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The 14 Reptile Keeper Types

Plain and simple, reptiles are an addiction. Most current reptile keeper types start as Pet Owners, and a few stay that way. But generally speaking, it’s a downhill ride. What phase are you in? chart of reptile keeper types

Phase 1: Pet Owner

Most reptile keeper types start as a Pet Owners. Perhaps you visited a reptile expo out of curiosity and came home with a bearded dragon or leopard gecko. Or maybe, after begging your parents for a pet and finally getting to go to the pet store, a tortoise caught your eye. If you were already an adult when you got your start, most likely it was because of your kids.

Pet Owners tend to be casual to neglectful in the care of their reptile(s). This is due to lack of proper information rather than poor intentions, getting care advice from pet store care sheets.  Most commonly, Pet Owner-level reptile keepers feed their herps poor quality foods like cardboard-fed crickets and lettuce. Pet Owners are also unlikely to use UVB bulbs or calcium supplements.

My first reptile was a green anole named Jumper. I had gone to Petco aiming to get a long-tailed grass lizard (their extraordinarily long tails fascinated me), but they were out. Being impatient, I settled for an anole. S/he didn’t last long in the care of an 8-year-old, as is the fate of many such first reptiles. 🙁

Phase 2: Herpetophile

Reptile keeper types who don’t start out as pet owners are Herpetophiles. Your first reptile may have been a garter snake caught in the garden. Or maybe your reptile-loving parents ordered a bearded dragon from a breeder. Whether it’s an innate fascination with reptiles or being part of a family of reptile keepers, you’ve loved reptiles for a long time.

Pet Owners who take the time to thoroughly research their reptile become Herpetophiles. They possess medium to advanced knowledge of reptile care, including

  • temperature gradients
  • humidity
  • lighting requirements
  • appropriate substrates
  • nutrition
  • supplementation
  • health
  • veterinary care

Reptiles under the care of Herpetophiles tend to live average to long, content lives.

Phase 2.2: Rescuer

Rescuers are the heroes of the reptile world. These reptile keeper types are Herpetophiles who accumulate a vast wealth of reptile-related knowledge and use it to benefit reptiles who have fallen victim to unevolved Pet Owners. These selfless individuals sacrifice everything to nurse near-death reptiles miraculously back from the grave. They also have the mettle to push through when a reptile dies in spite of everything. Rescuers give abused and neglected reptiles a second chance and a happily ever after.

Of course, not everyone who claims to be a Reptile Rescuer is trustworthy. I’ve come in contact with both the heroes and the fallen. Fortunately, Fallen Rescuers are easy enough to discern:

  • reptiles in poor living conditions
  • condescending attitude

That being said, let’s have a moment of silence for Rescuer Heroes and their incredible efforts.

Phase 3: Collector

After you’re a Herpetophile, becoming a Collector is a quick and natural transition. The reptile fascination only grows with time. Some people keep it under control by keeping only one or two exotic or time consuming reptiles like large monitors, iguanas, Burmese and reticulated pythons. Others succumb to it, expanding to keep incredible collections of reptiles.

Naturally, reptile expos are extremely dangerous for Collectors’ bank accounts.

Phase 3.1: Zookeeper

Guided only by personal interest and limited only by budget, a Zookeeper’s emphasis is diversity, making their collections the largest of any type of reptile keeper. Picture the reptile house at your favorite zoo, and that is a Zookeeper’s dream.

For example, I am a Zookeeper in embryo; I want 20 different species of reptile but have neither the space nor money to do so. But I have my wish list, and one day that dream will be realized. *staring off into space with a stupid smile*

Ahem.

Reptile room with wall of terrariums

Can you imagine having a reptile room like this? Talk about dreams…

Phase 3.1.1: Death Charmer

Death Charmers are an interesting group. They take the exoticness of being a Zookeeper and take it to the extreme, getting their thrills from venomous reptiles like rattlesnakes, cobras, and gila monsters. They also may have a crocodile somewhere. Not surprisingly, Death Charmers tend to keep tarantulas and scorpions in their collections.

