Hello,
I am new to keeping invertebrates. I had 1 millipede when I was younger; none prior and none since. I liked it a lot. While watching Meerkat Manor weeks ago, millipedes came back to mind. Being a both interesting and cheap-to-care-for animal, I immediately decided it was the pet for me. I am usually a dog person (and frogs/toads) but I like nearly anything that wont bite or sting me (and doesn't have the appearance of such). It was hard to find millipedes because the pet stores didn't sell them and I only gradually found websites that did. While searching, I noticed that it was often referred to as a ”hobby”. That felt inaccurate and bothered me a bit. To me, a hobby indicates something that one has an interest in but not their heart put into and is not a priority but something on the side...if someone were to tell me that they had a hobby of keeping bugs, I would think that they had more of a collector's approach versus a caregiver's. I felt the millipedes would be pets, beings that I would nurture, let/have crawl on me (I know about the chemical...I did lots of millipede research before ordering), and that hopefully the millipede would come to be unafraid of me (recognize me). Don't get me wrong, I'm not like one guy I used to know who went off the handle about how his kitten is his best friend and understands him more than any human. But I like exploring, learning, and helping. I have never heard people who have dogs referred to as hobbyists. Just seems odd to me. But maybe (as is often the case) I just care more than others tend to.
Initially, I was only going to get one, but they are so slow moving/easy to deal with, and cute, that I decided to get a few (from bugsincyberspace.com). Perhaps I will post pictures after they arrive and get set up in their new home.
Maybe my definition of a hobbyist is too pale and simplified...but it's what comes to mind. I'm more so making a statement or an inquiry about society, than posing a question to you as a individual...but you are welcome to say whether or not you care about the animals and see them as more than just ”things”.
Thank you.
I am new to keeping invertebrates. I had 1 millipede when I was younger; none prior and none since. I liked it a lot. While watching Meerkat Manor weeks ago, millipedes came back to mind. Being a both interesting and cheap-to-care-for animal, I immediately decided it was the pet for me. I am usually a dog person (and frogs/toads) but I like nearly anything that wont bite or sting me (and doesn't have the appearance of such). It was hard to find millipedes because the pet stores didn't sell them and I only gradually found websites that did. While searching, I noticed that it was often referred to as a ”hobby”. That felt inaccurate and bothered me a bit. To me, a hobby indicates something that one has an interest in but not their heart put into and is not a priority but something on the side...if someone were to tell me that they had a hobby of keeping bugs, I would think that they had more of a collector's approach versus a caregiver's. I felt the millipedes would be pets, beings that I would nurture, let/have crawl on me (I know about the chemical...I did lots of millipede research before ordering), and that hopefully the millipede would come to be unafraid of me (recognize me). Don't get me wrong, I'm not like one guy I used to know who went off the handle about how his kitten is his best friend and understands him more than any human. But I like exploring, learning, and helping. I have never heard people who have dogs referred to as hobbyists. Just seems odd to me. But maybe (as is often the case) I just care more than others tend to.
Initially, I was only going to get one, but they are so slow moving/easy to deal with, and cute, that I decided to get a few (from bugsincyberspace.com). Perhaps I will post pictures after they arrive and get set up in their new home.
Maybe my definition of a hobbyist is too pale and simplified...but it's what comes to mind. I'm more so making a statement or an inquiry about society, than posing a question to you as a individual...but you are welcome to say whether or not you care about the animals and see them as more than just ”things”.
Thank you.