Where to get a pet reptile (That isn’t a pet store)
So you’ve been thinking about getting your first pet reptile and now, you have to figure out where to get it. Let's get one thing clear: you have options, my friend. You may be ready to head out to your closest chain pet store, and there are many to choose from, but I have some recommendations for you to keep in mind before making your decision.
Breeders
Your first choice is to go straight to a breeder. It doesn’t matter what type of reptile you're after, 90% of the time, there is going to be a breeder that is in your area or is willing to ship to you.
That’s right.
You can have your reptile shipped straight to your door.
And before you come at me saying you should never put a pet through the mailing system, this is actually how they get to the pet stores! It is very, very safe.
Now, back to breeders. You can hop onto Google and search up breeders in your area, or you could even join groups that are specific to the species you’re interested in purchasing and ask for breeder recommendations. But I will say, regardless of the breeder you choose or the type of animal you want, you need to do research on that breeder to make sure that they are reputable.
If you’re having trouble finding a local breeder, one of the best places to check is Morph Market. Morph Market helps connect you with reptile breeders in various locations and contains a catalogue of different species and even *1morphs. There are many ways to dig into Morph Market to connect with a breeder.
Reptile Shows & Expos
Reptile shows, or reptile expos, will give you access to several vendors all at once, and they pop up year-round. However, they can be a bit overwhelming. I find that they are very packed, very crowded, and very sweaty. *shivers* But if that doesn’t scare you off, this is definitely another good option to find a potential pet.
If you’re looking for something common like a ball python or corn snake, you won’t have any problem finding those at a reptile expo or show. I will say that it can be difficult locating the “less common” species. I’ve talked with many people seeking specific types who go to reptile shows with their fingers crossed, only to leave empty-handed.
The other downside to a reptile show is that, unless you’ve done the work in advance, you may not be able to research the breeder you will be purchasing the reptile from. I always say to do research before going to an expo. Go in knowing what you’re looking for. Don’t go in there and allow yourself to impulse-buy a reptile. It’s never a good idea for you or your new pet. But if you know you’re looking for something specific, you can look into the breeders that will be there and do your research ahead of time.
Rescues
Maybe you don’t want to go with a breeder, though. Another incredible opportunity to find your new pet is to go through a rescue or shelter (like mine!) Shameless plug alert: if you are in the south-central Pennsylvania area and you’re looking to adopt a reptile or even surrender, you can head over here to get all of the information about any available animals or surrendering an animal. But there are other rescues out there aside from mine, especially if you’re not local to me.
Even some animal shelters may have reptiles up for adoption. Look around your area and see what kind of reptiles they have available. It may not be a specific morph that comes up available; for example if you’re looking for a ball python, you may not find those mystic potion ball pythons in a rescue, but there are going to be animals available. There’s always an animal looking for a home, if not now, in the very near future. So definitely check out the rescues in your area. This is a great way to give a reptile a chance to find that forever home that they so need!
Rehoming Sites
Another option to explore are rehoming sites like Craigslist. There are many reptiles on Craigslist alone, at least in my area. Unfortunately, you’re not going to know exactly what you’re getting because you’re only seeing a picture and in most cases, people are going to want to meet in a public location. You may not always get the full picture. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I can tell you, as someone who has done private rescue work for a long time now, a lot of the animals I’ve gotten have come straight from Craigslist and have gone through rehabilitation and have been some of the best pets I’ve ever had.*3I did a video a couple of weeks ago about my bearded dragon, Bumble, and she is a Craigslist rescue that I absolutely adore.
Craigslist is a great option if you are open to rescuing an animal or taking an animal that may have a questionable past. But it’s important to remember that on the other hand, there are also people on there who genuinely have had life changes and are forced to rehome otherwise healthy, happy reptiles. You just have to be willing to be open to what may be coming your way and do the research, be educated, and be ready to take on any challenges that may arise from a Craigslist pet. In fact, I always recommend rescuing over buying when you can as there are many pets out there just waiting for a second chance.
Ethical Pet Stores
Notice I said Ethical.
I saved this one for last because there’s a lot to digest here. I am not talking about a chain pet store. In fact, I am adamantly opposed to buying animals from chain pet stores. If that is something you want to talk about or know why, leave me a comment below so we can discuss why chain pet stores are not the best places to get your pet reptiles—or any pet for that matter.
That said, there are some small ethical pet stores out there. We have some pet stores in my area that are small businesses owned by local residents (as opposed to franchises) who source the reptiles and animals from ethical breeders. They’re also implementing a lot of best care practices and are making sure their staff are well educated which is super, super important. So look into ethical pet stores that you can see are practicing proper care and if you’ve done your research, you’ll be able to see right away whether or not they’re actually doing right by those reptiles.
As you can see, you have many options to help you connect with your new friend. Or if you’re like everyone else, you may be wondering: should I get a baby reptile or an adult? If so, check out whether you should adopt a baby reptile or an adult reptile.
I hope this helped you to discover what options are available to you and if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and we’ll chat! I’m always looking for another opportunity to talk all things reptile ;)
