KEEPING
HERPS AS PETS
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What animals are
traditionally considered pets?
Are you a dog person?
Maybe you are a cat person, a rat fancier,
rabbit lover, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, guinea pigs, parrots,
pigeons, doves, the list is
endless. People often keep different types, especially families, a cat, a
dog and a rabbit out the back, all brought because they looked cute when
there young. They have there own personality and become part of the family,
in some cases a practice run for children or even a substitute.
But what of more
unconventional pets, something a little different maybe.
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The keeping of exotic pets
is growing in this country, back in the day every one knew some one
who had a tortoise but now there is a whole list of herpetiles
(reptiles and amphibians shortened to herps) to choose from, all
suitable as pets for people of various ages.
I'm not saying that all
the herp pet species are suitable for everyone far from it.
I
have seen people with small children who let a 14ft python roam the
house or the man who had a crocodile (without a dangerous wild animal
licence) just to show how hard he is.
The alligator snapping turtle
that went for a stroll in London after being released into a park lake
is another example of a animal that really should only be kept by zoos
or well equipped experts. |
Just as there are more
tabbys than tigers being kept in the UK there are more of the many suitable
herp species than the monsters.
If you are interested in a
herp as a pet for yourself or your kids, than the first step to take is to research
what keeping these interesting creatures entails. Speak to the wrong
people and you will be told that herps are unsuitable as pets, expensive,
harbour diseases and parasites, don’t tame well and should be left in the
wild.
- The suitability of any animal depends on
what you want from it, if you want a companion to stroke and play with get a
dog if you have the room. If you want something interesting that you can
stroke and handle, that is interesting and engaging and that you can learn
from, get a herp, They are great if you have allergies as they are
hypoallergenic; or have little time,
they need regular cleaning and food and water but
most don’t need feeding every day and don’t make much mess.
- Herps can be expensive with all the equipment you sometimes need but
that depends on species and doesn’t compare to the expense of buying and
keeping a pedigree dog.
- Any animal can harbour diseases and parasites it depends where you
get them and where they have been. Salmonella is said to be a big risk with
herps but you stand more change of getting that from the sandwich you buy
from the street vendor than a
herp if you keep it clean. An
animal only has the diseases it comes into contact with if its captive breed
and you don’t pass anything on to it , it won't pass anything on to you.
- Some species of herps tame very well, some of the midsize lizards can
get to know there owner, beg for food or a scratch under the chin, love
sitting in your lap or on your shoulder and will include there owner in
there social group.
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Getting wild caught animals as pets is never a good idea, they
could have diseases or parasites, they don’t acclimatise well and don’t
tame well either.
But captive bred herps like all other types of pets are
infinitely better and don’t have any of these problems.
All but a few
animals are hard pressed to survive in our changing and ever more urbanized
world, so any in captivity increase the number of
a species in the world and ensure the continuity of a species when some experts have estimated that up to half of presently existing
species may become extinct by 2100.
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Having addressed the
negatives with positives and expelled the myths I hope you agree with me
that herps are worth a look when you are thinking of buying a new pet. I
have been keeping herps all my life and have had all sorts iguanas, bearded
dragons, skinks, pythons corn snakes, king snakes, tortoises, turtles, frogs
toads newts, stick insects, beetles and even tarantulas - all that time I
have enjoyed every minute and would recommend considering them whole
heartedly.
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