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I doubt this will get read because I am sure the OP is done but I got some advice that may work. When I was 15 is when my attention started to move away from geckos and onto larger reptiles, first with an ackie monitor and then a plated lizard. They were nothing huge so my mom didn't mind but they were larger and needed more space than anything before. When I was 16 I started to work outside the house and my breeding operation really took off. I was at the SPCA on day and saw a large monitor being brought into the shelter. I was an Argus monitor with only three legs, some stuck shed and really skinny. The whole shelter staff was scared to death because it was lashing out at everyone. It had been found wondering the streets so they had to do a three day hold on it. I asked the desk clerk what would happen to the monitor in three days. He went to check and he said that the animal would most likely be put down due to its wild nature and because no wildlife center would take it. From looking at it I could tell its main problem was it was hungry, an hungry monitor is a very unhappy monitor. I left my number and info for a hold on the animal and went home.

My mom was 100% against the animal. I did not hind any detail. I told her it was wildish, not tame, very sick, injured and large (the monitor was about 4 feet nose to tail). By the time the three day hold was over, Tripod came home with me to make a full recovery. A year later I did find a nice wildlife center to take tripod who had calmed down a lot.

So what changed me moms mind? How did a 16 year old convince a mom who is more into fluffy pets to allow a 4 foot monster into her house and take up half the garage? Simple I wrote a paper.

I wrote a paper highlighting the care and housing aspect, the feeding bill and cost estimate (i doubled everything because lets face it all animals cost more than one expects) and I wrote out a future plan for the animal. I was going to college and knew that having this animal in the dorm would not be allowed, so a friend of mind that was staying behind offered to come and care for him and I would fly down (on my own dime) to care for him. The paper was about 5 pages in length, it had everything from natural history to personal stories on ownership. My mom was impressed that I cared that much and put that much effort that she allowed me to get the animal, on one condition if it escaped even once it was going back to the shelter. He escaped twice but she never found out so lets keep that on the DL.

Now I did have a sob story of "oh he will die otherwise" and yes I played that hand a lot. Best advice I can give you is do not lie to your parents, try to show your passion for not just tegus but all reptiles. Tripod allowed my mom to see how much I truly care for my reptiles, the geckos she saw more as a money making thing. Even so she took care of my pets when I wa left with the hard choice of sell them or not move on and she was there to take care of them instead. You also have to respect some parents fears. My mom hates, and means hates snakes, so I have never pushed that issue. I am proud to say now after 20 years she will finally go into the reptile house at the zoo and see the snakes in the house. Most importantly do not go behind your parents back, if you have your own place that fine, but you really want your parents to be allies on this not the enemy, after all you are going to be using the household electric for heating and the fridge and freezer for food storage.

I know it can feel unfair sometimes when you are 17 or 18 and everyone is telling you no. Sometimes it is better to wait. I didn't get a tegu for years, I had wanted one scense I first saw one when I was 13, it was not I was 19 living in my own apartment that one finally arrived. Bosco came on Dec 20th, 2006 it had been 6 years of planning and waiting and wanting. I will tell you that 6 years built up loads of emotion that that tegu now recives. I don't think I have ever had a reptile that is more part of my family and life then he has been. So waiting has it advatages, but I agree waiting sucks.

I hope this wasn't too long winded. Keep your chin up and if not this year next year. Best of luck!

