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What was it that got you started into reptiles?
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by vanerka on January 18, 2011
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You know, I was just sitting in front of my vison cage tonight watching my 7 ft tiger retic inhale some water out of its bowl. Then I got to thinking about what it was that turned me onto the truly wonderful world of reptiles. I remember when I was a kid I was fascinated with dinosaurs. From there I began looking at todays most closely related animals, reptiles (aside from birds, I know).
When I had gotten my first green anoles from my uncle when he had returned from Florida I thought they were amazing. I would watch and learn their behaviour and I couldnt help but to love them. Then came the gardner snakes and turtles.
I read and watched everything about these animals and couldnt get my hands on. Now I know more than most but less than some and I still enjoy learning.
This got me thinking about what really captured other peoples attention originally that had brought them into this incredible hobby.
Cant wait to see the responses.
Thanks, Eric
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RE: What was it that got you started into reptiles
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by Crash1265 on January 19, 2011
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As a child I was always fascinated with all types of critters. When I was about 5 or 6 I was outside and saw what appeared to me to be a huge snake crawling under our hose and was just amazed with it. Since that time I have always enjoyed watching reptiles especially snakes though it wasn't till about six years ago we started keeping.
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RE: What was it that got you started into reptiles
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by Rob_Carmichael on January 19, 2011
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Ditto to Peter...I was fascinated by dinosaurs at an early age, dragged my parents to the Field Museum at least once a month and on the off weeks to Lincoln Park Zoo to watch the "living dinosaurs"....man oh man do I miss those magical moments when I was in the basement exhibit area of LPZ...those memories of staring into antique exhibits with vipers from all over the world burns an image in my mind that I'll never forget. Once I memorized Carl Kauffeld's book Snakes: The Keeper and the Kept, well, I caught a bug that I have never been cured of...and hope I never do. I got my first snake (an imported, tick infested, adult Ball Python that was considered the most exotic snake on earth "back in the day") when I was 4 years old, somehow kept it alive by collecting road killed squirrels that eventually moved towards more standard captive prey, and now, 40+ years later, still have that old snake. Today's young herpers have no idea how good they have it and oftentimes forget to appreciate the pioneers in this field.
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RE: What was it that got you started into reptiles
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by Nakita on January 19, 2011
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When I was 6 years old my family moved into a house with a creek running on both sides of the 1 acre property. As boys will do I started taking daily adventures into the creek pretending I was deep in the jungle or acting out the most recent episode of Land Of The Lost. On one of the journeys I was hiding from an imaginary Sleestak when I happened to look down at my feet. There, next to my foot, was my very own personal dinosaur! I couln't believe my luck. I scooped it up and ran back to the house to show my parents my treasured find. Although they didn't believe it was a dinosaur, they were as naive as I was about reptiles. A trip to the local library quickly told us it was, in fact, a common Snapping Turtle. After they read the description I was gently told that I would have to release it due to their ability to cause serious harm if I was bitten. With a broken heart, and promises of being able to get a reptile more suitable to a 6 year old boy, I reluctantly took the bucket it was now in and slid my ancient creature back into the gently flowing creek crying. I watched it slowly swim towards darker waters all the while wishing I would have hid it from my parents view in my closet.
As luck would have it, about 2 weeks later my parents were taking me to school on a rainy late Spring morning and there in the middle of the road sat two turtles that, after reading the book my mom checked out, I realized were Box Turtles. From the back of the big blue Ford Galaxy I frantically begged my father to stop and let me get them and was told by him that "if they are there after we drop you off I'll get them for you". I spent the entire day sick and anxious wondering if I would come home to a grand surpise or have, what I considered at the time, the greatest disappointment of my life. As the bus slowly approached my house the excitement grew until I could barely contain myself. As the bus doors opened I ran down our rather long gravel driveway and was met by my father who had a big smile on his face. When he asked me to go check in the basement I thought my little heart was going to explode out of my throat and I must have jumped down the stairs because I was looking at a large cardboard box downstairs in the twinkle of an eye. As I peered over the side, much to my dismay, I saw THREE box turtles staring back at me. My father began to explain how he found another one a little further down the road but I was hardly listening at the time. We spent the next weekend together building an outdoor enclosure that was suitable for them, laughing and enjoying the time between a father and his young son. Over the course of the Summer we spent many trips in the creek catching frogs and camping in the backyard. Laying on our sleeping bags, we would look at the stars and he would tell me knock knock jokes while we shared a glass bottle of Pepsi Cola. I'd gently drift off into a sound sleep with visions of our newest adventures fresh in my head and anxiously awaiting for day to break so we could do it all again.
