Your view of the reptile hobby - Page 4

formica · 02-02-14, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

*cough*Netherlands*cough* No we don't? Its a guideline from dutch reptile fora, and its more like Length+Depth = at least size of adult snakes length. I could keep a retic in a shoe box, as long as i feed it and provide water it's considered 'adequately cared for' There are barely any laws considering animal rights, they are almost seen as plain 'possessions' here. The few laws in animal rights we have, are very wobbly. The best we have is 'guidelines' which you are suggested to follow, but you are not obliged. (And i have only found those for mammals) Worst thing they can/will do if you really do something horrible is a slap on the wrist.

What i would like to see changed here? So many things..But ill stick to: i want more animal rights, and welfare laws.. In my country at least. The laws here are worthless, and instead of making better laws they just try to severely restrict / ban the hobby..

hmm perhaps its another EU country, will look it up tomorrow

offtopic - do you guys really not like the name Holland? whys that? never knew, its the common name we use, except formally

robertjnovak59 · 02-02-14, 06:00 PM

I'd like to see less emphasis on morphs and cheaper and better cages sold locally. Personally, I think some normals are better looking than the morphs. I think the hobby is in better shape than you'd think from scanning forums. I've met some really good people in the last few years that really care about their animals and have helped me a lot. It seems like a lot of the experienced keepers are more than happy to help.

**Aaron_S** · 02-02-14, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

I think it's somewhat silly to pretend that a lot of people aren't getting into snakes for the purpose of breeding them. How often do you run into some 12 year old who has a normal and an amelanistic corn snake and is "working on a breeding project." They probably aren't doing it the money, but they watch SnakebytesTV, or read about the the big breeders and think it's an easy job.
There are plenty of people who are just in the hobby for the snakes, but there are also a lot of people in it for money or attention. The later two are the ones that drive the industry. They're the people with 100 or more snakes, who are constantly buying, trading and breeding.

I have been in this hobby for a really long time and I have yet to ever run into some 12 year old with a breeding project.

I do know it's predominant on the internet that people are seen getting into for breeding purposes but that's a minority to the amount of people in the actual hobby.

In fact this very forum is proof of such a fact. Very few people on this forum breed their animals or have goals of such to it.

**Aaron_S** · 02-02-14, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by athms

Yeah but you need to start somewhere

You make no sense.

psychocircus · 02-02-14, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I have been in this hobby for a really long time and I have yet to ever run into some 12 year old with a breeding project.

I do know it's predominant on the internet that people are seen getting into for breeding purposes but that's a minority to the amount of people in the actual hobby.

In fact this very forum is proof of such a fact. Very few people on this forum breed their animals or have goals of such to it.

I agree, but it is definitely more prevalent than it used to be. Unfortunately this is what the public and often beginners see.

StudentoReptile · 02-02-14, 06:40 PM

Perhaps a lot of people aren't in it for the money, but they are not in it for "love of the animal" either. They just want a cool pet to show off. They are not interested in learning anything interesting about the animals they keep, or educating others or themselves. They are just interested in having a pet that scares in-laws or is fun to watch eat live prey.

So I will concur that not everyone is a breeder, and not everyone is in it for the money. But I will maintain that the majority of so-called "hobbyists" are more part of the problem than they are part of the solution.

psychocircus · 02-02-14, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Perhaps a lot of people aren't in it for the money, but they are not in it for "love of the animal" either. They just want a cool pet to show off. They are not interested in learning anything interesting about the animals they keep, or educating others or themselves. They are just interested in having a pet that scares in-laws or is fun to watch eat live prey.

So I will concur that not everyone is a breeder, and not everyone is in it for the money. But I will maintain that the majority of so-called "hobbyists" are more part of the problem than they are part of the solution.

agree with this as well. For every owner with a passion, there is at least one who has an alternative motive and/or doesn't provide proper care.

CosmicOwl · 02-02-14, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I have been in this hobby for a really long time and I have yet to ever run into some 12 year old with a breeding project.

I do know it's predominant on the internet that people are seen getting into for breeding purposes but that's a minority to the amount of people in the actual hobby.

In fact this very forum is proof of such a fact. Very few people on this forum breed their animals or have goals of such to it.

I doubt I've been in the hobby as long as you, but I still frequently see kids and/or new keepers talking about breeding. This site is the exception to the rule. Youtube and most other forums are full of people talking about breeding for the first time, or asking what kind of morphs they'll get if they breed X to Y.

