Careers in the Reptile Industry

[cris]

You can HECS/HELP(whatever they call it) it so it is practically free while you do it. On the subject when to you have to enrol(or whatever) by to start uni next year? im probably goin to do ecology at UQ.

[PhilK]

The application date for QTAC was about a fortnight ago or something..
I think you can still apply through QTAC now but you have to pay a late fee

[lozza]

Originally Posted by PhilK

We only make about 30K a year for the first 5 or so years.
Ran into my mates girlfriends sister working at a cafe because waitressing paid more than her vet job was paying her.
And another mate that graduated last year is working as a vet nurse because it makes more money.. We got a huge speech at the start of the year about how we won't make any sort of real money unless you own a practice, and how there are precious few jobs, the hours are long etc etc... Hahaha second highest suicide rate around, last check!

All the vets I know are earning nice amounts of $$$ but true they have their own clinics. I suppose starting off in most jobs you have to expect low wages, you just have to stick it out for a few years.
That's why Im going with DECC my starting salary will be ~55-60k (Ive already been working for DET for the last 6 years so have risen up the ranks while at uni and can more easily transfer to another dept at the same level- mwhhahaha its all going to plan)

anyways motman if you change your mind about vet, check out UNE. They have an excellent zoology dept and isnt that far from Stuart's Point (or you can study externally like me and live where you want & work at the same time)

[PhilK]

Woah! That's twice what I'll be earning for the next 5 or 10 years!!

[mikep]

im 16 ,17 in november and going into year twelve. i love reptiles but i am limited because my parents dislike the thought of them like many people do. but as soon as i move out i plan to dedicate a room of replties for hobby reasons only and to expreince breeding ect. i want to be in the media on the radio or tv as a presnter,or actor whatever. reptile industry as i see it is pritty limited so will keep it as a hobby like most people i belive.

[Kirby]

Originally Posted by lozza

I think more like 15k total. Usually around 5k a year (although if you start now I think it's more expensive than when I started)

haha, if only.. at the end of the three year bachelor of science, majour in zoology it would have left me with a bill of $45 000 to pay off, no joke.. its alot of money and work, to becoem a zoologist.. note me stepping down to animal attendant courses...

i didnt bother with HECS or the course as i only ever wanted to be the attendant, although the imfo and research would be fun..

[Viridae]

Originally Posted by Kirby

arent we all.. good luck..

to be a zoologist.. you would need to pay $15000 + a year, at say.. maquarie UNI and study a bachelor of science majouring in Zoology. keeping in mind over three + years, it will rack up to well over $45 000

OR

you could do what im doing, and do into the 'animal attendant' industry.. pet-shop, kennel, animal attendant at the zoo sort of thing..

and do a course at tafe, you dont necessarily need a UAI. but study any way.. (back-up) and go get a job at a petshop, vet, or a wildlife park, kennel .. ANYTHIGN TO DO WITH ANIMALS.. show them your dedicated.. and go for a certificate III in animal attendancy, or if you cant get a job in the indistry untill out of school, do a certificate II when you get out, as i am..

google it...

or, get your folks to invest a few grand.. and start breeding..

hope this helps..

Try 15000 all up (for 3 years) - I am doing a Bachelor of biological science and that is just under 2500 a semester - now I'm in honours so that adds an extra year, bringing it to 20000 for the 4 years. The fees you quote must mean you are on full fees, not commonwealth assisted - there is no way they are possible otherwise.

My suggestions:

Vet
Vet nurse
Zoologist (jobs in this field are not easy to find)

There are degrees you can do if you don't get high enough marks for Vet Science - Animal science at La Trobe university is one of them - most people doing that are trying to transfer to vet - my ex was in biological science and transferred to vet after first year - you must do physics in first year to get into most unis vet courses however.

If you want to do zoology, do an animal science course and do honours - you are basically not going to get a job in zoology without it.

