Careers in the Reptile Industry

[motman440]

Hi guys (and/or gals)
Im 17. Just Going into year 12 and am mad keen on anything animals. especially reptiles.
Just wanted to know what sort of career paths i could go down that are in the reptile industry.
I was looking at being a vet and then specialising in herps so im aiming for a high 90's UAI.
Unfortunately im not too 100% on high 90's but am quite confident of a UAI of at least 90.
Is anyone on here making a real living in reptile or does anyone know what sort of careers i should aim for.
seriously any suggestion would be great. even if its dont even try (which hopefully it wont be)
thanks for your time
Tom

 

[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..

 

[herptrader]

I wish you luck.

Have you considered being a Vet nurse if you miss out on Veterinary science?

Have you contacted your local reptile parks/zoos? The won't pay well but the experience will count heaps.

 

[Serpentes_15]

in vic im going to la trobe in a Commonwealth Supported Place to do conservation biology and Ecololgy for around 7k. Do Zoology in 2nd and third year. Try and get honours. I need VCE enter of 75.
There is also a Animal Vetirenary Biosciences course for similair price that is also an enter of 75 however this is not a fully accredcited veterinarian course but rather based on other things. It allows you access to a proper veterinary course if grades are sufficient. Try speaking to your careers advisor at school and looking up on the internet.

 

[Lozza]

depends what you want to do & how much $$ you wnat to make. If you can get into vet, go for it I say
I want a threatened species officer job with NPWS so I'm doing my masters next year in Environmental Management (Wildlife). Finishing up my zoology degree in the next few weeks.

If you want a well paid job go for vet or government. Keeper and attendant jobs aren't known for their high salaries

 

[motman440]

I wish you luck.

Have you considered being a Vet nurse if you miss out on Veterinary science?

Have you contacted your local reptile parks/zoos? The won't pay well but the experience will count heaps.

closest reptile park/zoo would be a probable two hour drive no. probably more
used to be a zoo at coffs harbour.
but it shut down

 

[Lozza]

closest reptile park/zoo would be a probable two hour drive no. probably more
used to be a zoo at coffs harbour.
but it shut down

yeah coffs zoo shut down because it was boring/bad (should be another word starting with "s" lol)

 

[PhilK]

Mate, vet's all well and good, but we don't learn anything really about reptiles (except for a few units at the very end of 4th year I think)...
If you're mad keen on animals definitely go for vet mate, I can't think of a job that helps them out more! Not to mention it is heaps and heaps of fun. With vet you can prtty much treat everything if you're willing to always be learning new stuff. Work hard for it, it's definitely worth it.

Kirby: 15000 a year to study BSc...? Dunno where you were studying it, but I only paid about 12.. All uni courses are expensive though.

Also, 10000s of people do BSc degrees around Australia and a huge proportion of them want to do zoology.. It's really hard to get a half-decent job. Even research is hard to come by with so many people gunning for it. Go a cut higher and get into vet where the jobs are more 'available'. Especially if you happen to be male.

Lozza: high paid? Vets? ...hmmm. If only.

 

[Lozza]

Kirby: 15000 a year to study BSc...? Dunno where you were studying it, but I only paid about 12.. All uni courses are expensive though.

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)

 

[motman440]

Go a cut higher and get into vet where the jobs are more 'available'. Especially if you happen to be male.

Lozza: high paid? Vets? ...hmmm. If only.

*punch in the air*
yes
a male
thats me!!!
why are they more availabe if your a male

 

[PhilK]

About 6K a semester for BSc at UQ..

 

[Lozza]

Lozza: high paid? Vets? ...hmmm. If only.

Well they certainly charge enough plus its all relative - compared to a vet nurse, keeper or animal attendant.

 

[PhilK]

*punch in the air*
yes
a male
thats me!!!
why are they more availabe if your a male

Because we're a dying breed mate. About 85% of the vet school is female at the moment. So when a 110 students graduate, and there are only 20 males, we get snapped up quick. Especially for the larger animal jobs (I think it's cause guys are generally bigger)

 

[Lozza]

About 6K a semester for BSc at UQ..

geez it has gone up :shock: I pay 2500 a semester

 

[PhilK]

Well they certainly charge enough plus its all relative - compared to a vet nurse, keeper or animal attendant.

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..:shock: 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!

 

[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]

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..:shock: 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:twisted: 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.