What you're saying is probably true if we only consider the number of keepers compared to the number of people looking to breed snakes. The problem is that the majority of keepers will just have 1 or 2 snakes. Breeders or excessive collectors will have snakes numbering in the 10s or hundreds(much more if they have a large scale operation). They're the ones buying all of the new morphs and effecting the flow of supply and demand.

athms · 02-02-14, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

You make no sense.

You need to start somewhere meaning they didn't just find a pied ball python or a anery kenyan sand boa.

**lady_bug87** · 02-02-14, 07:50 PM

This thread is a pathetic excuse for you people to pat yourselves on your back like a dog who learned to scratch it's own belly.

1) want to see "different" animals at shows? Invest YOUR time and YOUR money and make it happen instead of passing the buck.

2) the person advertising 'breeding' plans today are selling their animals tomorrow. So relax.

3) no matter if you keep them in tubs or massive rooms nothing is quite like being free so stop with the elitist bullpoop of "I don't use bins I'm not one of those evil hoarding people." We're ALL those people so stuff it.

Lori OUT! <drops microphone>

CosmicOwl · 02-02-14, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

This thread is a pathetic excuse for you people to pat yourselves on your back like a dog who learned to scratch it's own belly.

1) want to see "different" animals at shows? Invest YOUR time and YOUR money and make it happen instead of passing the buck.

2) the person advertising 'breeding' plans today are selling their animals tomorrow. So relax.

3) no matter if you keep them in tubs or massive rooms nothing is quite like being free so stop with the elitist bullpoop of "I don't use bins I'm not one of those evil hoarding people." We're ALL those people so stuff it.

Lori OUT! <drops microphone>

You can't be serious about number 3? That is some of the most backwards logic I have read in a while. It's not elitist to suggest that people should keep their animals in enclosures that provide them with space to move around and mental stimulation. None of us can truly emulate the conditions provided to snakes in the wild, but does that stop us from pointing out when somebody isn't providing the right husbandry for their animals?

Mikoh4792 · 02-02-14, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

You do understand that field herping is a part of the hobby if you want it to be right?

It's the beautiful part about it all. Any part of it can be someone's preferred hobby and that's great! Whatever excites and drives someone's passion.

Your original question was loaded considering you weren't taking in all parts of what makes the "hobby" though.

not exactly Aaron.

Quote:

What is your view on the reptile hobby as of now? What are some changes that would make it "better" in your opinion? In what direction would you like to see this hobby go?

There is always room for improvement, I was just asking what would make it better, and which way would the people here like to see the hobby go. Not loaded at all, it's a neutral question.

Sure, my own views of the hobby may be biased and one-sided, but this thread isn't about just my view. I'm asking everyone to chime in.

psychocircus · 02-02-14, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

This thread is a pathetic excuse for you people to pat yourselves on your back like a dog who learned to scratch it's own belly.

1) want to see "different" animals at shows? Invest YOUR time and YOUR money and make it happen instead of passing the buck.

2) the person advertising 'breeding' plans today are selling their animals tomorrow. So relax.

3) no matter if you keep them in tubs or massive rooms nothing is quite like being free so stop with the elitist bullpoop of "I don't use bins I'm not one of those evil hoarding people." We're ALL those people so stuff it.

Lori OUT! <drops microphone>

So it doesn't matter if an animal is in a small container or a large enclosure because "we're all those people" ?

**lady_bug87** · 02-02-14, 08:58 PM

Yep! We're ALL selfish people. If we really cared more about the animals than we do about having something cool this hobby wouldn't exist. We wouldn't have zoos, or SeaWorld.

This hobby as others which keep exotics in captivity be it snakes or llamas is the exact same.

**lady_bug87** · 02-02-14, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

You can't be serious about number 3? That is some of the most backwards logic I have read in a while. It's not elitist to suggest that people should keep their animals in enclosures that provide them with space to move around and mental stimulation. None of us can truly emulate the conditions provided to snakes in the wild, but does that stop us from pointing out when somebody isn't providing the right husbandry for their animals?

Fish tanks for ball pythons are better?

Poor husbandry and the use of tubs are 2 different things. I don't know what you keep and really I don't care if the answer is unicorns. You will never convince me that well sized tubs are detrimental to husbandry.