[OzRocks]

Hey mate,

Im really trying to do conservation, captive breeding, zoo keeping, and land conservation.
Im trying to do conservation and wildlife biology at deakin Uni. and it needs a score of 82 (can change over the years depending on no. of applicants)
I realy want to do this course but Im not the smartest guy in the class room....espescially when Im doin subjects that have no relation to what I want to do,
So what Im tryin to do is gor for the experience rather then the education, so Im tryin to do as much voluntry work, keep a wide variety of snakes includinf venomous, and try and prove to wildife parks, zoos and the like that I am passionate and dedicated to the work....
The way Im doin it is a little risky but I reall dont think Ill be able to get the score I need (it jumped 20 points in 2 years!!!!)

anyway thats what Im goin for, and the way im tryin to get it..hopes this helps

cheers, matt

[tadpoles]

hi
I want to do something around bugs possibly frogs and herps too
I'm doing yr 12 this year(re entry), and next year im doing a bach of science at adelaide uni. In my third year i finally get to study bugs and hopefully if i get in to honurs, thats where i really get to specialise im my chosen field - entomology.
I thnk its too hard to know what exact career this wil lead to, but i know i will find something interesting.

Sarah B

[Viridae]

Originally Posted by tadpoles

hi
I want to do something around bugs possibly frogs and herps too
I'm doing yr 12 this year(re entry), and next year im doing a bach of science at adelaide uni. In my third year i finally get to study bugs and hopefully if i get in to honurs, thats where i really get to specialise im my chosen field - entomology.
I thnk its too hard to know what exact career this wil lead to, but i know i will find something interesting.

Sarah B

Make sure you have an entemologist at adelaide uni - otherwise I would suggest La Trobe, because I know for a fact there is an entemologist here.

[Hetty]

It's around $6-7k a year for B Science in NSW. B Science is the course to do to get into zoology.

[Hetty]

Originally Posted by OzRocks

Hey mate,

Im really trying to do conservation, captive breeding, zoo keeping, and land conservation.
Im trying to do conservation and wildlife biology at deakin Uni. and it needs a score of 82 (can change over the years depending on no. of applicants)
I realy want to do this course but Im not the smartest guy in the class room....espescially when Im doin subjects that have no relation to what I want to do,
So what Im tryin to do is gor for the experience rather then the education, so Im tryin to do as much voluntry work, keep a wide variety of snakes includinf venomous, and try and prove to wildife parks, zoos and the like that I am passionate and dedicated to the work....
The way Im doin it is a little risky but I reall dont think Ill be able to get the score I need (it jumped 20 points in 2 years!!!!)

anyway thats what Im goin for, and the way im tryin to get it..hopes this helps

cheers, matt

82 isn't nearly as much as it sounds, if you get high 70s in good subjects (no general maths, general science, standard English or similar) then you'll get that.

[Hetty]

Originally Posted by Viridae

If you want to do zoology, do an animal science course and do honours - you are basically not going to get a job in zoology without it.

For most unis this simply isn't the case. I looked into animal science a lot and most of the time (for example, at Sydney University) it's an agricultural course, pigs, sheep, etc. B Science has a major of Biology at all universities, and zoology at some universities. I'm currently doing B Science and am taking chemistry, biology and genetics. I'm sure there are exceptions but it's the general degree to get into zoology. I agree with the honours part though.

[Hix]

Originally Posted by Kirby

at say.. maquarie UNI and study a bachelor of science majouring in Zoology. ..

Mac Uni don't offer Zoology majors anymore. I Think I was the last student to come out of there with one back in 2000.

They still offer zoological subjects, biology majors, Conservation Biology, and Biodiversity majors, but not a Zoology major.

Of course, next year might be different again.



Hix

[Viridae]

Originally Posted by thenothing

For most unis this simply isn't the case. I looked into animal science a lot and most of the time (for example, at Sydney University) it's an agricultural course, pigs, sheep, etc. B Science has a major of Biology at all universities, and zoology at some universities. I'm currently doing B Science and am taking chemistry, biology and genetics. I'm sure there are exceptions but it's the general degree to get into zoology. I agree with the honours part though.

Yeah I was reffering to the La Trobe course only - that does include a little husbandry but you can bee a zoo major in third year still - I would suggest a biological science course (what I am doing) which offers more freedom.