BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hi, my name is Brooke, I’m 25 years old and I live in Philadelphia PA, USA... and uh I wasn’t sure where to post this, so I hope this section is okay.
So I’ve been wanting to work with animals my whole life! I love every and all animals so much! I’ve had many different pets. Rats, hamsters, chinchillas, Guinea pig, a flying squirrel, a rabbit for a little bit, yes lots of rodents.. lol, cats, a pig! A ball python, a Jackson’s chameleon, and 2 western banded geckos. Right now I’ve only got one beautiful lovely and super handsome little 1 year old northern blue tongue skink named Paarthurnax or Par Par for short. He’s just the best. I believe I take excellent care of him and he’s very happy from what I can tell. Sometimes I think I bother him too much because I always want to hang out with him hah, but anyway I’d really love to get more animals but the quality of my pet is more important than the quantity, so I’ve yet to get any more. So back to the reason I’m making this post.
I really want to breed reptiles. Not just northerns BTS but other reptiles as well. I don’t want to just start doing it myself because I don’t want my mistakes as a beginner who knows nothing to effect my animals. So basically I’d really love it if I could work for someone and help them out with their breeding and the care or even the books and anything that goes with breeding, and learn from them. But let’s face it, getting paid to do that with no experience probably won’t happen. Although I’m so willing to learn and do this that I will do this work for free just to learn how to do it properly! I tried looking online to see if there are any breeders in my area And found 4 websites. I sent out an email talking about myself and why I want to do this and what animals I’ve had and anything that could be useful to know and how eager I am to volunteer and learn how to do this. I haven’t received a reply from anyone! It’s been a few months now. So I’m looking on here hoping some of my fellow skink lovers know breeders or are breeders that may know someone in my area or even be in my area who might want some help with their work? I mean I’ll totally do all the boring tedious or gross stuff you don’t like doing! I’ll do any work you’d like me to do as long as I’m learning. I’ve always wanted to work in the animal field ever since I was a kid. My goal is to go to school for zoology, get a job as a zookeeper at the Philadelphia zoo and then go out into the world and study exotic animal behavior as a zoologist. Obviously that will take a very long time and in the meantime I’d really love to start by learning to breed reptiles. I know some people work and breed as a side job but I want to do this full time. I’m not in school yet but once I start I’d like to continue breeding while I’m in school, when I graduate and even after I graduate. This is something I’m fully dedicated to doing and I will not give up until I’ve found a way to start.
So please is there is anyone in the area of Philadelphia PA or around this area and you breed reptiles or know someone who breeds and are willing to teach me while I help you out please do not hesitate to reach me, especially if you guys have anymore questions.
Thank you so much for your time and attention, I do hope to hear from anyone soon.

P.s. if you aren’t a breeder or don’t know anyone but may have an idea for me on how else I can get started please feel free to give me any and all the help you can give thanks again!

Wish you were local. Sure could use a dedicated animal lover (that is all about care and not about sitting around playing with their phones all day) at my friend's shop. You have restored a bit of my faith in today's youth. Good luck to you, sounds like you'll be a valuable asset to a lucky employer.

splashy07 wrote:Wish you were local. Sure could use a dedicated animal lover (that is all about care and not about sitting around playing with their phones all day) at my friend's shop. You have restored a bit of my faith in today's youth. Good luck to you, sounds like you'll be a valuable asset to a lucky employer.

Awh thank you sooo much! I was worried I would like like everyone else who wants to work in this field. Glad I’m coming off different as myself:) you made my day, thank you so much! Now I really wish I was closer! I’d love to work with you and your friend:) hopefully someone in my area will see what you see and teach me the ways!

Just bumping this along...

Most breeders and advanced hobbyists are somewhat distrustful of allowing strangers access to their collections. That could be why you aren't getting replies. On the other side of the coin, I've been looking for someone like you here in Minnesota, so I at least don't have to worry when I go on vacation. So far, no luck.
I have two suggestions for you. First, you don't need someone to show you the ropes if you start out keeping some of the more easily kept and bred herps. Do a little online research, and don't get too many animals too soon. Yes, you'll make mistakes. But experienced herp keepers make mistakes too. There are many ways to screw up, unfortunately, but that is how one learns.
My second suggestion is to join your local herpetological society. You will meet lots of local people who share your interests, and quite probably, a mentor or two. I do believe that having a mentor, as well as personal experience, far outweighs the value of online research (not to discourage that).

