Reptiles...

Midori · Post by **Midori** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:24 am

I was wondering who's had them or own ones I know a few of you do but I can't remember who.

Also do your reptiles share any intresting personailty traits, or intrest in things one might not asume that they would like.

I have a lepoard gecko named Mindy. She is queen of the house, has an unhealthy facination with my small dog. Has been kissed by one cat and the other once went and stuffing himself face first againt his kitty tower when they came face to face the first time.

She smarter then I think most people would give a lizard that's not even 9 inches long. She knows her name, know the other pets names. Get's irritated when I'm not home for a few days even if someone else it taking her out and feeding her. She likes to be had feed too.

She'll jump onto people she likes. Try and get to the dog when he's in my mom's lap. She love this dog it's so funny she'll try and jump onto him wants to sit on him like she sits on people.

Post by **Dray** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:14 am

I don't own any reptiles, but Kat and I would like to get a snake one day. XD Just a little one.

That's really cute! :D What does it take to keep a gecko, for shelter and food and time spent cleaning and the like? (Once I get enough money to keep a pet, I think something reptile-based is the best bet considering allergies to any and everything furry. XD)

Cy · Post by Cy » Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:24 am

I lost my red tail boa when our house burned down, but my ball python, Puppy, is still around. I personally think he has a personality. I hand raised him from a baby, and he doesn't like anyone else as much as he likes me. If I put him down, he'll follow me from room to room, and try to climb back up on my shoulders. I've even posted a picture on here before of how he'll spread himself out on my keyboard if he feels like I'm paying more attention to the computer than him.

He's a picky eater, he won't eat black or cream rats, only white or black spotted white ones. Not sure why. It's kind of funny though.

He's just really cuddly and sweet, which is odd for a snake, but I love him to death. When it's warm outside, I even take him places with me the way some people would take a puppy, and I use it as a chance to educate people about snakes. Puppy has only bitten one person in his life, and that person was an ex I had gotten into an argument with and who had made me cry, and then tried to take Puppy out of his cage. I'd like to think Puppy could taste my tears and was upset. lols.

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:41 pm

My snake's.... just mellow. She doesn't do much, but then again I can't really take her out all that often which sucks.

I did however have a skink many years ago, who was an absolute ham. She did flips and clung to the top of her enclosure waiting for food, and made Chirp noises for dinner... it was awesome.

Yakima · Post by **Yakima** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:53 pm

Well, my little brother has two lizards. I'm not sure what they are...I think they're anoles but he would know better. He likes lizards and stuff.

I'm just glad my old fish tank found a good use. I like fish but I didn't have the time for them like I had when I started it....But I have a horse and that's good enough for me.

Cy, you make me want to meet your snake only too see it follow you around - or to touch it. Snakes feel really cool. I like snakes but have a fear of them because I've seen things go wrong to people that have them. Of course, they're probably as dangerous as a horse can be if you piss them off.

My mom use to catch wild garter snakes when she was little. She has lots of stories. I like the one that bit her little finger and wouldn't let go as she tried to shake it off. I know how to catch them and not afraid to unless they give that stinky smell off then I leave them alone.

Midori · Post by **Midori** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 pm

Dray wrote:I don't own any reptiles, but Kat and I would like to get a snake one day. XD Just a little one.

That's really cute! What does it take to keep a gecko, for shelter and food and time spent cleaning and the like? (Once I get enough money to keep a pet, I think something reptile-based is the best bet considering allergies to any and everything furry. XD)

Not much at all.

20 gallon fish tank + screen covor
water dish
food dish
live worms & crickets + vitamin powder/spray
heat lamp + thermoitor + heat blulb
gental quality time with baby/little gecko to show it to trust you
coconut fiber stuff for cage + scoop
logs & rocks to sit on/hide

it's not alot, the only thing that needs replace regularly is the food and water and the stuff you keep them on, and red light blubs.

I mean I think it's less then $20 a month to keep them once you have everything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_gecko

Right now Mindy is sitting on my lap on a quilt in a little cave like fold I made for her. Only issues I have is when the power goes out, or when she was still growing she had to have warm water baths in pie plates when she was sheding because they can loose toes and whole limbs if the skin doesn't come off.

