What do you think of young people with herps?

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Originally Posted by Chuck

I am not sure what age has to do with loving herps, but they are the future keepers of the animals we all find so dear and we were all young once.


Chuck

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Loving an animal and being able to provide and care for the animal properly are totally different things.

;)

just sayin'

My son is almost 4 and although he doesnt technically own any herps, he is totally fascinated by them. I feel that there is no such thing as too young as long as you are teaching them about the herps. My son loves Titus (our bp) and loves to feel the softness of him. Also Titus is one of the most docile snakes I have ever seen. But we also have a tortoise who will be my son's pet someday. Im prett sure my son will never be afraid of snakes or herps because of all the things he has learned already. The only thing I skip is letting him watch Titus kill a mouse and eat it. Im afraid it would give him nightmares...LOL. But he does think every animal we bring home now is Titus food. When we were bringing the tort home I asked him if he was excited to get a new tortoise, he said "yeah cause Titus likes to eat tortoises right??" I laughed so hard I was crying! :carrot:

I am going to say that I agree with them needing to be old enough to be able to do research and care for the animal properly. Also having a parent to back them. In that case I saw its great having herps as pets.

My two kids are 4 and 3 and although they can't do much, I do like to include them as much as possible whenever possible. Like feeding times with the geckos, helping get paper towels, easy stuff that they can safely do. They have a blast.

I also take them out herping with me, since we don't have any venomous reptiles this far north its pretty safe. They LOVE it. They have so much fun.

So I like exposing them to these things, I want them to learn that reptiles aren't slimy, nasty creatures. They are great pets, and have a place on this earth that we share with them and they are very important.

I think its great to introduce kids to the reptile world as long as they are taught PROPERLY about their needs.The more people know at younger ages the better off they(reptiles) will be in the long run at being kept healthy and happy :D

I'm a firm believer in this: You're never too young to start learning and never too old to stop.


That said, my niece is two years old, and not really old enough to understand taking care of something. But she is old enough to start learning that snakes are not something that should be feared, only respected. I allow her to help take care the gecko, and, when I get Kinky out on warm days, I allow her to sit in my lap and touch Kinkers' tail. She knows not to open the cages (they are out of reach, just in case) and she knows not to handle them without supervision... I think that's the teaching of respect part. But she's also seen that the big six foot snake would rather crawl into a dark hole rather than bite her... and that teaches her not to be afraid.

As she grows, I'll continue to let her take a more active part in their care, should she wish to (I have never and will never push my animals on others---I understand irrational fears, having a few myself).

Right, I get it but there are a great number of adults who don't put in the proper love care or money to keeping there animals. I think its important to note that a 4 year old trying to take care of a living thing isn't a reasonable thing to say. So this is sorta a vague loaded type question. Now can a 14 year old care for a Herp sure they can but as a parent you have to decide what your child can handle. After all who is really responsible for the care of a pet whatever and who really insures it is properly taken care of until such a period in time were it is evident that the child can do it without supervision, but as a parent you know that going in. So as I said before I really don't see what age has to do with loving Herps, if your child loves Herp you support and nurture it the same as if they love football. Hopfully that explains a little better were I am coming from.



Chuck

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Originally Posted by Chuck

Right, I get it but there are a great number of adults who don't put in the proper love care or money to keeping there animals. I think its important to note that a 4 year old trying to take care of a living thing isn't a reasonable thing to say. So this is sorta a vague loaded type question. Now can a 14 year old care for a Herp sure they can but as a parent you have to decide what your child can handle. After all who is really responsible for the care of a pet whatever and who really insures it is properly taken care of until such a period in time were it is evident that the child can do it without supervision, but as a parent you know that going in. So as I said before I really don't see what age has to do with loving Herps, if your child loves Herp you support and nurture it the same as if they love football. Hopfully that explains a little better were I am coming from.



Chuck

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I agree with you Chuck. The parent is ultimately resposible for the care of the animal. Some children are very responsible but many loose interest once the novelty wears off and the parent becomes the one that has to care for it or find a new home. My Mom let me have herps when I was a kid (anoles and tortoises) but that was her judgement call. She new I had a deep love for animals and she made the ultimate decision. My kids have borought home pets (rabbits, guienie pigs) only to loose intersest or really get tired of the smell and clean up and me and my wife had to take care of them(properly) untill we could fine a good home for them. This is unfortunately what happens alot of the time.

So it's up to the parent, who knows there kid, to decide if a kid is ready. I rescued beardies from a kid who lost interest and the parents were referred to me. I am not a rescued but think animals deserve proper attention and care, luckily after a year I found a boy with several herps who took great care of them and gave him the beardies. I agree this should not be an impulse purchase, these are living breathing creatures.

No vote from me, it's not that simple.

I think it's great if they're mature enough for it and the parents are on their side about it. I got my first cornsnake when I was 11 and cared for it by myself from teh get-go. My mom was awesome enough to drive me to the pet store once a week to get food for him.

In the end, I think age plays a minor role. It's about dedication to the animal. I've seen several kids in the 10-13 yr old range who had a pet snake or other herp and took awesome care of it. Conversely I've seen 35 yr olds who took piss poor care of their herp. So if the kid can support it (or have a parent who will help out) and is mature enough and has the dedication then I think it's a great thing!

My 5 year old son is VERY active and hardly sits down all day! But when i decided i wanted a lizard and brought home my first (a Leopard Gecko named Lucy) he wanted to hold her so badly.

So i explained that he was only to hold her when i was watching. When he would hold her he went from a kid who was always bouncing all over the place to one who sat still and was so gentle!!

I couldn't belive the change. It helped him learn to be gentle with our other animals as well. So in that respect herps are great for young kids. He helps feed her and take care of her (with my supervision) and he has a better understanding of living creatures having been involved in their care.

When I was a kid I was in 4-H. I don't know if this is a rule that was set at the national level or just our local club, but kids had to be 4th grade or older to join. Most kids start 4th grade at 9 years old. Most of the kids in our 4-H club were totally responsible for taking care of their own animals, in terms of doing the actual feeding, grooming, cleaning up after them, etc. Obviously most of them got a lot of help in terms of driving to the feed store, learning proper care of the animals, and the financial end of it. We were required to keep detailed records, such as how much we fed, how much it cost, any medications given, etc. Most projects were expected to at least break even if not be slightly profitable, and I know a lot of the kids (including me) paid back their parents and only kept the profits.

Of course, this doesn't mean every 9 year old can or will do this. And no child that young can do it without support from their parents or some other responsible adult.

Lots of teens, once they are old enough to drive and hold down a job, are responsible enough and totally capable of taking care of an animal totally without assistance. But again, it depends on the individual.

I think the poll is not well worded (for one thing does "kids with herps" mean owning them, or just being in the same room?) but trying to guess what the posted really wanted, and going with the best of limited choices, I vote for it's a good thing. I'd much rather have had a choice that said something closer to "it can be good in the right circumstances" such as a responsible kid with supportive parents.