Why do people decide to have reptiles as pets?

Why do people decide to have reptiles as pets?

You’ve probably seen them all over TikTok, and Instagram: they’re scaly, cold-blooded, and people can’t get enough of them. That’s right, we’re talking about pet reptiles.

According to the latest National Pet Owner Survey, these exotic creatures can be found in over 4 million U.S. households, a huge increase from 1.8 million in 2013.  What is it about reptiles that has resulted in this sudden surge in popularity? Why people are ditching traditional animals like dogs and cats, and choosing such radically different creatures as pets? 

Ask any reptile owner and their reasons are likely to fall into two camps. First is the simple fact that reptiles are just really cool (there’s a reason why they’re part of the exotic pet trade). The second are the reasons that are more practical in nature (like reptiles being a lot cheaper to keep, a lot less time-consuming, and don’t take up much space). If you’ve never considered it before, you’d likely be surprised at how easy a reptile can accommodate your current lifestyle. 

3 Practical Reasons Why People Choose Reptiles As Pets

#3: They’re quiet

No one’s writing home about a pet that doesn’t make a peep. But. Say your housing situation is noise-sensitive (you have a roommate, you have difficulty sleeping, or live in multi-unit housing with painfully thin walls), a potentially noisy pet is a consideration that could make or break the potential of a pet choice. Reptiles are not a vocal bunch, and it could spell a big difference in your quality of sleep or ability to concentrate. 

#2: They stay in one place

We’re not saying that reptiles don’t move—quite the contrary actually as there are plenty of snake and lizard species that are known for being rather rambunctious—but they’ll spend the majority of their life within the confines of their closures. This means you won’t have to worry about stepping on them as you go about your home or wandering into your room in the middle of the night. More importantly, this means that all the space you’ll need for them is enough to accommodate the tank they live in. Reptiles are perfect pets for small spaces.

#1: They’re highly independent 

In the wild, reptiles live pretty solitary lives. Those habits persist in their pampered lives as pets, and this has enabled them to be wonderfully low-maintenance pets. They require minimal supervision, have virtually no need for entertainment, and don’t require companionship (human or otherwise) for their well-being. As long as they’re kept warm and fed, they can pretty much take care of themselves. For the frequent traveler or workers who works odd, irregular hours, reptiles are a great match. 

Add those things up and you’ve got a pet experience that’s off the beaten path in the best way. Plus, when you consider that a reptile can be just as rewarding and fulfilling as that of a conventional pet, the idea of making the switch seems all the more obvious. If you’re ready to find a reptile of your own, you can find plenty of reptiles for sale online and within the click of a few buttons.