She lost the pointly tip of her tail when I wasn't home and not paying attention to her. ;_; I felt like such a horrible lizard mommy. When it happened but it's better then loosing her whole tail which when I went back to petco a few month latter her clutch mates had lose them due to not being handled right!

One reason I got her is she doesn't need mass amounts of special 'stuff'. And they can live up into their late teens or early 20's if cared for right. She like a mini fire lizard without wings.

Sorry for all that She's my baby more then my dog or cat is.

Yakima · Post by **Yakima** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:43 pm

I think the gecko from Geico is the cutest thing ever. XD

Cy · Post by Cy » Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:36 am

Has anyone seen the videos where people have actually been training their reptiles to do tricks?

I saw one the other day on some TV show where a man had taught his snake to play dead on command. The snake would roll over onto it's back and dislocate it's jaw so it's bottom jaw hung all funky, and he'd just lay like that til the man told him to come back to life.

Take that, people who say reptiles are stupid >.>

Post by **Dray** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:44 am

People probably say reptiles are stupid because they can't empathize with them as well. I mean... most people look at a dog face and go, "awww, you're so cute and intelligent and loyal," (barring the really goofy looking ones. XD) and then they look at a snake, and think, ":\ You look like you'd eat my face if you had the opportunity. Stupid lizard." (barring the different species entirely. XD)

I take it that keeping your reptile heated is a very important factor, right? >_> I'll bet that keeping one in a poorly insulated house in a place where winters are pretty biting is probably going to be a bad idea, then. Rats.

Yakima · Post by **Yakima** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:12 pm

Cy wrote:Has anyone seen the videos where people have actually been training their reptiles to do tricks?

I saw one the other day on some TV show where a man had taught his snake to play dead on command. The snake would roll over onto it's back and dislocate it's jaw so it's bottom jaw hung all funky, and he'd just lay like that til the man told him to come back to life.

Take that, people who say reptiles are stupid >.>

Now that, I want to see!

And people say the same thing about horses, truthfully. You can teach a horse tricks. I swear mine under stands English perfectly...he just can't speak it. Yeah, I know, a horse isn't a very good comparison to a snake, but still. If people don't understand them they just can't appreciate them. Remember that they're animals and you're good. *grins at Cy* Like I never thought you could let a snake roam round free in a house like you do. Heehee...

Cy · Post by Cy » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:22 pm

I can't as much as I used to, because my mom isn't exactly fond of him; at most she'll only touch him if I'm holding his head away from her, and now that I live back at home with her, she doesn't appreciate opening drawers and finding him hiding in them.

Speaking of, that's another reason I say he's so fond of me. He's gotten loose a couple of times without anyone knowing, and every time he's gone missing, I always find him hiding out wherever I've been frequenting most - either in one of my desk drawers by my computer, or in one of my pillow cases, and once, even curled up in my book bag. Made for an interesting day at school though. Students - thrilled. Teachers? Not so much. I ended up letting my biology professor borrow him for the day so he would stop causing so much trouble.

You're lucky to have horses Yakima, I was horse craaazy as a kid, but we always moved around too much and were too poor to properly care for one. I have to admit, I even take the long way to work to pass the horse farms here; there's one that only has those huuuge furry footed Clydesdale horses and it always brightens my day when the babies come along and you can watch the gangly legged youths hop about and play with each other.

Yakima · Post by **Yakima** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:57 pm

*giggles at the backpack story* I'm going to have to tell my mom that one...

yeah, baby horses are nothing but legs. Arabians are worse. This is Zeeny moments after he was born. They grow into the legs, thankfully...and his star never changed size. It's still the same size as when he was born. His face got bigger, but I swear the start didn't. LOL

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:06 pm

Well, wow... that is a lot of leg

I guess it makes sense since they're hoofstock and generally prey animals have to be up and about in hours. Letting bones wait until the last minute to grow would obviously not work for them.

Heheh, lanky horsie.

Yakima · Post by **Yakima** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:59 pm

Oh, trust me, he grew into those legs.

See!