#sadiegren

Thank you!! I have some more pictures of this good sweet man and the horrible monster he becomes.... and also the reforned, but more literal monster after death?

Hello friend and welcome to the, uhhhhhh, best/worst hobby.

I’d say your physical and emotional toolbox is going to depend very much on the specific species that you want to work with, but there are some basics that everyone needs universally:

1. A drive to learn. Reading one book or one website about a species or a topic and calling it done is not good enough. You’ll need to be voracious in your appetite for knowledge. Learn everything you can about your favorite species, cross-reference what you’ve learned to try to gain a consensus of information, and be ready at a moment’s notice to unlearn and re-learn as we gain additional insight into these wonderful creatures and we update the best practices that we apply to their health and keeping in captivity. 

2. A good reptile veterinarian. Hopefully you won’t need to go to the vet often, but it’s a good idea to have a reptile specialist who can perform exams and parasite checks. In the event of an emergency you need to have a professional who can help, and when you’re already in the throes of a disaster is not the time to try to find someone. Have a good idea of your local vets before bringing home your pet reptile.

3. Space, time, and money. Most reptiles aren’t difficult or expensive to maintain once they’re established, but their initial setup can be very time and resource-consuming. Make sure that you have the space for a good enclosure, the time to maintain that enclosure and care for your new pet, and the cash to do it properly the first time. 

4. Patience. I’d honestly recommend getting some exposure to different types of reptiles before you pick the one you want to work with, and don’t settle. Start with one and get good at caring for them before you branch out. If you think that maybe you like ball pythons but maybe you also like leopard geckos, talk to people who own both. Find a local reptile show and see them in person, talk to breeders, determine what you like about each species that you’re interested in and what’s going to fit into your life right now and in ten years. If you have your heart set on a “non-beginner” species then find out why it’s not for beginners and find people who can help you to learn what you need to learn to either get experience with that species or who can make a recommendation for another species that might be a better fit right now.

5. A thick skin. Reptile keepers can be some of the warmest, most welcoming hobbyists, and they can also be some of the meanest and most elitist. Some species come with inherently worse cultures, some tend to be a lot more nurturing, and there’s a lot of sexism and racism in general. It depends on the reptile in question and what their average enthusiasts are like. You can love and keep and be very good at taking care of reptiles without ever being a part of these communities, for sure, but if you want to join reptile communities you’re sure to encounter some Edgelords and Very Official Gatekeepers. Be ready to identify and avoid them, and instead seek out and foster positive and constructive interactions with your fellow reptile enthusiasts.

CONSIDERED