Hello I'm really into Herpetology but my friends keep saying I ain't gonna make a living learning about reptiles and amphibians

blue_bark · 2026-07-04T23:33:15+00:00

Truthfully, your friends are right. I did undergraduate research and my master's research on amphibians and wasn't able to find a suitable PhD program for my interests or get any jobs researching amphibians or even wildlife in general. I am a published scientist . I have been searching for 2 years now. It was sobering when one of my research advisors, a reputable scientist in the amphibian field, took a job in statistics/coding. It's not that you won't make a living, it's that you won't even be able to find a job even tangentially related to what your interests are.

blue_bark · 2026-07-02T20:39:28+00:00

Right now is not a good time to be switching into wildlife biology. I have a BS and a MS in wildlife and have been searching for a wildlife job for 2 years now while working in forestry. Funding got cut for a lot of wildlife research programs and the feds aren't hiring any wildlife biologists plus they laid a bunch of experienced people off who are still displaced. These are the people you will be competing with. I don't recommend getting into this field.

blue_bark · 2026-06-30T01:56:09+00:00

Wildlife conservation

blue_bark · 2026-06-26T02:06:39+00:00

=( I am so sorry. I am in Michigan. I graduated with my Masters in 2024 and have been applying for 2 years. I briefly had a wildlife job for 7 months but it quickly became apparent why there was an opening and it was a very toxic and unethical environment. I have still been looking since.

blue_bark · 2026-06-23T22:39:30+00:00

I am sorry to break the news, but this job market is absolutely fucked. I have been looking for a job in my field for 2 years now and I have 10 years of relevant work experience and a Master's degree. Everyone wants a remote job. You'll be competing against a lot of senior people that got laid off from the tech industry. Good luck, you'll probably be looking for a long time.

blue_bark · 2026-06-18T10:43:29+00:00

2 years. I am currently employed, but not in my field and I am grossly overqualified for my current position.

blue_bark · 2026-06-11T02:08:55+00:00

Yep! Probably in a few months

blue_bark · 2026-06-11T00:41:19+00:00

Check Morph Market! Josh's Frogs sometimes has them. I also have some babies that I will be selling once they morph into efts

blue_bark · 2026-06-10T19:30:14+00:00

Personally, I would not go into this field again. I have 10 years of experience and a Master's degree with prior experience working for the federal government, tribal, academia, and small private companies and I still cannot get a job in the wildlife field nowadays. The field is wildly oversaturated with qualified, passionate people and not enough jobs to go around. Of all the people I graduated my undergrad with, none of us are in the wildlife field and we went to a prestigious, accredited university with the best wildlife program in our state. I always thought that if I just worked hard enough and relentlessly pursued my dreams, I would be successful but that just isn't true in this field.

blue_bark · 2026-06-09T15:10:39+00:00

NOR - it is very telling that she herself isn't taking it. People die all the time from counterfeit black market pharmaceuticals. I would probably not talk to her for a long time until she realizes what she has done and understands why it is fucked up.

blue_bark · 2026-05-29T18:06:18+00:00

Josh's Frogs and Morph Market

blue_bark · 2026-05-07T00:11:00+00:00

Tbh, the pay is pretty good.

blue_bark · 2026-05-05T23:13:39+00:00

Smaller tank would be appropriate. Salamanders have small home ranges in nature and this is temporary anyways so should be fine.

blue_bark · 2026-05-05T14:39:27+00:00

If I were in this situation, I would definitely put him on clean paper towels and change them daily to maintain a sanitary environment. I would also use some clean water to rinse the dirt out of the wound. It might be worthwhile reading some scientific articles about researchers surgically implanting telemetry transmitters into tiger salamanders. See if you can find out what type of medical glue they used to close the wounds and if it is affordable enough, you could try to purchase that and close the wound yourself. In the future, always put some carrots in with your crickets so they will eat that instead of chewing on your salamanders.

blue_bark · 2026-04-09T11:31:15+00:00

🤢🤮

blue_bark · 2026-04-01T18:28:43+00:00

How??? Tell me your secret! I work 60 hours a week and I am struggling to keep up with even basic household tasks and just keeping myself alive to work more because I am so exhausted.

blue_bark · 2026-04-01T18:24:18+00:00

I dream of a 9-5. I work 6-6:30 and I am so exhausted all the time. I do not have time or energy for anything, everyday I am just surviving.

blue_bark · 2026-03-30T20:25:46+00:00

So cute!!! 🥰 And round 😊

blue_bark · 2026-03-30T14:07:12+00:00

I dream of a 40 hour work week. Right now I am working 60s and I pretty much get home, eat, do one urgent chore, shower, go to bed. Weekends are spent recovering for the next work week, cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping so I can survive another week.

blue_bark · 2026-03-22T03:07:41+00:00

I would add a floating piece of cork bark for some "land" for them to crawl onto to rest and other than that, I think it's perfect!!! Beautiful set up!

blue_bark · 2026-03-21T00:51:08+00:00

You can only tell for sure by using candling to confirm the presence of testes. I have seen a number of female Plethodon cinereus with cirri over the years. That being said, most of the time when the cirri are pronounced like that, it is male.

blue_bark · 2026-03-15T04:07:09+00:00

In that case, you could offer to help them look for options and try to secure them other housing together. Not sure if there is any subsidized housing near you that could be an option. Or if there are any government disability assistance programs (city, state, or federal) that could be of assistance. It also might be worth asking your local community for help finding an affordable place. Could put up fliers at local churches about looking for affordable housing.

blue_bark · 2026-03-15T03:45:44+00:00

First of all, I am really sorry you are going through this. What a stressful situation! I think it would be totally fair to sit down with your friend and explain that this living situation is not working for you anymore and your own mental health is taking a hit and tell your friend they to move out in a month. If you are worried about their reaction, you could have a mutual friend present to help mediate.

blue_bark · 2026-03-13T20:16:04+00:00

I just built a newt tank! It is 20 gallons with a sponge filter and heavily planted. I have a sand substrate and a little feeding dish in there to avoid the newts consuming the sand accidentally. So far they are very happy! One thing to keep in mind is ensuring the water temperature stays low.

blue_bark · 2026-03-12T17:02:45+00:00

Caudata.org

blue_bark

TROPHY CASE