Herping

[Lynn]

Kara's poll got me a thinkin... How did everyone get into herping?

[RachelS.]

myself, always been into reptiles and into catching them since I was about 2 years old :p

[arbs&giants]

me too
i stated keeping them when i was 8

[Wesley Carlson]

You all might find my story to be a bit odd....but it's true nonetheless....

During my growing up years, and throughout my early twenties, I was petrified of snakes. I always found them to be very fascinating creatures, but absolutely could not be near them in person. For several years, I had a recurring nightmare.....I would wake up in a cold sweat, petrified, thinking that there was a snake in my bed. I would always jump out of bed panicked. My wife actually thought it was amusing, and looking back now, I'd have to agree. Anyway, to make a long story short, I was tired of being afraid of snakes and three years ago, a local mom-and-pop pet shop had some captive bred red tail X Argentine boas that were born in the shop itself. They were irresistably beautiful. I did tons of research and bought all of the supplies I would need for the enclosure, got everything all set up and went down and picked out what, in my opinion, was the most beautiful one of the lot, believing that the exposure technique for overcomming fears was worth a try. I haven't had one of those nightmares since, and have become a snake addict. They truly are the most beautiful and fascinating creatures on earth.

Like I said.....probably not the normal way to get into herps, but my efforts to rid myself of a phobia has turned into the most fulfilling (and expensive :) ) hobby/obsession of my life. I love my snakes!

[Lynn]

Thanks for sharing that. I am impressed. I wish more people would get over their fear of snakes. Maybe there would not be so many new codes and laws and bans popping up all over the country

[csnake]

I've gone out looking for turtles and things like that when i was around 7, but i started field herping about 4 years ago.

Unfortunately living where i do, you find a lot of the same.
Snakes:
Northern water snakes, eastern milks, garters, black rats, and even a queen snake.

And for turtles it's mostly common (northern snappers, eastern painteds, musk, and when i was at my friends house last year we found a red eared slider in a corn field. After takng pics of it and wondering how it got this far north we let it go in his pond.

But so far i haven't found any venomous species. :(

[Wesley Carlson]

Originally posted by Lynn
Thanks for sharing that. I am impressed. I wish more people would get over their fear of snakes. Maybe there would not be so many new codes and laws and bans popping up all over the country

Isn't that the truth!

[RachelS.]

Originally posted by Lynn
Thanks for sharing that. I am impressed. I wish more people would get over their fear of snakes. Maybe there would not be so many new codes and laws and bans popping up all over the country

YES!! Agreed

[n2retics]

Started when I was real young, Spent alot of time on my Grandparents farm, so I was always looking for snakes, caught alot of ringnecks, Black snakes, speckled KS, and so on. Now I have 7 retic.

[MPenn]

I was never really exposed to them when I was young other than seeing my grandfather killing some on the farm in Kansas. Several years back, my friend had a ball python. I checked it out, held it, and decided I needed one! I bought a ball and an albino king. I have been hooked ever since.:D :D :D :D

[arbs&giants]

great story Wes
i recon there a lot of folks out there like you
when we do our herp shows it's amasing how many people are scared of snakes but they end up getting realy interested in them some even to the same extent as you :)

[Lynn]

Yes you would be surprised how many people learn the moonwalk at my table. I have a rock where my dragons sit. Most people do not even realize they are real until theymove. Then the people learn the moonwalk.

[fcfighter]

I've always been into reptiles, I remember getting in trouble for catching rattle snakes at my grandparents house in colorado when I was about 15

[RachelS.]

Originally posted by fcfighter
I've always been into reptiles, I remember getting in trouble for catching rattle snakes at my grandparents house in colorado when I was about 15

Wow no kidding! that's really cool. I caught like 1 coral snake and 1 or 2 rattlers before.

[Joshua]

When I was 13 my best friend got a ribbon snake, so I did the same. I stopped keeping herps after a while then I finally got back into it. :D

[KLG]

Spent a lot of my early childhood catching frogs & toads and lizards...

When I was 10 years old I caught a rough green snake on my back porch - after that it was GAME OVER! I was hooked. ;)

K

[RyanK]

i kept all kinds of herps when i was a kid , stopped for a while and then about 4 or 5 years ago a freind of the family couldnt keep her ball python any more so i got it and got addicted to it all over again

[Lynn]

Yup, I do believe herping gets in your blood.

[arbs&giants]

yes
every time you see another "must have herp" that bug deeps in a little bit deeper

[Lynn]

Yeah, ever notice when you bring in one more you seem to have to rearrange the whole room. But there is always room for 1 more.

[pagona vitticep]

i love reptiles, but my parents only allow me to stick to lizards....sad i know but wait til im out of the house!!! in 2 years..thank god!:lol: