Reptiles.

Hugh Mann · Jul 28, 2020

I've noticed a trend in the people I speak to in regards to fish keeping, and that is most of them also like, want or have an assortment of snakes, lizards, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids and other critters many traditional 'cat and dog only' type folks would never consider as a pet.

Just kind of wondering how far this extended into the greater populace of reefers, and why that might be?

Myself, I love reptiles. Snakes and lizards both, but after a bad experience with keeping a ball python as a kid (parents, don't get your 11 year old a python because 'it's cool'), I mostly stayed away from them. As of late though, I have been seriously considering getting one, leaning towards a Kimberly Rock Monitor. After due diligence of research and care guides of course.

sfin52 · Jul 28, 2020

Trantula, scorpion, leapord gecko and crested gecko. Iz what we have

minus9 · Jul 28, 2020

Hugh Mann said:
I've noticed a trend in the people I speak to in regards to fish keeping, and that is most of them also like, want or have an assortment of snakes, lizards, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids and other critters many traditional 'cat and dog only' type folks would never consider as a pet.

Just kind of wondering how far this extended into the greater populace of reefers, and why that might be?

Myself, I love reptiles. Snakes and lizards both, but after a bad experience with keeping a ball python as a kid (parents, don't get your 11 year old a python because 'it's cool'), I mostly stayed away from them. As of late though, I have been seriously considering getting one, leaning towards a Kimberly Rock Monitor. After due diligence of research and care guides of course.

Love snakes and monitors! I currently have a coastal rosy boa, she's great and the perfect size. Before I moved to SoCal, I had a virtual zoo in my apartment, snakes, monitors, tarantulas, ferrets and a couple nano reefs. It took me 13 years after we moved here to set up another tank, but I'm not going crazy again, but my son isn't helping. He has tarantulas, a couple ant colonies and now we have backyard chickens. I would love to get a pair of ackies, they're the perfect sized monitor and so full of personality, but I don't see that happening any time soon. I prefer reptiles and reefs, they're the best combo.

jschultzbass · Jul 28, 2020

I have a ball python (for 18 years!), green tree python, Argentine black and white tegu (these are dog tame and the best "big" lizard to get imo) and a veiled chameleon. I want to get an ackie monitor as well.....

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with a Ball, they are generally considered the best pet snake out there due to their docile nature and very pretty.

As far as monitors, besides and ackie, they need very large enclosures and can be a bit more aggressive than the tegus. Just a heads up. I wanted one but after I found the Tegu I'm not looking back.

EagleEye121 · Jul 28, 2020

The fiancée has basically given me the basement to do with as a please so it’s turning into half animal room, half man-cave. I have an 18x18x36” zoo med housing 4 red eyed tree frogs. Love these guys!

minus9 · Jul 28, 2020

Yeah, Tegus are awesome! That's the big issue with monitors, housing. Most of them need extremely large enclosures and some need zoo exhibit-sized enclosures. That's why ackies are probably the only monitor I would ever consider again.

Kuzko · Jul 28, 2020

5 ball pythons
7 green tree pythons
2 white lipped pythons
3 amazon tree boas
20 something corn snakes
2 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
2 Pink Toe Tarantula

jschultzbass · Jul 28, 2020

Kuzko said:
5 ball pythons
7 green tree pythons
2 white lipped pythons
3 amazon tree boas
20 something corn snakes
2 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
2 Pink Toe Tarantula

Can you handle any of your GTP? Mine is super aggressive.

minus9 · Jul 28, 2020

Chondros are my favorite! Yes, I said chondros, I'm old school and still call 'em by their old name. :p

Kuzko · Jul 28, 2020

jschultzbass said:
Can you handle any of your GTP? Mine is super aggressive.

Probably THE easiest arboreal snake to handle in my opinion - they're relatively chill when given the respect they need. Very slow and confident movements is key with them. The amazon tree boas are much much MUCH worse. They tag just to see if they can make you flinch.

wet_rocks_reef · Jul 28, 2020

Well my son ran a small reef a switched to reptiles during SIP.
He has a leopard gecko and a veiled chameleon.

Kuzko · Jul 28, 2020

minus9 said:
Chondros are my favorite! Yes, I said chondros, I'm old school and still call 'em by their old name. :p

I love 'em!! They're my second favorite for sure. My first favorite has to go to my albino Ptyas Mucosa (Giant asian rat snake, second largest colubrid in the world, can get up to 12 feet). But I got a new GTP coming this week that may bump my Ptyas down to 2nd.....

This is the first place I've shared this picture publicly (pic from the breeder, I get her Thursday or Friday);

Waters · Jul 28, 2020

I have always kept reptiles (specifically monitors and boas). I now have a large Purple Tegu and a Bearded Dragon.

minus9 · Jul 28, 2020

Kuzko said:
I love 'em!! They're my second favorite for sure. My first favorite has to go to my albino Ptyas Mucosa (Giant asian rat snake, second largest colubrid in the world, can get up to 12 feet). But I got a new GTP coming this week that may bump my Ptyas down to 2nd.....

This is the first place I've shared this picture publicly (pic from the breeder, I get her Thursday or Friday);

Awesome!

minus9 · Jul 28, 2020

Kuzko said:
I love 'em!! They're my second favorite for sure. My first favorite has to go to my albino Ptyas Mucosa (Giant asian rat snake, second largest colubrid in the world, can get up to 12 feet). But I got a new GTP coming this week that may bump my Ptyas down to 2nd.....

This is the first place I've shared this picture publicly (pic from the breeder, I get her Thursday or Friday);

Do you need them? GTP?