File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hey /an/, I've checked around sites but I can't seem to find the info I seek, so here goes. I have this habit of killing anything small or requiring a habitat other then my own, hamsters, fish, lizards, everything!
However I am a huge fan of Reptiles and Amphibians in general. Now my question is, are there any of these guys who don't have much requirements in dwellings and who aren't easy to kill?
>> Anonymous
Get a snake all you need is a heat lamp a glass cage and to feed it once a week
>> Anonymous
>>260795
Any suggestion? I was thinking Corn Snake for the small size and cheaper cost.
>> Anonymous
Corn snakes are escape artists. Small ones get away all the time unless you keep them in a glass enclosure with something heavy on top. A full sized one can be fun if you have the patience.

Personally, I'd get an indigo snake.
>> Anonymous
>>260808

Forgot to mention, unless you live in florida and catch it yourself, you probably won't get an indigo snake, because they're a protected species now. They were collected heavily for the pet trade at one time, and now it's illegal to own one without a permit.

Corn snakes are corn.
>> Anonymous
>>260808
Christ, corn snakes. Mine PUSHED ITS WAY through the screen on its cage, then pried through the bars of the cage I kept mice in and feasted.

Put heavy duty lobster-trap wire mesh over it afterward.
>> humblebee
A little turtle would be a good choice too. If you're interested in that path, make sure you research the breed, because some don't stay as little as you'd think.
>> Anonymous
If you really want a gorgeous snake, get a rainbow boa. Also a protected species but they're sooo shiny and purdy.
>> Anonymous
My dad had what he called a rainbow boa once. Pretty small, it didn't have rings or patterns, just this really pretty overall purple/red/blue sheen.

I'm not sure if he had the name right cuz I haven't found similar pics though.

Very cool and calm snake though.
>> Anonymous
I wouldnt recomend a snake. Just because the feeding of them can be abit annoying. A medium sized snake needs mice, which leaves you with the choice of running to the store every week for a mouse or raising mice in a garage somewhere.

Turtles are probably the easiest thing to care for. If you get a northern variety then it wont need as much special care in the way of lights and such.
Things like snappers and musk turtles hardly ever bask. They are also extremely easy to feed. Just give them some left over chicken, hamburger, a couple minnows or anything freshly killed.

Most stores however don't sell snappers or musk turtles, you pretty much have to find one. Unless somone know of a good place?
But snappers get fairly big and will need a bigger home after a few years, whereas the musk turtles can be kept in just about any aquarium.
>> Anonymous
Turtles are not easy. They need huge tanks and specific lighting requirements.

Leopard geckos are very easy. But if you can't successfully keep something like a hamster, you probably shouldn't get a pet at all. Ever.
>> Anonymous
>>260946
Depending on the type. Musk and Snappers spend 90% of there time on the bottom of lakes and ponds burried in the mudd and don't get any light.

Things like painted turtles bask at least half the day and require a heat and light source.
>> Anonymous
Seeing how tortoises and turtles are really long-lived animals, yet as pets survive maybe 5, 10 or if you're lucky, 15 years, I don't know where people get the idea of them being easy to care for.

I mean, they might not croak right away, but they don't take to living in captivity very well, unless the keeper really knows what he's doing.
>> Anonymous
>>260976
Replying to myself here, as I forgot to clear something up, and might get flamed for it otherwise:

>>yet as pets survive maybe 5, 10 or if you're lucky, 15 years

I meant kept as pets by amateurs. And don't get me wrong, I'm an amateur myself. When I was a kid I pretty much killed two tortoises by bad care, which is something I regret to this day.
>> Anonymous
i think if youve killed more than 2 or 3 pets, you should respectfully resign yourself from gambling anymore. it's not worth it. it's big of you to feel guilt, but i'd say go one step further and just give up. dedicate your time to researching and appreciating them in a different way. it is possible.

if you are hellbent on finding something that will survive, why not try an insect colony or something a bit more "abstract" in terms of pet ownership?

or even plants. keeping a plant alive and healthy is more satisfying on different levels.
>> Anonymous
>>261358

Sigh...

I'm not the OP, I'm not a person looking for a pet turtle or tortoise.

When I told you about having killed some of my pet tortoises as a kid, I meant to say that I know first-hand that keeping them is not as easy as it looks.