Phase 3.2: Hoarder

Unlike the Zookeeper, whose object is diversity (and generally keeps one or two of each species), a Hoarder desires quantity. 10 bearded dragons? Plus crested geckos? And tortoises? Maybe some corn snakes? It doesn’t matter to a Hoarder what morph or species a reptile is — there’s plenty of love to go around!

Phase 3.3: Specialist

The specialist loves reptiles, but has a specific taste. Whether they simply don’t like one group or find one easier to care for than the others, Specialists generally settle into one of four categories.

  • Phase 3.3.1: Lizard Lover — Collection contains at least 90% lizards.
  • Phase 3.3.2: Snake Silly — Collection contains at least 90% snakes.
  • Phase 3.3.3: Turtle Tickled — Collection contains at least 90% turtles and tortoises. These keepers are less common.
  • Phase 3.3.4: Colony Keeper — Collection consists at least 90% of the same species. I find that Colony Keepers tend to favor bearded dragons and leopard geckos.

Bearded dragons pulling a sleigh

Phase 3.3.3.4.1: Morph Snob

There are two types of Morph Snob. First, as a subcategory for Colony Keepers. Second, as a fifth type of Specialist.

  • Colony Keeper Morph Snob: Tends to have one species in tons of morphs.
  • Specialist Morph Snob: Tends to have many species, but not a Normal in sight.

I’m placing special emphasis because there are many people in the reptile world who fit here.

Morph Snobs distinguish themselves from other Specialists by a penchant for variety. Instead of taking in every bearded dragon or leopard gecko that strikes their fancy, Morph Snobs select their reptiles according to taste (what one finds attractive) and rarity (value).

The reptiles sought after by Morph Snobs tends to be a trend-based thing. Not so long ago, bearded dragons were the reptile of choice. Reptile expos were chock full of them — sandfire, citrus, dunner, translucent, silkback…the list of morph possibilities only gets longer. Leopard geckos are a trend that hasn’t quite phased out yet. But the current craze is ball pythons they’re everywhere! I’m interested to see what will be the next big thing.

It’s not uncommon to see high-end ball python morphs selling for thousands. So if you like to blow your money on unique-looking animals, being a Morph Snob is for you.

Ultimate Phase: Breeder

Reptile Breeders are among the most common types of reptile keepers because there are many roads to becoming one. It’s kind of an inevitability for about half of everyone who gets into reptile keeping.

Pet Owner Breeder — In other words, the pet store recommended buying a male and female together, as well as housing them together. Then eggs come “out of the blue” and Pet Owners are left with a dilemma: incubate the eggs, or dispose of them? Excited by the prospect of cute baby reptiles, many Pet Owners choose to incubate without knowing squat about how to raise them healthily. (Rarely does this decision end happily for the babies.)

Herpetophile Breeder — Not much different from the Pet Owner Breeder, except that the eggs are not an accident. Often this is an experiment that may turn into a permanent gig. Herpetophile Breeders breed what they have on hand, likely with mates from other Herpetophiles in their network, and sell the offspring to local pet stores, through the classifieds, or even online. Herpetophile Breeders have  extensive knowledge through good research, which leads to healthy babies (most of the time).

Collector Breeder — The Collector Breeder mates one or two species from his/her collection for a side source of income, keeping the best looking specimens for future breeding. Collector Breeders’ reptiles live dual lives as pets and breeding stock. Additionally, Collector Breeders tend to be small but reputable operations working over the Internet, and may have an expo booth with their friends.

Specialist Breeder — The Specialist Breeder is like the Collector Breeder in many aspects, but with bigger ambitions. They tend to breed several species with an emphasis on profit and producing increasingly impressive morphs. Specialist Breeders are less likely to treat their reptiles like pets since the demands of such an operation creates a very large collection. Specialist Breeders frequently reserve booths at expos and have websites/social media accounts devoted to running the business.

Morph Snob Breeder — The Morph Snob Breeder has a singular focus, and that is creating the greatest diversity of high-end morphs in one species. It often starts as a side-job deal, but as the collection of breeding stock grows it eventually becomes a full-blown business. Morph Snob Breeders are found online, at expos, and on social media with a very impressive selection of morphs for the latest trendy reptile.

