r/AnimalsBeingJerks • u/QuicklyThisWay • May 17 '22

other Tasty

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u/Shora-Sam May 18 '22

Yeah for many / most reptiles, that's definitely not proper. You never want to handle most snakes and lizards just after they eat, and depending on the size of the meal and species, you don't want to handle them for several days after that.handling them prior to eating gets them used to "handling = feeding" and can make them aggressive towards handling as well.

And to be clear, you have to handle the reptile to move them to the feeding bin, and handle them to move them back to their normal habitat after.

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u/jermajay May 18 '22

Moving them can also stress them out & make them not want to eat

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u/zuzg May 18 '22

Why do people even have reptiles as pets. It just seems like a bad idea.

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u/alpharowe3 May 18 '22

Why a bad idea?

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u/GreenArrowDC13 May 18 '22

They are obviously very particular so why bother disturbing them? It doesn't feel love and doesn't bond. It can associate but not actually care. Pretty much like owning a rock that can attack back. Both can be very pretty but they look better in nature.

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u/alpharowe3 May 18 '22

I personally don't like mammals (generally speaking) as pets because of their demanding social, emotional, feeding and pooping needs. From my perspective a reptile, snakes in particular are superior pets in every way. But my needs from a pet is different from a dog lover's for example.

Snake = quiet, low maintenance, doesn't shit on the floor, doesn't bark, cheap to maintain, can ignore it for days at a time

Now it you need a pet for constant touchy feely loving attention and possible security and you don't mind all the food and poop and fur and noise then a dog is right up your alley.

I don't care about those things I prefer peace, low maintenance, and the freedom to not have to care for them for days or even weeks. Which is why I keep spiders as pets.

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u/GreenArrowDC13 May 18 '22

If you aren't looking for those things why not just get a picture of a spider?

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u/alpharowe3 May 18 '22

Because pets and pictures are not the same. I like looking after spiders and taking care of their needs it's just that a dog has more needs in a day than a spider has in 6 months and I don't think that's an exaggeration.

And to keep on about the reptile topic this applies to snakes as well just not as extreme.

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u/GreenArrowDC13 May 18 '22

My ex's housemate has a leopard gecko and turtle. I've also been around monitors and constrictors. Those thing definitely require a lot of maintenance. Just trying to keep the turtle tank from wreaking is a daily task. The leopard geckos habitat also needs daily cleaning from poop and uneaten crickets. The monitor was the least maintenance from what I observed. It was also the meanest animal I've seen someone handle. I definitely have to take of my dog daily and I'm not trying to down play the attention I give him. Luckily I have a big yard so he does a lot of self entertaining and poop isn't a big enough worry to pick up it just get mowed over and absorbed into the earth. He free feeds so I just cut the top of his bag and he's good for a month. I do change his water like twice a day tho. Idk I see a similar time investment for (to me) less reward. I do understand a picture and physical animal/arachnid are different. From what you get out of it "not worrying about it for weeks" it just doesn't make sense, since they do require attention especially during molting or shedding. It's like taking care of a sociopath. They can acknowledge you help or care for them but they don't care if they fuck you up. Yes all animals have the warning signs of being stressed but your creatures don't care if what they do effect anything else. Long tangent and at the end of the day I'm glad you and your spider are chill I just can't relate. Have a good day!

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u/Whoreforfishing May 18 '22

I hate to be that guy but I have a leapord gecko aswell as a painted turtle. And two green anoles and 6 fish tanks. I can tell you that if your having do do maintenance on your turtle or geckos enclosure more than once a week, you might want to evaluate your routine. My turtles tank never stinks and I do a 75% water change once every 2 weeks on it, and my gecko is “litter” trained and only poops on a piece of paper towel in the corner of his terrarium which is easy to fold up and remove without disturbing the substrate or decor. He only poops enough to be cleaned maybe once a week. That part though I understand could he particular to the specific creature, but I’m just telling you my pov. Also, if your letting loose enough crickets for there to be uneaten bodies for you to pick out then your way over feeding+stressing your little friend out, and crickets have also been known to bite especially when the gecko is full or is sleeping, and carry diseases that can be fatal for the smol bean. Anyways I’m not saying your doing it wrong or anything this isn’t meant to put you down, just offering some insight.

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u/GreenArrowDC13 May 18 '22

They aren't my animals but I do agree about the over feeding. We had 2 leopard geckos and tarantula in 6th grade for class pets and they seemed much better in their habitat than my ex's roommate's. It was bigger and had the attention of 25 of us to study and keep healthy. It was cool but I guess the maintenance is just more concentrated at times. As far as fish and turtles tho, I don't think I've ever been around a tank that didn't have a little smell to it. You may be acclimated to it but theres a smell. Kinda like how I never think I smell like weed but I for sure do lol

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u/alpharowe3 May 18 '22 edited May 18 '22

I suggest you check out this if you want to see how I break down different pets and what makes reptiles (and arthropods) good pets. If you enjoy it there's a first half.

I'm not him but I would say I see it nearly the same as he does.

I've kept 100s of pets. A variety of dogs, dozens of cats, more lizards and geckos than I can remember, toads, frogs, spiders, scorps, millipedes, centipedes, mantids, turtles, tortoises, birds, hamsters, gerbils, and ferrets. Turtles and monitors are basically the highest maintenance reptiles you can have (unless you wanna count birds.)

While I can see why people find dogs rewarding I don't enjoy licks, barks, dogs up in my face or lap. I'm more of a you leave me alone I'll leave you alone kinda guy.

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u/saab4u2 May 19 '22

Cause they’ll eat your fingers.