Agreed. A lot of online info is incorrect or misleading, and having to sort it out can be difficult.

Thank you very much. Yeah I understand being a little untrustworthy of new comers with their animals. But I’m afraid to start on my own. I know mistakes happen but I don’t want to hinder the care of my animals because I don’t know what I’m doing. Of course I’ve been doing research but nothing works better than hands on experience. I’ll definitely check out the herptology society. Thank you so much.
I’d still like to keep this up hoping I get someone in my area.
Also I wouldn’t just meet them at their place first. I plan on having a pubic visit then once I feel safe or the other person feels more trusting to show me their animals I would figure out how to safely meet their animals. I also don’t have the money right now to get started on my own. I’m unemployed which also means I have total open availability to help the other person who decides to teach me. Although if I’m volunteering I will have to get a small part time job to start saving up money. But if I get really good at helping this person hopefully they can start paying me and I’ll quit my part time and help them full time. So yeah I’ve thought a lot about this and I think it’s best to work for someone else first instead of starting on my own. Maybe once I get a little more comfortable with things I can get my skink a girlfriend? Unless you guys think I should start with another reptile?
Also I notice people who breed reptiles have separate pets? Should I not breed my pets?

Breeding or not breeding your pets is something only you can decide. Do you have an outlet for the offspring? Do you have the space to accomodate multiple neonates? Will you be able to provide the proper food for them? Breeding multiple animals is not a task for the inexperienced, but we all have to start somewhere. The easiest reptiles to breed I have found are the ball python and the bearded dragon. Bearded dragons have MANY eggs, I had 8 clutches yielding over a hundred babies from ONE pair! The neonates need a constant supply of insects which can be difficult. BTs are quite simple too, provided you have a pair that is compatible and they are cycled correctly. Again, you will need an outlet for the babies as they grow extremely fast and many people are breeding them now. Join that herp society and meet others with the same interests! Best of luck to you.

Thank you very much! You’ve all been super helpful. I did send an email out to the Herp society and asked how to join and if they can help guide me to how to go about finding what I’m looking for. I also need to do much more research. I’ll look into the ball pythons, beardies and the bts. Thank you so much

As far as Balls, BTs, and beardies if you have any questions I've bred them all, just sent me an email
Splashy07@aol.com
You will get information based on experience and not opinion.

There are a few shops in the city that specialize in reptiles that maybe you could seek employment at. Illexotics in South Philly is one that I'm aware of, however I have yet to visit on Passyunk Ave. From time to time they do offer captive bred Northerns along with an array of other captive bred reptiles. One that I am very familiar with, being that I'm in the Manayunk area is Worldwide Aquariums in Roxborough on Ridge Ave. They have an excellent reptile room that has me coming home and researching new species every time I visit. They have a mangrove monitor that takes every ounce of restraint from me not to bring home each time I visit and employees I could talk to hours to.

mb606587 wrote:There are a few shops in the city that specialize in reptiles that maybe you could seek employment at. Illexotics in South Philly is one that I'm aware of, however I have yet to visit on Passyunk Ave. From time to time they do offer captive bred Northerns along with an array of other captive bred reptiles. One that I am very familiar with, being that I'm in the Manayunk area is Worldwide Aquariums in Roxborough on Ridge Ave. They have an excellent reptile room that has me coming home and researching new species every time I visit. They have a mangrove monitor that takes every ounce of restraint from me not to bring home each time I visit and employees I could talk to hours to.

Hey thank you so much! Illexotics is actually one of the places I emailed but got no response. But I’ll definitely go there and talk to someone personally. I probably should have tried calling and going to these places instead of emailing and that’s it. I guess I was just really nervous about what to say in person when it’s easier to talk over email. But I really do want this so bad! So I’ll definitely head over there.
My bf is more familiar with Philly since he’s lived here his whole life and I’ve only been here a couple years. But he says that roxborough is too far for me to get a job at and travel to all the time. I’ll still go there and check it out though! Thank you so much! I really appreciate it

splashy07 wrote:As far as Balls, BTs, and beardies if you have any questions I've bred them all, just sent me an email
Splashy07@aol.com
You will get information based on experience and not opinion.

Thank you! I’ll definitely hit you up with allllllllol the questions!!! Haha