Think before buying

A tv show years ago made me fall in love with reptiles

Because of that show and its star I eventually got into owning reptiles which in turn lead to rescues and adoptions.

Owning a reptile can be very rewarding

But please do your research and be aware of what you're getting yourself into. A pet relies on you for everything and exotics can have very specific needs and challenges.

Some things are very simple

Feed and provide water to your pet, please. Both of the darker snakes are underweight and the one on the right is also dehydrated. After some basic care, both snakes made a full recovery.

Special lighting and supplements are crucial

This is a bearded dragon. On the left she had a broken leg which was treated but not properly identified as being the symptom of metabolic bone disease. Many reptiles have a varied diet in the wild and receive natural sunlight, neither of which usually occur in captivity. Beardies need calcium supplements and strong uvb lighting to keep their bones healthy. Once she was diagnosed with MBD, she was at what the vet called "swimmer" stage and is unable to walk correctly or support her weight with her legs. I adopted her and spoil her.

MBD can be a danger to most reptile species

This panther chameleon was bought from the store but returned when he wasn't putting weight on a leg. It was diagnosed with a broken leg and early stage MBD. With proper calcium supplements and lighting he made a full recovery and was adopted by a friend of mine.

Some reptiles live a very long time

This Mexican Black King was bought for a family's son but 5 years later he had grown up and went to college leaving the snake behind with a family who didn't want it. He could easily live to be over 20 years old. He was in decent condition. The dry looking scales around his eyes and mouth suggest low humidity and trouble shedding but that cleared up after his first shed with me.

Too many get bored of their pet during its long life

Ball pythons can live for over 30 years but this ball python was about a year and a half old when it's owner got bored of her. When I adopted her she was undersized for her age and had mites. She was being fed one mouse a week when she should have been eating small rats.

Please feed your pet correctly

This 7 year old ball python was being fed a mouse a week when he should have been eating a medium rat. Snakes are amazing animals and even after years of mistreatment he made a full recovery with just some food

Another owner got bored with this ball python

Slightly underweight and dry scales. When a person confessed to me that their relative had dumped a snake on them and they didn't know how to care for it, I offered to adopt it.

Pets as presents to kids isnt a great idea

This ameiva was bought for a guy's son but the kid was too afraid of it so the family gave it up. Fear or boredom of the pet is very common when you buy an animal for a kid and the pet is the one who will likely suffer.

Exotics can be hard to rehome

A bearded dragon can live 10 years. This one was surrendered after 3. The owners gave him to a pet store because they didn't know where else to take him.

So be sure you want and can care for the animal for years

Corns can live for 20 years. This one was surrendered at about 2 years old. The owners were bored of it and fearful of it. I named it Bubbles due to its actually sweet disposition

It can be difficult to find housing that allows reptiles

This halmahera gecko was surrendered when its owners were moving. Yoda stayed with me for the rest of his life.

Exotics can be fun pets

One if my idiots decided to try to eat his blanket. Snakes and lizarda really are great pets and if you decide to take one on, please see if any near you need adopting.

Broken record here but please just take care of your pet

And don't so what the owners of the two snakes I just got today did: leave their pets behind when they moved for the maintenance guys to find them cold and starving. This one is currently too weak to even grip me when I was holding it. A corns back should never be shaped like a triangle with its spine being so prominent. This snake is very underweight.

This snake was in the same tank

To all you exotic pet owners or potential owners, all I ask is you do your research and just take care of your pet

Kitten tax

This little kitten had just been rescued from storm drain. One of my friends adopted her and named her something silly but she'll always be Diesel to me

Or puppy tax if thats your thing

I'll get off my soap box now