# You can only have 5 dinosaurs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318 "2013-05-14T14:49:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/41 "2013-05-15T17:31:18Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > Maybe Parasaurolophus, because A) my six-year-old is currently obsessed :smack: I can’t believe I forgot Parasaurolophus. Totally excellent dinosaur, and probably made other-worldly sounds. I want a re-do. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/42 "2013-05-15T17:39:19Z")
> [@bup](#): > > :smack: I can’t believe I forgot Parasaurolophus. Totally excellent dinosaur, and probably made other-worldly sounds. I want a re-do. There are no re-dos in real life. This isn’t real life, so I’ll allow it. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/43 "2013-05-15T17:52:50Z")
I have some unanswered questions about triceratops breeding. How many eggs are laid per clutch? How many clutches per breeding season? Is it an annual season? Can we artificially select for a females by manipulating incubation temperature, like crocodilians? Degree of maternal care? Developmental speed and age of maturity? _sigh_ I can see myself writing a lot of papers. Maybe we’ll need a new journal. _Acta Generandi Dinosauria_ perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/44 "2013-05-15T17:56:36Z")
Well, at least we do know we have more than fifteen to begin with (some of the people who went for combo packs included Trikies), and they’ll be living in different locations and climates 🙂 That should provide us with information on reactions to temperature, humidity, seasonal changes and so forth just by working with local conditions. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/45 "2013-05-15T18:07:22Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Well, at least we do know we have more than fifteen to begin with (some of the people who went for combo packs included Trikies), and they’ll be living in different locations and climates 🙂 That should provide us with information on reactions to temperature, humidity, seasonal changes and so forth just by working with local conditions. Keep in mind that there’s no guarantee that anyone but you will get any dinosaurs. ---
**Author:** ![Danja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@Danja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danja)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/46 "2013-05-15T18:44:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Not to mention you could work in a quarry. In that case I’ll need the massive dino standing over my head… otherwise I may get hit with objects thrown by **Snowboarder Bo**. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/47 "2013-05-15T19:04:08Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Keep in mind that there’s no guarantee that anyone but you will get any dinosaurs. Exactly, us. So long as **araminty** , **Mangetout** and I get ours, we’re set. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/48 "2013-05-15T19:29:40Z")
I can’t get behind breeding-for-profit schemes; dinosaur mills bring nothing but misery. But I’m ready to pick up the pieces, having recently established the world’s first [Tyrannosaurus Rex _Rescue_](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16187734&postcount=25). ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/49 "2013-05-15T20:09:31Z")
Oh, we’re not a mill, we’re responsible breeders! We have plans for what traits to select for, we’ll sell our under-par stock with a spay/neuter contract, I will even undertake to trial and title the first obedience Triceratops the world has ever known. I wonder what reinforcer will work best… ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/50 "2013-05-15T20:28:56Z")
I figure with the money I make selling licensing for the world’s only Brontasaurus™, I’ll be able to buy a breeding pair of Trikes. My dinosaur empire shall continue to grow. _Brontasaurus™: Every else has Apatosaurus and those are totally lame._ Spelling intentional for trademarking purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/51 "2013-05-15T20:34:37Z")
The spinosaurus is not one of the rock star dinosaurs, but he should be. My group would start with one of those. I’ll add a Utahraptor because that’s my son’s second favorite dino (the first is T Rex, but T Rex is so cliche by now). Utahraptor is pretty cool because he has that jumping and stabbing you with his claw toe going for him, which is nice. I’m almost tempted to begin a dinosaur UFC-type competition, but unfortunately, I think that it wouldn’t work out too well because the losers would obviously be eaten by the winners. There just so little chance of rematches or Cinderella stories. I’d like a sauropod, but I’m not sure which one specifically right now, I guess I don’t have to be too particular. Ankylosaurus is pretty cool too, he’s not overused compared to the other dinos and he has the club tail. I’ll round out my selections with protosaurus because they’re just too cute. I’d like them all to be female and pregnant and I want to establish a protected environment for them to live in. Like a park, perhaps something of a “Jurassic Park” if you will. There they will be studied by scientists and will get the opportunity to thrive within an controlled environment. Don’t worry, this park will have safety systems and multiple back up and redundancies so nothing could possibligh, er possibly go wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/52 "2013-05-15T21:19:14Z")
I’ll take a male and female brachiosaurus, because, well, they’re awesome, A male and female Spinosaurus to eat up some yummy fish and a single Stygimoloch, so that visitors could say “What the hell is that?” ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/53 "2013-05-15T21:31:33Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I figure with the money I make selling licensing for the world’s only Brontasaurus™, I’ll be able to buy a breeding pair of Trikes. Not from us you won’t. We only sell neutered, remember? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/54 "2013-05-16T00:09:44Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Not from us you won’t. We only sell neutered, remember? You say that because you haven’t seen Brontasaurus™ money… ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/55 "2013-05-16T01:20:59Z")
A pair of triceratops, male & female. A pair of brontos… they will always be brontos to me. And a compy… procompsignathus. They are so damned cute! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/56 "2013-05-16T03:27:09Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > I’ll take a male and female brachiosaurus, because, well, they’re awesome, > A male and female Spinosaurus to eat up some yummy fish and a single Stygimoloch, so that visitors could say “What the hell is that?” [Stygimoloch](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stygi.jpg) is definitely a WTF dinosaur. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/57 "2013-05-16T03:36:09Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > [Stygimoloch](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stygi.jpg) is definitely a WTF dinosaur. [_Dracorex_](http://cghub.com/images/view/197003/) is also pretty WTF. No plant eater has a right to look that bad-ass. That’s why it was tough to choose between them in my Weird Guys Pack 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/58 "2013-05-16T03:59:51Z")
[_Dracorex_ possibly matured into _Stygimoloch_, which possibly matured into _Pachycephalosaurus_.](http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0007626) Three weird dinosaurs for the price of one! My instinct is to go for the variety pack, rather than the breeding program. If I want more examples of a dinosaur I can clone it, right? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/59 "2013-05-16T04:06:56Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Well, since: > > 1. Godzilla’s art director Akira Watanabe combined attributes of a Tyrannosaurus, an Iguanodon, a Stegosaurus and an alligator to form a sort of blended chimera, inspired by illustrations gleaned from an issue of Time Magazine, in its creation, it counts as a dinosaur. > > 2. I’ll take five, have 'em head underwater right up to Pyongyang, and pop out just before dawn. Kim Jong-un will have a hangover from partying, so he’ll be **disoriented**. Then right up the streets to his capital and it’s atomic breath time! Even if they figure out it’s Godzillas, they’ll blame the Japanese, right? I believe that in North Korea, they call it “disoccidentaled.” That is all. Wait. [Five sparrows.](http://xkcd.com/1211/) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318/60 "2013-05-16T04:46:38Z")
I’d go with a breeding pair of triceratops, a breeding pair of stegosauri, and a female apatasaur carrying a load of fertilized eggs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-only-have-5-dinosaurs/658318.md?page=4)