do you let you reptiles....

[MontyPython]

I was the one that stared the grammar talk... I like to read things without getting a headache cause of all the spelling errors. I for one respect what Marc is doing, it's just that the grammar errors get in the way sometimes, for me at least. I may not agree with everything Marc says or does, but I respect him cause it is obvious that he loves what he does...

[Sunrunner]

The guys grammar has nothing to do with his skill as a herp keeper, maybe he can barely even spell english words, maybe he feels he's do really well with his writing. Everyone makes typos especailly when they are upset. It doesn't matter does it. Anyway man, if you don't want to HANDLE your herps then don't, it certainly isn't going to harm them by not holding them. And I am fairly certain we all know what he is trying to say grammar errors or not. I know if i tried to write a sentence in french no one would be able to read it LOL. Besides grammar errors are nothing have you ever tried to talk some people down town with all the slang you would think they were speaking a different language.

[MontyPython]

Did I say anywhere in my posts that his grammar or spelling has anything to do with his knowledge of taking care of reptiles? No, now I am going to drop the grammar thing. Ya happy?

[ReptiZone]

Man alot can happen when you are at mall.

ya my spelling is off from time to time I dont plan on wrighting a book any time soon so I will just keep posting they way I am althow I will be over viewing my post just to get somme of the bugs out I can speak fluantly in both languges but I truly suck in grammar in both languages.

I say because i have spent more time in a cage (Figure of speach) then you have and I have observed these animals on my lunch breaks. how many of you can say they sat in 8 X 4 X 4 cage with a 14 Foot green Anaconda reading a book about herps. And were comfertable!! $H!T how many of you can say you are comfertable being around a 14 foot green Anaconda. Well I have!! Why because I love spending time with them looking at them seeing there behaviore it is just mesmorising if you just leave them alone why take an animal out of there home when you can share space with them on there terms why have them out in a house Enviorment of sometimes below70*F when you can read a book with them onder there terms 80*-85*F(not a recomended thing i see my mistake today.)

Zoe as you can see in brakets there I do not recomed doing this and that I see my mistake.

any way I think my point is well put.

[Sunrunner]

whoa monty wasn't directing anything at you man just talking in general.

[xxbad]

ok ya theres nothing wrong with the grammar i call it internet slang. and V.H.B i guarentee you my water dragon dosent have fractures huh. My water dragon is the healthiest out of the 3 we have.

[bob_thesnowman]

XXBAD don't come crying to us when you find you water dragon mauled to death by your cat,i can't believe you have a website where you give people advise,when you said your water dragon was having the time of it's life running around your house,it was probably scared sh*tless and confused,not happy,i'm surprised your water dragon made it through the week

[Jeff Hathaway]

I can't believe that I just read through this whole thread. Here's a few things that came to mind.

Firstly, I never let herps wander unsupervised, and most of mine are temperate creatures that don't require high temps. It is just too big a risk. Yes, you can create a 'jungle room' with a fair bit of care and effort, but then what you are really doing is creating a very large custom enclosure, not letting the herp run free. Occasionally, I will put the blue-tongued skink or beardie on the floor while I clean their cage, and them put them back. That's about as far as I would go.

Other people listed a few of the problems associated with this, but I think only one mentioned a huge one- fire. There have been several cases of people having their houses burned down by free roaming herps (usually iguanas) that knocked over lamps, etc. This is one reason why insurance companies are not big on herps.

On the same note, another problem that insurance companies have is that people who create 'jungle rooms' (actually, even just regular herp rooms) don't usually create them to handle the high humidity for the long term. Walls rot, mould grows, and down the road it is a big cost for repair. If you still own the house, it might be your problem, but if you've moved (or if you were just renting) it will probably become an insurance claim.

For these reasons it is becoming difficult to get house insurance if you have a herp collection. Therefore they alone should be enough reason not to let your herps free roam if you care about the long term future of the hobby.

As for herp handling, I can't agree more that playing PS2 with your ball python around your neck is not a great idea. Nor walking around in the park, doing dishes, etc. However, I wouldn't agree that handling should be restricted to just when cleaning cages. Most people have these animals as 'pets', and assuming that they've chosen wisely (i.e. not a nile monitor) they can and should be able to handle them for 'fun' within reason.

Also, I have recently come to believe that captive snakes, especially, benefit from additional exercise beyond what they get in their enclosure. Size of the enclosure isn't relevant- the snakes sit in their hides most of the time, they don't need to move much to thermoregulate, they don't need to forage for their food, and they don't need to escape predators. Handling them is a poor substitute for these things but I believe that it is better than nothing.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[xxbad]

ok my cat stays away fomr my lizard they dont really hate eachother nor like eachother and she wasnt stressed was green a very nice green

[bob_thesnowman]

man everything you say contradicts something you've said before, somebody else pointed this out earlier,and what you said is another classic example,your cat stays away from your lizard??that's not the impression i got before..

[Sunrunner]

Will this thread never end........cat + water dragon = BAD

[RTB 84]

I decided I would let my Rainbow roam around the house for a while one time, before I let him go I made sure everything where he could potentially escape or injure himself was closed off. I put him down for about 5 minutes and couldn't find him afterwards. About 3 hours later I found him stuck under the front of my fridge.. he scared me half to death because he looked like he was dead. That was all it took for me to decide to not let my reptiles loose in my house ever again unless they are under my close supervision.

[Jeff_Favelle]

I was the one that stared the grammar talk...

How exactly does one stare at grammar talk??

[BoidKeeper]

How exactly does one stare at grammar talk??

LMAO!
To those of you who make constant spelling mistakes just know this. Spelling has never been used to measure a person’s intelligence. Some people can't spell just like some people can't walk. When's the last time you laughed at someone who's in a wheel chair? Some people have learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, which dramatically impede upon their ability to spell. And some people are just French like Marc! (ha ha had to man but I meant no offence I'm French too, sort of.) Either way I say if you don't know the whole story then you should lay off.
Trevor

[xxbad]

i just type real fast and dont erase my mistackes unless there really bad like sometimes i spell you oyu by accident in typing