My Collection is Complete: I am done acquiring reptiles

[dakski]

I never thought I'd reach this point, but my collection is complete. I will not being acquiring any new reptiles for a long time, if ever, unless someone passes, or we move to a house with more room for reptiles AND I have more time and energy than I do now.

I know many people will doubt me here, but I wanted to share what got me to this point. I feel it's both cathartic for me as well as could be helpful to others.

Why do I feel my reptile collection is complete (in no particular order)?

1. I have a diverse collection with some amazing species and some amazing individual animals as well.

-13 reptiles and 13 tanks. 7 Lizards and 6 snakes.

0.3 Leopard Geckos (different morphs): Cleo, Carra, and Kayla
0.0.1 Northern Blue Tongue Skink: Frank
1.0 Rhacodactylus Mniarogekko Chahoua (Chewie) from Pine Island: Ferry
0.1. Rhacodactylus Leachianus (Leachie), Bayonnaise: Ezzy
0.0.1 Freckled Tree Monitor (Varanus Tristis Orientalis): Toref


0.1 Albino Spider Ball Python: Shayna
1.1 Corn snakes. Male Hypo-Lavender: Figment. Female Scaleless Sunglow Motley Red-Factor: Solana
1.0 Albino Carpet Python (50% Darwin and 50% Irian Jaya): Yafe
0.1 Ghost BCI: Behira
1.0 Venezuelan Dwarf BCC/True Red Tail Boa: Feliz

2. I am devoting as much time as I want to my reptiles.

-Any more and it would feel like a chore or a job and it would take away from my enjoyment of them.
-I want them all to get the proper care they deserve. Any more and I feel like I would risk neglecting someone from time to time. I do not think that's acceptable.
-I want to spend time with each and every animal. It's important to me to have docile/used to handling reptiles. It's also important for the bigger reptiles to be handled to keep them calm, used to people and handling, and to keep them, me, and other people who interact with them (guests), safe. I also believe that on some level, as limited as it may be, I have a connection with all of them. I like to keep that bond.

3. I want to focus on other things as well.

-Katie and I are getting married soon and have a life to spend together.
-WORK
-Other pets (5 dogs)
-Other hobbies


4. Health issues.

-As many of you know, I am a kidney transplant recipient. I have limited energy to spend and cannot rely on my body day to day to be there and ready to go. This means that some days I need to do the bare minimum for the reptiles. In general, this is not an issue and I usually recover quickly and can spend extra time the next day with anyone/anything I missed.

-The reptiles bring me joy, but I also have to balance that with my ability to properly care for each and every one reliably.

-My life expectancy is not great. Yes, it's expectancy, and who knows, but I've been told not to expect to live past 65 years old or so, assuming I am able to procure a kidney for my next transplant. I am 39 this year. Many of my animals are young and will live another 20+ years. At 60 years old or so, I do not think I will be able to have a collection like I have today, if one at all.


Honestly, I couldn't be happier. I have pretty much every animal/species I've ever wanted to have and species that I've enjoyed keeping for many years and still enjoy (BP and corn snakes mainly). I feel challenged, but not overwhelmed or overworked. I am surrounded by beautiful creatures every where I look and am able to give them all what they need to stay happy and healthy.

Who could ask for more?



​Below are links to the progression threads for all 13 reptiles and the reptile area!

Leopard Geckos

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?253841-Finally-5-years-late-An-introduction-to-Cleo-Carra-and-Kayla

Frank

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?250951-Frank-The-Blue-Tongue-Skink

Ferry

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ahoua-(Chewie)

Ezzy

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...33#post2675033

Toref

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...36#post2675036




Shayna

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...no-Spider-Ball

Figment

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...nder-Corn-Baby

Solana

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ow-Motley-Corn

Yafe

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ression-Thread

Behira

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...host-First-BCI

Feliz

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...Dwarf-quot-BCC


The Reptile Area

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ea-is-Complete