Owning a reptile changing the course of my life?

[purplemuffin]

If you want to be involved with reptiles I agree, you want to have a back up, whatever degree that may be. You need the money to get into to the world, and you'll need money in case of an emergency. Things don't always go well! The people I've spoken to often say some of the best classes you can take(maybe not as a full degree, but at least as electives/minors) are business and psychology/animal psychology. Know your animals, and know your people. Learn how to market yourself so you can stay afloat! I've seen soo many websites by reputable breeders, environmentalists, and any other job you can think of that just look down right amateur because they don't know how to market or build a website professionally... Or how to talk to people!!

Of course, it's always about the animals first, but if you don't want to constantly be losing money you will need to seriously back yourself up and KNOW your industry! Be prepared for how the market changes and watch for how the world of reptiles evolves..


ANY job in an a field where you are not guaranteed a steady pay check requires a lot of work, planning, luck, and serious devotion. As a (hopeful) future illustrator I know my competition is fierce and that people are going to try to scam me out of a job and I will need to find the balance of offering my work for cheap enough to get hired, while not losing money having to buy supplies. As a hopeful herpetologist/Herpetoculturist you will need to be ready for the constant money drain the animals will be! All your bills will go to your animals, electricity, water, heating, internet(for websites/emails with colleagues), and rent/mortgage for a house with a big reptile room. If you want to be a breeder that's a lot of animals, and that one 'big' project will take years to prove out even if you're lucky! Of course once you do, it's all worth it, seeing your dream baby pastel clown/albino pied/whatever take it's first breath and seeing all that work finally realized in the form of a little infant snake! I personally cannot wait for that day! If your dream involves travel and the study of reptiles in their natural environment, that's a whole different set of bills! It's all crazy drama but if it's your dream it's worth it!

Just be CAREFUL..don't go out there and risk it all without preparing for it first! At first you may have to simply participate as much as you can while still saving up money(Maybe buying your first 2-3 expensive morphs and letting them grow up while you work a job and save up money for more racks, rats, and morphs!)

But you know, it's your life. Everyone goes about things in different ways. People quit highschool and go to Hollywood, a couple of them make it big and inspire a lot of other people to try and fail. But it's always that one person who does make it big that really sets a fire of hope in our hearts. My opinion... Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars! Keep an open mind and be able to take a step back and look at your life from afar! Just be smart, brave, a little crazy, hope for the best, but be ready for the worst!


And one more thing! Just like quitting college for a boyfriend, quitting college for a newfound passion can be dangerous even if you are decently successful.. You don't want to put any negative thoughts with your new passion, you don't want any 'What ifs'... If you quit your degree and go into the reptiles... And one day run into money problems, that thought will always be in the back of your head "what if I stayed with my first plan? What if I got my degree?".. having the reptiles costing you money while thinking they are to blame for your foolish mistake..Uh oh! That's a disaster waiting to happen!! If you finish your degree, even in times of struggle you will know: I did what I felt was the smart move, I stayed with my degree and times are just tough! You won't have anything negative directed towards your new profession. And that's good!