Tired of "heroin tales"?

[niccoliherp]

I am. I don't understand why when some people find out that I like reptiles, snakes in particular (arachnids too for that matter), they immediately decide that it is of utmost importance to tell me about some snake or spider that they have beheaded, chopped up, sliced, squashed, smashed, or otherwise dispatched in a "heroic effort" to save the family from these "killer beasts." Why do they tell me this? Do they think that I will join them in victory or marvel at their courage? In some (very few) instances, I have further examined these stories to become utterly dissapointed when I find out that it was a black rat snake or some similar harmless animal that in no way resembles an animal that is actually of some concern (its always the dreaded "copperhead" in these stories).

Sorry to vent, just had to say something. Does anyone else attract this response when someone discovers your love for herps?

 

[AlexaG]

I remember last summer that my uncle had a grass snake (guarder snake) in his pool....so he decided to get it out with a pair of scissors :[.
it isn't fair...i believe that the public should be more educated in what is helpful to them...and if something is venomous then call the proper organization to remove it....just don't kill it D:

 

[niccoliherp]

Exactly!

 

[Geckos and Goannas]

i get it all the time when people come into the pet store i work at. ive even got it from someone at a reptile show!!!!

 

[sheenaschlytter]

oh ya I hear it all the time. and being a girl no one thinks I would ever carry around a big lizard or snake in my spare time. I worked at a preschool and used to bring in my herps and the kids loved it and asked everyday for a new animal to learn about I figure start them young and keep the education flowing cause the parents would all freek out when there kids ran up to them to say look loomk and they have a bearded dragon on there shoulder lol

 

[MariaW]

That's the advantage of living in the UK - we only have 1 species of poisonous snake (adder) and that's not very poisonous and it's protected by law. Therefore we don't get the hero stories.
We get a lot of "I saw this weird little snake it was all brown with a stubby nose" ....which of course turns out to be a slow-worm.

Maria

 

[sschind]

I know exactly what you mean Ryan. Unfortunately in most situations you can't simply say "well that was a pretty stupid thing to do you idiot." Decorum usually dictates that I just shake my head and not comment at all. If it is someone I know well enough or someone I know I will never have to meet or deal with again I'll say something like "ooh, that must have made you feel brave" or "I'll bet you are all proud of yourself now huh?"

 

[rattlesnake082]

Hey there,

it was a pretty rural area where I lived in Austria before moving to Vienna, but unfortunately snakes were seen there every two or three years, so stories about them are rare.

It's a shame that most people think snakes are bad and that "only a dead snake is a good snake". Sometimes I still get to see a disgusted look when I tell people that I breed snakes and lizards. But I don't care about them cause I know how beautiful and fascinating these animals are. Why should I care about opinions which are built on prejudices against animals - animals which would need our respect and protection in fact.
Like AlexaG posted before, it all has to do with education. If parents tell their kids that snakes are bad although they never held one in their own hands and they only pass on what they got to hear from their parents, things will never change.

-Martin

 

[rattlesnake082]

One short off-topic thing: Ryan, what about your flying geckos? Have you been successful yet in breeding them?

 

[niccoliherp]

Martin,
Unfortunately no. I haven't had any luck yet. I am getting ready to do an overhaul on their cage and will be changing it a little. I'm hoping that I can make it a little better for them. It has a couple large pothos in it, and is kept at 85*F ambient, with a hot spot of about 95*F. That is in accordance with care info I can find. I also will be changing the misting schedule to simulate a "rainy season" shortly. Hopefully that will also help. Have you had any success with yours?

 

[rattlesnake082]

Unfortunately i didn't have success breeding them either. I keep them under similar conditions like you do and both of them seem to be really healthy and in good shape, but I couldn't see any copulations yet and there are no eggs. They were subadults when I got them in February this year. Maybe they need some sort of "winter" (cooler temps and a shorter photoperiod) to breed. Anyway, I won't give up! Nobody is breeding them, but Flying geckos are really cool animals and I'm sure they'll be breeding someday... ;-)

Good luck for you and keep us posted!!

-Martin

 

[niccoliherp]

I know, I don't understand why more people don't breed them. I think they are some of the most awesome guys out there. But, I won't give up either! Good luck to you too, and thanks.