'm going to be a herpetologist but a vet would be kool too i still have acouple of years befor collage (4 actually) herp vets are harder to find these days best of luck at collage

[Dom]

true I agree.. but a vet who speciallizes in heprs, means a normal vet who generally treats cats and dogs all day and gets the occasionall reptile in.. I wanted to be that until I realized what the job trullly consited off. Its a great job but all u got to do is expect your work to be 80% cats/dogs and 20% reps.

Just my two cents..
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Dom

[Jotun]

i plan to major in Biology then go to grad school for herpetology. The offerings for a rep specialist are pretty good here especially in the zoos. I dont mind not getting paid an exhorbant amount as long as i'm doing something i like

[girraffasaurus]

I think it depends on where you are located. I know in my town, which has over a million people, there are only 2 or 3 specialty vets, and only one that everyone reccomends. With the ammount of "specialty" pets here, it seems like that vet would mainly do "specialty" work. I say the best idea is to look at all the possibilities and aim fior all of them. For example: I am a special education major, but I recently heard about a job at the zoo for anyone with an education degree to plan curriculum for zoo field trips, etc. So I'm trying to get some zoo volunteer hours in to up my chances of getting that job in a couple of years if that's what I choose to do. Look into the jobs you want and email people to find out what some of the requirements are. Just leave your options open and don't limit yourself. Who knows...maybe you could end up with both jobs at some point in you life!

[rattekonigin]

Straight herpetology is more of a research-based job, if you want to do field-study and such, then it's a good choice...but you won't get as much hands on husbandry/health-type experience with herpetology as you would working as a vet that specializes in reptiles...also, if I am correct...herpetology is similar to zoology as far as non-research job openings are concerned...which means there aren't many jobs available at zoos and the like...unless you start your own!
Personally, I'm starting my 3rd year as a biology major, and I'm concentrating in organismal bio and ecology...to narrow down to something like herpetology you usually gotta go to grad school...
Good luck with your choice! I think whichever way you decide to go, you'll find it to be a rewarding experience.