Animals come in with various injuries, sickness or are just not wanted anymore. These animals are rehabilitated and then placed in a new, hopefully, forever home.

Adoption fees go towards paying for medical, feeding and housing costs.

There are some important questions to ask yourself before purchasing an exotic pet are:

How long does it live?

One of the most commonly surrendered reptiles are turtles and tortoises. Like most reptiles, they have a very long life span and can live over 50-80 years! If you are already 30 years old you may need to think about what will happen to this animal when you are no longer able to care for it. A lot of animals are actually put into people's wills as they can easily outlive their owners! Iguanas and monitors can live over 20 years and even smaller lizards such as bearded dragons can live over 15!

How big will it get?

Most reptiles start out as small, cute little creatures that are very appealing and cheap to purchase. Green iguanas for example start out as very cute little lizards that are bright green and can be as cheap as $20. Unfortunately, a lot of these cute little lizards and other reptiles can quickly grow into "giant" animals that need a large amount of space and even larger amounts of food! You need to make sure that you can provide a suitable sized enclosure for the animal you chose once it reaches its full size! Even a little baby bearded dragon that starts out at about 4 inches long can grow up to 2 feet long and will require at least a 40-50 gallon enclosure!

What does it eat?

The most common problems that rescues see in reptiles are medical issues due to an improper diet. These issues can range from a stunted animal to an animal who's bones are so deformed from lack of calcium that it needs to be euthanized. Most people think that you can just buy a lizard or tortoise, throw it some crickets or lettuce and that's it. What they don't realize is the specific diet that each animal has and needs! Feeding your animal an improper diet not only causes serious medical problems, it also drastically shortens it's life span and quality of life. No animal deserves this.

Is or can it become aggressive?

Even though your new pet may be the friendliest little critter you've ever seen, there is the possibility that it can become a very aggressive animal when it grows up. Iguanas are very well known for this. They can start out as a very friendly little lizard but once they hit sexual maturity, males can become very aggressive and can actually send you to the hospital with serious injuries! Other animals that start out cute but can eventually become aggressive are red eared sliders, certain species of monitors, carpet pythons and the list goes on. The reptile Guy is not saying that all reptiles are dangerous but there are some that you need to be careful with.

Can I afford medical treatment if needed?

Just like dogs, cats and people, reptiles can and do get sick. They can fall and break a leg, get injured by another reptile and even get tumors. These are things you need to think about when considering purchasing an exotic pet. The Reptile guy knows from experience, veterinary care is not cheap! Just an exam can cost you up to around $60 and that is not including any x-rays or medication you may need. It is always good to have some money set aside before you purchase an exotic pet to make sure you can cover any unexpected costs.

Can I provide it a forever home?

The Reptile Guy is seeing far too many animals being bought on impulse and then being disposed of when the novelty wears off. No pet is disposable and they should never be bought if you are not planning on keeping it forever. Sure, you may take great care of it when you are caring for it but the next person may not. It is also very stressful on a reptile when you change its environment and they may even stop eating.

Is it legal where I live?

Many cities, provinces/states and countries have laws that actually prohibit the possession of many exotic animals. Recently, British Columbia imposed new laws that even made it illegal to display many types of reptiles which is why The Reptile Guy had to shut down his facility. It is always best to research your local bylaws and provincial/state laws before purchasing any exotic pet.

Is this an impulse buy?
All too often someone we hear of people who walk into a pet store, see a cute little lizard and buy it right away without knowing how to properly care for it. This is an impulse buy and is one of the worst things for a new pet. If you see an animal that you may be interested in purchasing, go home and do your research to make sure you can give it the home it deserves. If you are worried about it not being there when you go back, don't worry, the store can probably order you one in when you are ready. You could also ask the shop keeper if they will hold it for you while find out if it is the right animal for you.

Will you still want it in 5 years?
A lot of people get reptiles when they are still in elementary/high school but unfortunately, not many of them keep their pets once they graduate. They become interested in other things and often end up moving away to go to college or university. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a dorm or even an apartment that will allow reptiles. You also may be planning on travelling in the future and won't be able to take your reptile with you. Again, you need to make sure you can provide a forever home for any animal you plan on purchasing.

Have you done your research??
If you weren't sure on how to answer any of the previous questions, you probably haven't done enough research. You can never do enough, especially when it comes to caring for a living creature. There are a number of resources you can use to gain as much knowledge as possible such as the internet, library, reputable pet store or you can even contact a breeder