There is something about reptiles that can make them very easy to misunderstand. They don’t bark when they’re bored. They don’t scratch at the door asking to go for a walk. They don’t need to be taken outside several times a day, and many reptiles are perfectly happy spending much of their time quietly going about their business. But quiet does not mean low-maintenance, and calm does not mean “set and forget.”
Over the past little while, we have had several reptiles come into our care looking for new homes. Their stories are all different, but they have something important in common: sometimes the reality of keeping a reptile doesn’t quite match the expectations people had when they first brought one home.
The tiny hatchling that doesn’t stay tiny
One of the most common situations we see involves carpet pythons.
A tiny hatchling can be incredibly appealing. They are small, relatively inexpensive and don’t take up much room. It is easy to look at that little snake and think, “I’ve got plenty of spacefor that.” The problem is that the little snake doesn’t stay little. Those tiny hatchlings grow into large, powerful snakes that need an enclosure appropriate for their adult size, room to move, appropriate heating and lighting, a suitable environment and an owner who is prepared for many years of commitment. We currently have some larger snakes that came into care after their owners realised, they simply didn’t have the capacity to provide the space they needed. And that is an important part of responsible animal ownership: recognising when an animal’s needs are greater than what you can realistically provide.
Reptiles aren’t “set and forget”
We often hear the idea that reptiles make easy pets because they don’t require the same amount of attention as a dog or cat. There is some truth in the fact that reptiles don’t need constant human interaction. But this can sometimes lead to the misconception that they don’t need much care at all. They absolutely do. A reptile may spend hours sitting quietly under a heat source. It may not appear to be doing very much. But behind that quiet behaviour is a carefully balanced environment involving temperature, humidity, enclosure design, nutrition, hydration, hygiene and opportunities for natural behaviours. A reptile doesn’t necessarily need more attention from us. It needs us to pay the right kind of attention.
Sometimes life changes
Not every reptile that needs a new home has been neglected or unwanted. We currently also have a pair of bearded dragons in our care who were originally rescued from a situation where they weren’t being properly cared for. They were given another chance but later came into our care again following a relationship breakdown. Life happens. Relationships change. Families move. Circumstances change. Finances change. People’s ability to care for an animal can change too. Responsible reptile ownership isn’t about promising that life will never change. It is about making sure that when circumstances do change, the animal’s welfare remains the priority. Sometimes that means asking for help. Sometimes it means surrendering an animal. And sometimes, finding a new home is the most responsible thing an owner can do.
The children grow up — but the reptile keeps growing
Another pattern we see is children becoming fascinated by reptiles when they are young, only for that interest to fade as they get older. The snake, however, doesn’t lose interest. It keeps growing. It still needs feeding. It still needs an appropriate enclosure. It still needs its environment maintained. And it may still be with the family for many years. This is why choosing a reptile should never be based solely on how cute or manageable the animal is today. The question should be:
“Can we provide what this animal will need for its entire life?”
What reptiles have taught us about welfare
Working with reptiles has taught us that animal welfare isn’t always obvious. A reptile won’t necessarily tell us that something isn’t right in the same ways a dog or cat might. We have to learn to observe them, understand their natural behaviours and recognise what their environment is telling us. Good reptile care isn’t about making a reptile behave the way we want it to. It is about understanding the animal we have chosen to care for. And sometimes, the most welfare-focused decision isn’t keeping an animal at all costs. It is recognising that it needs more than we can provide and making sure it gets the opportunity to thrive somewhere else. Because behind every scale, every enclosure and every quiet pair of eyes is an animal with needs that matter.
Reptiles may be quiet companions, but they are never “set and forget” pets. They are a commitment — sometimes for decades — and they deserve owners who are prepared to grow with them.
By: Joanne Payne – Animal Care Australia Reptile & Amphibian Representative. Published: September 2026 ACE Newsletter
