I want, I want, I want , Ok child

[Mustangrde1]

Sound familiar, The child bugging a parent for an animal and the parent caving in.

I am so sick of seeing animals bought for "Mr. I want" then die or be released in to the wild. Just so "Mr. or Mrs. Irresponsible parent" can shut up their "Mr. I. Want" child.

Today's baby sitter is called Cable TV. If a child wants to have a pet then he/she should earn it.

OK for all you parents out there when we were growing up we had choirs to do and homework and books to read. I am sure most of you like me would much rather been doing something else but our parents made us do what was responsible and required of them by their parents.

I know I was told if I wanted something I had to earn it. I remember it being said a lot "Something worth having is worth earning." Usually followed by "You must show me you are responsible enough to have it ."

I am seeing more and more people wanting venomous reptiles as pets. A lot of these people probably have children and it will be the first Hot or in some cases reptile they have had. This is a perfect time for Parents and children to learn about the animal together.

If a child or for that matter wants a living animal then we as parents should say OK but "FIRST" you must read about the animal and be able to tell me.
1 Where it comes from, i.e., country.
2 What it eats, rodents,insects,plants.
3 What type of temperatures does it need.
4 What type of terrain it lives on naturally. Rocks, Sand, Trees, Water etc.
5 How long will it live
6 What is general temper

Then you need to tell me how you plan on keeping it in captivity
1 How big a cage will you need
2 What type of cage will you need
3 How will supply it with heat and light
4 What will you used for substrate
5 How often do you need to feed it
6 How often do you need to change the water
7 ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ANIMAL TILL THE DAY IT DIES FROM NATURAL CAUSES.

Yes, this means the child has to read and the parent also but its an experience you can share together. Quality time with you and your child away from the TV. And for a person wanting the first HOT the same should be expected. Hot or not it should be expected

You are after all taking on a living animal and should provide it with the best possible conditions for its health and welfare.

I was brought up around guns it was part of my life growing up in a family of hunter's. They were never hidden from me and when I asked about them my father and grandfather always were willing to talk to me or show me about them. So as I grew up I had no desire to play with them. Most my friends families were the same way and we didn't care about them, they were a tool for a hobby and fun time with family. If a parent with kids has venomous reptiles around the house and involves the kids {with extreme safety in mind} then as they grow they might not have the curiosity to play with one or worse sneak it out and show it off to a friend and get both bit.

[BWSmith]

Well said. i plan on breeding in a few years. When my wife gets gravid, I am building a separate outbuilding for all hots and large constrictors. I do not feel confortable haveing hots int he same house as kids. But as will all things herp, education is the key.

[Bencb3]

yes, but im one of those dudes who asks his mom and dad over and over (doing that currently to get a ball python) i dont want them to buy anything for me, i just want permission to get one, my mom is sort of afraid of them and my dad is somewhat of an a$$ so i have alot of work to do, but yeah if i had kids i wouldnt want him/her to go out and do stuff with a venomous snake, they could get hurt or the snake could get hurt also

[Invictus]

Maybe another question the child should be able to answer if they want a hot is "Does the local hospital carry antivenom specifically for this breed." You can't cure a cottonmouth bite with Rattlesnake antivenom.

Even better.. get the kid tested for allergy to insect bites. Anyone with an insect allergy is twice as likely to be killed by snakebite than those who are not.

[BWSmith]

Actually you DO treat Cottonmouth bites with Rattler AV. In the US we use Wyeth Crodalidae Polyvalent and CroFab (another polyvalent). Polyvalent means that it works on several species.

[Ed_r]

am seeing more and more people wanting venomous reptiles as pets. A lot of these people probably have children and it will be the first Hot or in some cases reptile they have had. This is a perfect time for Parents and children to learn about the animal together.

While I DO understand the point your bringing up. No matter how much reading and studying you do. Nothing will get you ready for a real life situation with a HOT. The feasability of this is that the entire family must be educated about hots. By educated I mean spend time with a very experienced keeper. And not just 10-15 minutes. This means husband, wife, and all small children. If there ever is an instance where care or emegency action needs to be taken, All must know what to do. As far as having one as a first herp, I really don't like the idea.

I know there are some who have done it. I think they are just lucky.

But with the rest of the post is ALL GOOD.

[Lepidusman]

I remember as a child I was never allowed to keep reptiles, my mother wouldnt have it. After leaving home....it became my addiction. I have raised 5 children around venomous reptiles..... however, this has always been kept seperate for safety. We have two subjects opened here: 1) keeping venomous with children 2) Giving into a childs nagging for something, ie reptiles. My oldest children 13, 11, 9 are very educated with the hobby.....and show no interest in the hots. They do however now want to work with cornsnakes and bearded dragons, I have the luxury of educating them first hand from experience. Many of the first time buyers making purchases for their children are not so fortunate and dabling in the realm of venomous is certainly a disaster waiting to happen.
I am certain that many venomous keepers or keepers of large boids take extra precaution to insure that the ONLY people at risk are US....the hobbiest working with the reptiles.
Any keeper of venomous or large boids should first......secure the cage with a lock....then secure a SEPERATE room with a lock as well. As for just giving into children that NAG for something thats normally a passing interest. What will eventually happen is the parents will assume full responsibility for the reptile..... I know from experience with other things my children have wanted that I eventually had to get rid of (ferrets, rabbits - fed to the snakes was easiest departure). Make the child WORK to receive something....they will take more pride in retaining it.

its kind of ironic, my children were relaxed around a 10ft boa.....yet they shuttered in fear when we brought a dog in the house. But hey........so it goes being raised in a herpers world !

[unBOAlievable]

Excellant post,
So many good points.

Having two children I know the cry. Both are quite good with reptiles. When my daughter wants a new one I make her study and even learn the latin name of what she wants, we play the latin name game quite often.

We are deffinately not your normal family because we don't watch tv. We do not even have cable nor can we pick up local stations. There is so much more time without tv.

On the first time venomous keepers, the main reason I feel people should not jump into it is because they cannot take proper care of the reptile. That should be a first time venomous keepers concern. If they do not care enough for the reptile to take proper care if it gets sick then in my opinion they are only in it for the "look at me, I am holding a venomous snake syndrome" Even the healthiest reptile will eventually need some kind of assistance and will they be ready when it does. I have worked with venomous for a long time and I still cringe when I have to clean the cheese out of a timbers gums.

My facility is totally seperate from my house. All reptiles are properly housed and no two are housed together exept during breeding and all venomous are in locked cages.