Poster of ball python morphs

This is just a *taste* of the morphs out there.

 

So, what kind of reptile keeper are you?

Where would you like to end up? Let me know in the comments!

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10 Comments

  1. currently a herpetophile with a baby african house snake, but in the distant future I would like to become a monitor specialist. kinda don’t like the term “herpetophile” tho, maybe “researched beginner” or “serious beginner” may be a better term

  2. Bearded dragons are wonderful! If you’re hoping to get into breeding in the future, my best advice is to pick a reptile species that isn’t commonly bred in captivity and that you can get passionate about. Our hobby needs more small-batch breeders who are experts in their selected species, and fewer breeders of the ones that are already massively overbred, such as bearded dragons, ball pythons, crested/gargoyle geckos, etc.

  3. Currently a herpetophile with a pet store bearded dragon. I would love to someday become a breeder as that has always interested me. I would consider myself a lizard lover, even though I just have the one, cause I go for lizards over anything else. I don’t have the space right now for a second lizard, but I’m very happy to have my Valentine’s day male beardie, Vanzeldar. I have been able to see him grow from just 6 inches long head to tail to 2 feet long over the past almost 2 years I’ve had him. He is quite a bit smaller than some other adult beardies I’ve seen in terms of the width, but I feel like that just makes him a bit extra special that he’s on the small side.

  4. I recommend finding a rare species of reptile that you can feel passionate about, preferably one that is usually imported wild-caught. The reptile industry is in great need of small batch breeders who specialize in unique species and help reduce the burden of harvesting from wild populations.

  5. Currently just a pet owner. The minute i can tho im planning to get into breeding, of course with research. Right now i have a lepoard gecko. Hes probably around 5 now? Im planning to get him into a a better enclosure asap. Also, what should i breed? Id love to do something simple but ill get my hands dirty i need to!

  6. That’s good to hear! If you’re thinking about breeding snakes, I do ask that you consider breeding a species other than ball pythons. While ball pythons and their morphs can be a fun foray into reptile genetics, ball pythons are quite oversaturated in the current market, and you may have trouble finding homes for the babies you don’t plan on keeping. There is, however, plenty of need for dedicated breeders of other, less common, species. Aside with helping with conservation efforts, this also increases the diversity of captive bred reptiles available!

  7. Currently, I’m none of the types–no scaly critter in my Lair, sadly. When the situation allows, however, I will jump in with both talons and start off with a couple of Garter snakes or maybe a pair sweet Ball pythons in a morphs I really like. If I’m really lucky, I’ll have a breeding pair and hop right into having some nice eggs to experiment with! But, first, it’s research, research, research and learning how to care for the animals I want to home. I want them to have the best lives I can give them. As naturalistic “houses” as I can create, as well as help them get to know me as their friend help them to trust me, maybe even like me. I want to see what their brains can do, what they enjoy doing and learning. What constitutes as play for them so I can provide ti, and so on.

    People don’t give snakes and other reptiles enough credit for intelligence, and I know they explore their environments. They have curiosity and poke about things, nose at and “sniff” stuff. They don’t really mouth things like cats or dogs do, but they do sometimes show an interest in textures, so having those about for them to experience is always good, if nothing else but for them to rub against to satisfy an itch or to help with shedding.

    So, dreams of being in the collector/ breeder/morph snob categories, with a probable side of rescuer just because every actual pet I’ve had (cats, dogs, rats and birds) have been critters I’ve taken in off the streets or from friends who couldn’t care for them anymore.

    Cheers!

  8. I’m a rescuer. I have had three rehabs this year and just got a new one. I have had two Bearded Dragons this year and one Ball Python. I just picked up another Dragon today, that will hopefully be okay. She was severely dehydrated and weak. I got some fluid into her, we will she how she does. I also have several choice selected Ball Pythons for Collective line breeding down the road. I love reading your files.

  9. currently a herpetophile with a rescue bearded dragon and a expo leopard gecko. Big, big dreams to be a rescuer as I already have experience with rehabbing my beardie, Clover! <3

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