career in reptiles??

[mis-devious]

hey guys i was wonderin if anyone can help me out here... Im 17 and i want to get into herptology. I have been studying reptiles practically and theorylogicly since i could walk and have been waiting till i am old enough to get into it seriously. Does anyone know where i can start? What courses or work experience ect do i need and who can i go to for some beginner work. I dont mind what area of work it is as i enjoy everything about reptiles and the science of them. Help me out anyone ? Thanks. Sara.

 

[wranga]

try contacting your local tafe and ask them what courses they have. also if you have a zoo close to you, you maybe able to get work experience there. even try a vet that specialises in reptiles

 

[grannieannie]

Sara, I've heard it's a very difficult field to get into, uni courses are required so I've heard, perhaps you could contact a zoo or vet, they may be able to tell you how to get going, or even contact CALM...or a university.

You're certainly young enough to get started in such a career I'd think.....good luck. Annie

 

[mis-devious]

thankyou for the replys . i have contacted my local tafes before and the only thing remotely close is a general animal handling course. Is this enough to give me a little start or would i need something more specific? Thanks for the tips, i might ring the reptile park and see if they can help me out

 

[wranga]

the more courses you can do the more it should help you. it may even lead to contacts that could help. not sure where your at, but there is a university west of sydney that has some type of course that your after. i know of a breeder that is a herpoligst that teaches there. PM me and i will pass a name on to you

 

[Gecko_ProCs]

In NSW there's a reptile husbandry course then from there you can go to animal studies then catptive animals and follow the courses that will get you into uni, the downside is you will most likely have to study courses relating to all animals before specialising in herps. you can also volunteer at the zoo like i did with the herptofauna and see if any jobs come up to get some experience going. But Uni would be your best bet.

 

[shamous1]

There would be courses available and it would be just a matter of doing some research as to what suits you best.

Volunteering is a sure way to get into your chosen field. If you are able to volunteer as much time as possible at a Zee etc you will come into contact with Zoo keepers that can put you onto the right track. Volunteering is the best way to meet knowledgable people and learn about your hobby and future profession and is one of the main places where Zoo's will source qualified people or people wishing to to the hard hours.

It's very much a catch 22 situation. You need the course to get the job (in most respects) and you need the job to do the course (in most repsects). By being a volunteer you will have your foot in the door.

 

[MrSpike]

Pretty much the only courses you will get out of TAFE will be courses that will help giving you certificates to get you into the animal care, zoo keeping or veterinary industries.

I'm not sure where your located, but for NSW (particularly sydney) you could start of by doing a Reptile and Amphibian care course which then leads into the Advanced reptile and Amphibian care course which is broken up into 3 parts

1) Advanced reptile - python, lizard and turtle care.
2) Advanced reptile - Venomous snakes and crocodile care
3) Advanced reptile - field surveys

To get into the advanced python, lizard and turtle course you have to have completed the reptile and amphibian care course, and then to get into the venomous snake and crocodile care you have to have completed the advanced python, lizard and turtle care etc etc. It all goes in order and you can't necessarily skip one of the steps.

Also, you could do a certificate II in animal studies. This course has 2 strands to it, Companion animals strand and Vet nursing strand. The 2 courses are basically the same up until semester 2 which is when they start to teach you about either vet nursing or companion animals(obviously depends on which course you are in). So if you chose to do the Cert II in animal studies, companion animals strand... you would then have the choice of doing Cert III in captive animals the following year, Cert III in companion animals or any of the other Cert III courses that come from completing Cert II in animal studies - companion animals strand. If that makes sense. The difference between Cert III in captive animals and Cert III in companion animals is that captive animals is more for the zoo type/animal park industry (caring for wild animals in a captive environment) which companion animals could lead into a career like RSPCA officer, dog Kennel carer or whatever...

If you want anymore info on the TAFE courses send me a PM or an e-mail as I am in the middle of completing all of the above.

As for actually doing herpetology at uni, pretty much the only thing you can do to prepare yourself for it is do biology in your HSC and be very good at it. As for info on uni courses and what way you have to go to become a herpetologist you would have to speak to someone who either teaches it or is currently in the middle of doing it (I'm pretty sure there are a few of both getting around on this forum). But be prepared for a few years of study at uni if you do choose to do herpetology.

Obviously while doing all of this it would be a good idea to volunteer at a zoo or animal park. And if your able to get a job at one, then even better.

Cheers,
Kane.

 

[Serpentor]

I would definitely say Uni if you wanted to get into a professional field, but is that truly what you want? Can you do years and years at Uni and still be passionate about herpetology?

Maybe you want to get some training in business and husbandry and start up as a breeder instead? Or perhaps open a shop that caters specifically for herp needs?

 

[mysnakesau]

thankyou for the replys . i have contacted my local tafes before and the only thing remotely close is a general animal handling course. Is this enough to give me a little start or would i need something more specific? Thanks for the tips, i might ring the reptile park and see if they can help me out

It would definitely be a great start. Check out ALL the animal courses as I have seen some (I think Veterinary Nursing was one) where, in the elective subjects you can pick topics of field that you want to study. Reptiles may be an elective subject. I am not 100%, but just giving you some search ideas.

Also, ask your local wildlife parks for volunteer work. It is usually the volunteers who will be next in line for a job before they take someone off the street who has no experience.