What is National Reptile Keepers Day?

What is National Reptile Keepers Day?

National Reptile Keepers Day is a proposed annual event on May 24th, created to celebrate the wonderfully dedicated humans who choose to share their homes with creatures that blink slowly, eat insects, and occasionally judge them from a heat lamp.

It’s a day to recognise the passion, knowledge, and responsibility that goes into keeping reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids—because let’s be honest, this isn’t exactly a “fill the bowl and go” kind of hobby. It also aims to promote ethical ownership, education, and conservation. And right now, it’s not officially recognised… but that’s something we’re trying to change.

Here’s the surprising part: despite how big and enthusiastic the reptile-keeping community is, there’s currently no official day dedicated to it. Not one. Dog owners have multiple days, cats practically have a calendar, and reptile keepers? Nothing. Not even a polite nod from society.
Which is a bit odd when you look at the numbers. In the UK alone, nearly 1,000 species of reptiles and amphibians are kept as pets, with around 8.8 million living as companion animals. That’s not a small group of people quietly keeping a gecko in the corner—that’s a massive community of committed knowledgeable keepers who deserve a bit of recognition.

So, the idea behind National Reptile Keepers Day is refreshingly simple: celebrate the people behind the animals. The ones who spend hours perfecting temperature gradients, explaining to confused friends why their snake hasn’t eaten (and why that’s actually fine), and casually storing frozen rodents next to the peas.
The day would focus on celebrating responsible ownership, promoting proper husbandry, and helping educate the wider public. Because reptiles still suffer from a bit of an image problem—thanks, movies—and a lot of misinformation. A day like this could help replace fear with understanding and highlight just how much care and effort goes into doing things properly.

It would also shine a light on conservation. Responsible reptile keeping often overlaps with captive breeding programmes that reduce pressure on wild populations. Ethical breeders and informed hobbyists play a role in protecting species, even if they’re doing it while misting a terrarium and talking to a lizard that absolutely isn’t listening and if it was, wouldn’t care.

Right now, this matters more than ever. Reptile keeping faces increasing challenges from legislation, public misunderstanding, and organisations that don’t always see the full picture. At the same time, within the hobby, knowledge isn’t always shared as openly as it could be. And if there’s one universal truth in reptile keeping, it’s this: nobody knows everything.
The best keepers aren’t the ones who claim to have all the answers—they’re the ones still learning, improving, and helping others along the way. That’s the kind of culture National Reptile Keepers Day aims to encourage (with slightly fewer arguments about the “correct” humidity level. Hopefully.).

Now imagine what this day could actually look like. Reptile keepers across the country sharing their setups, showing off their animals, swapping advice, supporting ethical businesses, and maybe—just maybe—convincing a few more people that snakes are not, in fact, plotting anything sinister.
It would be a day to celebrate progress, community, and the slightly unusual but deeply rewarding world of reptile keeping.

So, when is it? May 24th. Simple enough to remember—just mark it in your calendar between “buy more substrate” and “why is the humidity wrong again?”
The goal right now is to get as many people as possible behind the idea and make it official. If you think reptile keepers deserve a bit of recognition (and perhaps a moment in the spotlight that doesn’t involve being asked, “Is that thing dangerous?”), you can support the movement by signing the petition.
There’s even a chance to win £500 worth of reptile equipment, which, let’s be honest, will probably be spent immediately on something your reptile didn’t ask for but will silently approve of.
At its heart, reptile keeping has always been about learning, improving, and doing the best for the animals in our care. This is just one small step towards recognising that—and giving the community the credit it deserves.
Let’s see where it goes.
#nationalreptilekeepersday

Why not check out our YouTube channel for some awesome videos on our reptiles and reptile care!