I miss those days of innocent amazement at even the smallest things, the days of my childhood, and most of all my father who helped shape a lifelong passion for reptiles and amphibians.
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by Buzztail1 on January 19, 2011
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I was born on Key West.
I spent the first 5 1/2 years of my life chasing toads, lizards and snakes in Key West, Orlando, and Jacksonville Florida. Before I started school, I had taught myself to read so that I could learn more about my favorites - the snakes.
Then we moved to Bermuda - no snakes.
But at the ripe old age of 6 I got a job catching Green Anoles for a researcher on the island. It didn't last long because I caught way more than he wanted to pay for - go figure!
From Bermuda we moved to Virgina and I was back into finding snakes again.
My parents got a brief break while stationed in Iceland but I used that time to study up on anything venomous related that I could find.
Finally, high school in Virginia Beach and a driver's license saw me bring home my first venomous snake.
I guess that's pretty much it in a nutshell. Never was much for dinosaurs - I am (and was) much more impressed with the live things in front of me than something that I will never see alive. Just my take on it.
R/
Karl
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RE: What was it that got you started into reptiles
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by snakeguy101 on January 19, 2011
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Really neat thread, interesting to see how many of us started.
I was in the 6th grade and my friend loaned me a feild guide. I litterally sat still in my back yard with that book until I spotted a rough green tree snake (it took a while). Had it been any other snake, I probably would have lost interest but the rough green was perfect and beautiful and docile. From that moment on, I had the bug and bought my own field guide and read read read read read. When I was 15 I found this site and started with hots at 16. Got my permit at 18 and now, here I am at 19 with a nice collection and huge aspirations.
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RE: What was it that got you started into reptiles
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by vanerka on January 20, 2011
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Rob - I miss the Brookfield Zoo reptile house, is there anything we can do about bringing it back. I mean there has to be something! I would go there all the time with my grandpa as a kid and that would alway be the first destination. Im glad they stil have the huge alligator snapping turtle, you know the one. If they could get something going again I would be only more than happy to help out and vouinteer if they would let me. I would give anything for them to reopen that reptile house. It brought me soooooo many great memories as a kid and I want more younglings to have the same experience. If you ever need any help out by out, I would love to come out and learn about handeling venomous and about the other critters you have out there.
Jackie - I love the story, and I love hearing and being able to feel the passion you have for the experience that had you captivated. Im glad you got to enjoy that with your father. Great memories.
Karl - Im glad your interest never faded even though you had moved to places without such wonderful creatures.
Chris - Keep up the good work, and youve found this site, so your doing something right the members here are awesome (for the most part as we all know ;) as well. The individuals on this site have unparallelled knowledge and they will as Im sure have continue to provide answers to any questions you may possibly aquire.
I thought it would be a fun topic to post and lets keep it coming...
Thanks everyone, Eric
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RE: What was it that got you started into reptiles
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by Rob_Carmichael on January 20, 2011
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Eric, zoo politics killed the Brookfield Zoo's reptile house. When legendary curator and my mentor, Ray Pawley, was railroaded out of the zoo for which he set many longevity records with his world renowned collection, I knew the reptile house was in big trouble. I can't share the details but Ray got screwed plain and simple. I have serious doubts about the herps that are there now but I have been told there's talk of bringing back the Reptile House....they probably realized they lost half of their members when the reptile house was closed. After all, it's well known that the Reptile House is the most popular attraction at a zoo (my biased opinion only). Now, I can tell you there's a great little zoo about an hour north of BZ who does know the importance of celebrating reptiles. If you ever come by Lake Forest, I'll give you a tour of this great little zoo:-)
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RE: What was it that got you started into reptiles
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by vanerka on January 20, 2011
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Its unfortunate that the reptile house had to end with him getting shafted out of the place. And thanks Rob, consider it done I just need to figure out when I have the time to come out, Ill keep you posted.
Thanks, Eric
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