And believe you me, if I ever get another tortoise, it won't be before educating myself properly and having suitable accommodations for it. In other words, I wouldn't take the business of keeping it lightly again.
>> Anonymous
>>261467

my misunderstanding, im sorry. the general retardedness of the question ("arent easy to kill") made me associate the idea of this OP leaving a trail of dead pets and worried me a lot. i just heard about a dog that baked to death because it was left alone in a bad spot, just terrible.

people who buy pets as accessories or amusement things need repeated kicks in the nuts or tits.
>> Anonymous
>>261494
>>my misunderstanding, im sorry.

No problem


Anyway, what you brought up earlier, about getting an insect colony or something:

I fucking love insects and assorted arthropods. I've been thinking about getting a pet insect for quite some time now, but I'm still ambiguous. Keeping something in solitary confinement for a couple of months and then buying something new once it dies just doesn't sit right with me. I think the only option that would work for me would be keeping a larger number of arthropods in more humane conditions and letting them breed. The problem with this option is, that it would require quite a lot of space and possibly work.

Thus I'm jacking this thread from the OP, seeing how he's apparently not around anymore, and I ask you: can you think of any arthropods that can be kept in humane conditions while still being uncomplicated and not requiring much space?
>> Anonymous
Keep ants. There are billions of them on this planet and if you fail at first, try try try again! Lasius niger ftw
>> Anonymous
What about the care of your tortoise did you do wrong? Honestly, they are a very easy pet to take care of.

Everything that is recommended in here http://russiantortoise.net/index.htm is really easy to do. I have both of mine in a 5' diameter kiddy pool, and that's plenty of space for them.
>> Anonymous
>>261520
>>What about the care of your tortoise did you do wrong?

I was a kid back then, and all my tortoises had was a small terrarium with sand in it, and maybe some pieces of wood or some stones. They mostly ate salad and some fruit, mostly apples if I recall correctly.

Once in a while I'd give 'em a bath, but normally their environment was pretty dry. Note that these were tortoises, because turtles would've croaked on me even faster. They also had a lamp fixed on the terrarium, which wasn't turned on all the time however. I figured, that if they didn't want to bask they'd have too little space to escape the heat.

Long story short, I had them for a couple of years, and before I gave them away 2 of them died. I can't really say what was wrong with them, but I figure it was mostly an unbalanced diet; from what I know now, they should have gotten some meat or diary products once in a while.
>> Anonymous
op is an idiot and should be arrested for animal cruelty
>> Anonymous
>>261523
Since you have no plans of getting more, I'm not going to be "that guy" and nit pick you. There is a ton of misinformation for tortoises out there though, so it's sadly understandable.
>> Anonymous
>>261516

Look out with Lasius niger, they're cute in the beginning, but after 2 years you have 10,000 of them and they're eating so much
>> Anonymous
>>261527

The OP is gone, him and the guy who regrettably killed his tortoises are two different people (the latter one is me, incidentally).

>>261530

Well, I might get a tortoise at some point in the future, because I'm no longer that irresponsible kid who was too lazy and ignorant to care for his pets properly. Did you mean to nitpick what I've said about how I kept my tortoises? Go ahead, I might learn something out of it.

Regardless of that, don't worry. I've sworn myself that before I get another pet, I'll properly read up on it first and won't care for it half-assedly once I've got it.
>> Anonymous
>>261540
Well, for starters, no meat or dairy, and preferably no fruit. Think about what they would normally have access to in the wild. Mostly just limit it to leafy greens. It's also recommended to provide a cuttlebone for them to gnaw on so they can basically regulate their own calcium needs.

The terrarium isn't the best option due to the way it prevents air circulation, it could cause respiratory issues. The substrate shouldn't be bone dry, but it shouldn't be super wet either. A good indicator would be if you clumped it together and it stayed in the shape of a ball. A lot of people recommend mixing bed-a-beast with play sand 50/50.

I usually follow my local sunrise and sunset patterns, and turn my lamps on at sunrise, then turn them off around sunset.

Also, soaking them for 15-20 minutes twice a week is a good idea. The web site I linked in my previous post has all the information needed and more.
>> Anonymous
>>261545
>> The web site I linked in my previous post has all the information needed and more.

Already bookmarked, I'll check it out closer when I have the time.

I don't have enough room in my 1-bedroom apartment anyway, so if I ever get a pet larger than an arthropod, it probably won't be before I move out of here. That should happen in about 2 years, so that's plenty of time to educate myself about tortoises.

That being said, I wonder where the OP went, because that's sound advise you're giving.
>> Anonymous
>>261533
Yeah mine are now in my garden enjoying a life of hivemind happiness.
>> Anonymous
>>261516

>there are trillions on this earth

fix'd
>> Anonymous
>>260793
its Morla!
>> Anonymous
>>261598
>There are over 9000 on this earth