<blockquote data-quote="chelvis" data-source="post: 111125" data-attributes="member: 49">I doubt this will get read because I am sure the OP is done but I got some advice that may work. When I was 15 is when my attention started to move away from geckos and onto larger reptiles, first with an ackie monitor and then a plated lizard. They were nothing huge so my mom didn't mind but they were larger and needed more space than anything before. When I was 16 I started to work outside the house and my breeding operation really took off. I was at the SPCA on day and saw a large monitor being brought into the shelter. I was an Argus monitor with only three legs, some stuck shed and really skinny. The whole shelter staff was scared to death because it was lashing out at everyone. It had been found wondering the streets so they had to do a three day hold on it. I asked the desk clerk what would happen to the monitor in three days. He went to check and he said that the animal would most likely be put down due to its wild nature and because no wildlife center would take it. From looking at it I could tell its main problem was it was hungry, an hungry monitor is a very unhappy monitor. I left my number and info for a hold on the animal and went home. My mom was 100% against the animal. I did not hind any detail. I told her it was wildish, not tame, very sick, injured and large (the monitor was about 4 feet nose to tail). By the time the three day hold was over, Tripod came home with me to make a full recovery. A year later I did find a nice wildlife center to take tripod who had calmed down a lot. So what changed me moms mind? How did a 16 year old convince a mom who is more into fluffy pets to allow a 4 foot monster into her house and take up half the garage? Simple I wrote a paper. I wrote a paper highlighting the care and housing aspect, the feeding bill and cost estimate (i doubled everything because lets face it all animals cost more than one expects) and I wrote out a future plan for the animal. I was going to college and knew that having this animal in the dorm would not be allowed, so a friend of mind that was staying behind offered to come and care for him and I would fly down (on my own dime) to care for him. The paper was about 5 pages in length, it had everything from natural history to personal stories on ownership. My mom was impressed that I cared that much and put that much effort that she allowed me to get the animal, on one condition if it escaped even once it was going back to the shelter. He escaped twice but she never found out so lets keep that on the DL. Now I did have a sob story of &quot;oh he will die otherwise&quot; and yes I played that hand a lot. Best advice I can give you is do not lie to your parents, try to show your passion for not just tegus but all reptiles. Tripod allowed my mom to see how much I truly care for my reptiles, the geckos she saw more as a money making thing. Even so she took care of my pets when I wa left with the hard choice of sell them or not move on and she was there to take care of them instead. You also have to respect some parents fears. My mom hates, and means hates snakes, so I have never pushed that issue. I am proud to say now after 20 years she will finally go into the reptile house at the zoo and see the snakes in the house. Most importantly do not go behind your parents back, if you have your own place that fine, but you really want your parents to be allies on this not the enemy, after all you are going to be using the household electric for heating and the fridge and freezer for food storage.I know it can feel unfair sometimes when you are 17 or 18 and everyone is telling you no. Sometimes it is better to wait. I didn't get a tegu for years, I had wanted one scense I first saw one when I was 13, it was not I was 19 living in my own apartment that one finally arrived. Bosco came on Dec 20th, 2006 it had been 6 years of planning and waiting and wanting. I will tell you that 6 years built up loads of emotion that that tegu now recives. I don't think I have ever had a reptile that is more part of my family and life then he has been. So waiting has it advatages, but I agree waiting sucks. I hope this wasn't too long winded. Keep your chin up and if not this year next year. Best of luck!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="chelvis, post: 111125, member: 49"] I doubt this will get read because I am sure the OP is done but I got some advice that may work. When I was 15 is when my attention started to move away from geckos and onto larger reptiles, first with an ackie monitor and then a plated lizard. They were nothing huge so my mom didn't mind but they were larger and needed more space than anything before. When I was 16 I started to work outside the house and my breeding operation really took off. I was at the SPCA on day and saw a large monitor being brought into the shelter. I was an Argus monitor with only three legs, some stuck shed and really skinny. The whole shelter staff was scared to death because it was lashing out at everyone. It had been found wondering the streets so they had to do a three day hold on it. I asked the desk clerk what would happen to the monitor in three days. He went to check and he said that the animal would most likely be put down due to its wild nature and because no wildlife center would take it. From looking at it I could tell its main problem was it was hungry, an hungry monitor is a very unhappy monitor. I left my number and info for a hold on the animal and went home. My mom was 100% against the animal. I did not hind any detail. I told her it was wildish, not tame, very sick, injured and large (the monitor was about 4 feet nose to tail). By the time the three day hold was over, Tripod came home with me to make a full recovery. A year later I did find a nice wildlife center to take tripod who had calmed down a lot. So what changed me moms mind? How did a 16 year old convince a mom who is more into fluffy pets to allow a 4 foot monster into her house and take up half the garage? Simple I wrote a paper. I wrote a paper highlighting the care and housing aspect, the feeding bill and cost estimate (i doubled everything because lets face it all animals cost more than one expects) and I wrote out a future plan for the animal. I was going to college and knew that having this animal in the dorm would not be allowed, so a friend of mind that was staying behind offered to come and care for him and I would fly down (on my own dime) to care for him. The paper was about 5 pages in length, it had everything from natural history to personal stories on ownership. My mom was impressed that I cared that much and put that much effort that she allowed me to get the animal, on one condition if it escaped even once it was going back to the shelter. He escaped twice but she never found out so lets keep that on the DL. Now I did have a sob story of "oh he will die otherwise" and yes I played that hand a lot. Best advice I can give you is do not lie to your parents, try to show your passion for not just tegus but all reptiles. Tripod allowed my mom to see how much I truly care for my reptiles, the geckos she saw more as a money making thing. Even so she took care of my pets when I wa left with the hard choice of sell them or not move on and she was there to take care of them instead. You also have to respect some parents fears. My mom hates, and means hates snakes, so I have never pushed that issue. I am proud to say now after 20 years she will finally go into the reptile house at the zoo and see the snakes in the house. Most importantly do not go behind your parents back, if you have your own place that fine, but you really want your parents to be allies on this not the enemy, after all you are going to be using the household electric for heating and the fridge and freezer for food storage. I know it can feel unfair sometimes when you are 17 or 18 and everyone is telling you no. Sometimes it is better to wait. I didn't get a tegu for years, I had wanted one scense I first saw one when I was 13, it was not I was 19 living in my own apartment that one finally arrived. Bosco came on Dec 20th, 2006 it had been 6 years of planning and waiting and wanting. I will tell you that 6 years built up loads of emotion that that tegu now recives. I don't think I have ever had a reptile that is more part of my family and life then he has been. So waiting has it advatages, but I agree waiting sucks. I hope this wasn't too long winded. Keep your chin up and if not this year next year. Best of luck! [/QUOTE]

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