I started working at a local privately owned fish and reptile store about five years ago. My experience entering the job was with fish, but the more I worked with the reptiles, the more I fell in love with them. I wanted to add a reptile or two to my home "zoo". My husband was reluctant--not because he objected to reptiles, but because he was concerned with the idea of heat lamps in the house. Our cats love to play the "find something and push it off a shelf" game, and he was worried about the fire hazard. So we agreed, I could have scaley pets as long as they didn't need heat lamps. I went looking for a critter that would meet that criteria, and my research led me to crested geckos. I bought these two--Pixel and QWERTY, complete with their setup--from a local hobbyist.
That was it, I'd been bitten by the rhac bug. That first pair led to my first colony, and then two, then four colonies. We recently moved to a place that has a freestanding shed in the yard, which has become the fish and lizard room. (You can see photos of it here.) Since the cats don't have access to the shed, the "heat lamp" rule is no longer in play and I have expanded my collection to include several other species of reptiles. If I had to pick and go back to one, though, cresties still have my heart. I can't get enough of their charming faces and quirky personalities. |
