This is a great post. I've seen a lot of examples especially in this economy where someone went out and bought a lot of animals at one time and as soon as they got laid off, they were selling a lot of them at bargain basement prices, rationing their food, etc. Before adding another animal you have got to calculate how much additional resources in terms of both time and money that it is going to cost you. If you lost your job tomorrow, could you at least care for your animals a few months before having a problem? If you would immediately be in a bind, you don't need to be adding more. My first time around in the hobby I did exactly that and swelled my collection too big too fast. I use restraint now. I carefully think out each and every addition before I buy it and make sure that I can easily afford its care and have the time to give the animal what it needs.
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