Rhianimal wrote:Yes, there are a lot of herpers that have their own version of Noah's Ark in the basement. I couldn't manage more than a few cages realistically. After a point, to me it feels like they become specimens rather than companions. I know that is not true of many people who have a lot of reptiles!
I try not to think of my reptiles as companions. My skink has broken me of that habit in a way, but... well. Reptiles aren't domestic. They are wild animals, and behave as such. Unlike say, a wild fox or bear, reared as babies and coming to love their human friends, reptiles don't see us in that way... it's why they call it a reptile brain, after all! So there is no harm in considering a reptile as a specimen... so long as you are still giving it all the care that it needs. Because reptiles do not need human interaction, keeping of multiple animals or species is common place. Vlad, Mojo, Misha, Leland and Neve don't care if I cuddle or talk to them, like my parrot or dog do! They just need to be able to thermoregulate, eat, sleep, excrete waste products and shed... and of course, their cages must be kept clean so as to prevent the spread of mites and disease. But they won't have their feelings hurt if you pay more attention to one of the other!
But if you cannot manage cleaning more than a few cages, that's a good reason to keep it at that. Just because reptiles don't love us doesn't mean we don't owe them... that by bringing them into our homes and lives, we don't have the responsibility and duty to make sure that they have the proper care for each and every species we have. This is the mistake some keepers will make, by getting in over their head. R.A.S (reptile acquisition syndrome) is an ugly beast. Oh, I have this spare cage, I can put a corn snake in that for awhile, now it's in a larger cage, I can put a different animal in the old one, and the cycle repeats until you have animals in cages too small for them, or paired up in the same cage... Not a good thing!
So by saying "I have a limit" and sticking to it, you are making the right and responsible decision for your animals, present AND future. I don't like the often jabs I see on some forums, saying "oh you should get another. Oh you should breed them. Oh you should get this and that" back and forth, because there are people who will use that as an excuse to hoard* or to succumb to R.A.S.
*Note, if you have 20, 30, even 100 reptiles, unlike with mammals and birds... I don't think you're a hoarder. If you can keep up with all of the cages, and food and so on, then you're good!
Also, Larissa... I agree with you in a way on the racks. They are perfect for smaller animals, like ball pythons, most colubrids, and even many hots. However, when people have burms in spaces they can barely turn around in, I cringe. It's not that they can't survive or even thrive in that kind of a situation, many snakes prefer cramped spaces... my concern is thermoregulation, and well... I feel large snakes and lizards should have a large space, with enough hides and 'cramped' spaces they can be in so that they can feel safe. So yes, for large animals, anything boa sized and up... no, I don't like them. But for smaller animals they can work just fine.
Also, your black and white argen... oh jeez... T. merianae (Now I remember why we used scientific names in the tarantula hobby! some of those trade names are a mouthful! 
) is an interesting specimen... because there has been some evidence to show that they actually do seek out human interaction in captivity. I don't doubt that for a second. They evolved parallel to the monitors, to fit their niche in a different place. Monitors are extremely intelligent beasts, especially for a reptile. Who is to say that a predator in the same capacity and role in a different place would not be just as intelligent! I don't know that there has been any actual scientific evidence to support this claim, however it's an interesting thought.