Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Scott W]

I'm guessing we've all been asked why we keep reptiles, after all they are slimey & poisonous

Anyway, I'd love to know why/how people first got into keeping reptiles or amphibians and what they see as the benefits from owning something more exotic and generally misunderstood by the public?
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[Muttley_109]

I have loved animals for as long as i could remember. Especially reptiles & amphibians. Being allergic to most normal pets Cats dogs etc I never had pets as a kid.
As I got older and realised you could keep reptiles I could finally get a pet

I prefer to sit and watch and learn about my animals. Something that you cant really do with cats/dogs etc.
Learning about the set ups required, the eating requirements etc is all fascinating to me.

I can spend hours just sitting still watching, taking in every detail of my reptiles. I could never get bored of my reptiles, there is always something new to learn or ways of improving the vivs etc.

[Peter Parrot]

Hi Scott, our native herp fauna got me hooked as a child and I soon progressed on to some european species and the rest is History. It was chiefly being able to observe the animal`s behaviours that I found was the biggest reason why I wanted to keep herps originally. Not much has changed since then either.

All the usual benefits of reptile and amphibian keeping apply with me such as gaining a further insight into the animal`s ways and behaviour. Hatching eggs out always provides a buzz and I also love a well thought out and maintained display viv. Other people benefit from it also by finding out the truth about the animals and seeing them first hand . Even in this enlightened age, people are still regularly suprised at the difference between the real thing and the hearsay. My animals have helped a few people come to terms with phobias over the years as well which can be very satisfying.

I have also met some interesting and like minded people through this absorbing hobby, (as well as the odd fruitcake ) and have made a few good freinds out of it also.
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[Morbid]

[boooger]

Well the threat of letting my pet rat out had stopped working on my mrs as an enforcement to be a good house wife and stay in the kitchen.
So knew that I needed a new tool as it where.

So I bought a royal python. Worked a treat, got me a good woman now!

Only joking......

I grew up in South Africa, ive caught most and kept for a while most of the dwa stuff you get out there. Was hard not to get into reptiles with what was running round out there in the early 80's.
Developement has seen off alot of breeding sites but if you go far enough out of the towns and cities you still get loads of good snakes and lizards.

So now back in this lovely cold wet country ive kept up my interest in these slimey angry animals that will always bite first and flee second.
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royals
leos
turtles
carpets
fat tails

[Rickeezee]

I keep reptiles because:

I am not allowed to keep humans tied up in the cellar any longer.

When i was a kid I lived near some woods and spent all my free time frogging and newting and catching grass snakes, slow worms, lizards etc and loads of various insects. I loved it. Those memories have never gone away and I allways had various things that I bought home from the woods in the garden shed. Plus when my Dad had free time he would spend that time with me collecting animals from the woods. Good memories.

As I grew older I kept many pets, then into adulthood more exotic species. Then due to work etc kept only one or two speices then over the past two years I have had more free time and various changes in circumstances so have built up the collection. The hobby / passion fulfills many needs on many differtn levels for me, it hits the spot!
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

[davo]

'cause i can't keep tigers

Well just had a natural enthusium for wildlife since i was a kid. Reptiles are one of the few pets you can keep that are still pretty "wild" and display a lot more natural instincts than other pets. I used to love seeing animals in nature documentrys and be like... hey, mine does that. lol.

[trueviper_UK]

Have to agree with both Peter and Mique on this one folks!

Reptile behaviour has fascinated me ever since as a child I would spend summer holidays in Malta (where my mum is from) running around catching Gekos and Lacertids!! Oh what care free days they were

Anyway, about 5 years ago whilst walking my dog in some local woods I came across my first Adder.
It must have been basking on a bush as i was blundering past and it hissed at me. It was a stunning male in bright mating colours and the snake and I just froze for what seemed an hour but only really a few seconds before it hissed at me again and dissapeared like a ghost.

Been hooked on vipers ever since
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You can't trust the snake......but you can always trust the snake to be a snake.

[SteveL]

i keep reptiles simply because there my chosen pet and are fantastic ...
i can sit in my snake room with a cool beer and relax and forget
about everything thats happening around me ...im not interested in what people who dont keep think either, i am of the opinion of each to there own. i was always interested in snakes from a very young age but sadly my father is frieghtened of them, and there was no chance he would let me keep anything back then,so now i have as many as i can afford
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[kroakykaren]

Great question Scott, I suppose I keep them for their fascination and diversity and unlike a dog cat etc the difference between species is so great. I love to observe them, and have learnt so much over the years from the first tadpoles I kept in an old sink as a small child.
I enjoy trying to give them a little bit of their world in mine, there by trying to have insight into their world. The pleasure they give me is insurmountable, so I suppose I keep reptiles because they make me happy and in turn I hope I reciprocate. Hope that makes sense
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