Why do people who dont keep reptiles consider it "hoardering" when you have a collect

[spykerherps]

Like Maia said hoarding is a psychological issue. People who hoard animals can't control themselves, they take on more than they can handle, and the animals suffer in neglect and starvation, despite the hoarder's love for them.

The majority of hoarders have dogs and/or cats, which are a big difference from a large reptile collection. I have over 100 reptiles, they all fit in one room. If I had over 100 cats or dogs, I would need a gigantic house with an even bigger yard, to house them all. My animals are all kept in optimal conditions and are kept very clean and well-fed. Fact is most reptile enthusiasts don't just have one or two reptiles, because of their small space requirements and ease of care compared to mammals or birds maintaining a larger collection is much easier. Reptiles also won't destroy your house, breed out of control if left unspayed or neutered, or even need to eat every day. A collection of 10-20 leopard geckos requires about the same amount of time investment for care as a pair of house cats, which few people consider "out of control." People who don't work with reptiles hear numbers and make assumptions, often based on the false information given out by organizations such as HSUS and PETA. The truth is most reptile owners are quite capable of caring for 50+ animals without things getting out of control. Even if you're not breeding, maintaining a collection of any size is work yes, but not nearly the amount of work involved in keeping a large number of dogs/cats/birds etc. It's just a case of misunderstanding, and media-induced fear. Most people fear what they don't understand. It's up to us as reptile lovers to put those fears at ease and make the truth known. Without eduction others will continue to label us as "hoarders" and other such titles and the hobby as a whole suffers.

Couldn't have said it better myself.:main_thumbsup:

 

[Knibitz]

I think collecting of any sort, living or just an object, can make a lot of people instantly think hoarder.
Now, I only have one gecko, but I also have collections My Little Ponies (200+) and /sorta/ a collection of Ball Jointed Dolls (8) (but my dolls are not really a collection that sits on a shelf - I'm a still life photographer to the extreme when it comes to them)

I also have hermit crabs, I think at most I have 16, which was the borderline of what my tank could house happily, but I currently have 6. They're all happy and healthy.

Some people look at me, my own mother being the worst, and show extreme concern that I might be a hoarder, because of my hobbies. Apparently my mother watches hoarders and cries because she thinks I'm going to be like that some day.
Yes, I am disorganized at times, kind of like now! BUT I'm a student, I had a project due this weekend, I went to a state wide meet up with doll people, and I bought my first Leo. Cleaning isn't on the top of my to-do list.
but my disorganizing expands to my school papers in random piles around my desk and floor (they're all organized by class, but it's messy piles) my dolls are all over my kitchen table because I haven't put them back up since the meet, and I still have all the packaging and stuff from last minute things I needed for my Leo on the floor in my room by her tank.
The rest of my apartment, is pretty clean though. Everyone should come see my sparkley white bathroom.

So I have two things that don't go well together: Hobbies and disorganization. Which can, in turn, look like hoarding.
But my animals are healthy and happy, my pony collection is all organized and has a shelf in my bedroom, and my dolls all have a shelf and would normally stay there if I wasn't handling them 24/7.

I'd say I'm a pretty normal person with hobbies.

As long as YOU are in control of your collecting or your hobby and giving each one the PROPER care and/or attention they need, then I don't think anyone should have an opinion.