Why the World Needs a National Reptile Keepers Day

Why the World Needs a National Reptile Keepers Day

Imagine a day dedicated to the people who willingly share their homes with creatures that stare at them like tiny prehistoric landlords demanding rent in live locusts and defrosted mice.

That day should exist.

A National Reptile Keepers Day would celebrate everyone who keeps snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles and geckos, along with that one bearded dragon named Kevin who somehow runs the household despite having the organisational skills of a bacon sandwich.

At first glance, the idea might sound like little more than an excuse to post photos of iguanas in party hats or buy your corn snake a tiny cake it absolutely cannot eat. But a National Reptile Keepers Day could have some genuine benefits, not only for reptile owners, but for the animals themselves and for the wider public.

One of the biggest advantages would be helping people understand reptiles a little better. Reptiles have never had the easiest time when it comes to public relations. Dogs get films about loyalty. Cats get internet fame and entire social media empires. Reptiles, meanwhile, are still trying to recover from centuries of being cast as villains, monsters and suspiciously evil sidekicks (although Joanna the goanna very nearly stole the show…).

As a result, many people still assume reptiles are slimy, aggressive or quietly plotting world domination from inside a terrarium.

For the record, reptiles are not slimy, most of them are not aggressive, and only three or four are definitely plotting world domination.

A National Reptile Keepers Day could help replace myths with facts through school visits, local events and social media campaigns. Once people meet a calm corn snake or a sleepy leopard gecko, they often realise reptiles are fascinating rather than frightening. They might also learn that snakes do not chase people, tortoises are not simply turtles with a better work ethic, and your neighbour’s gecko is probably not judging you for screaming when you saw it.

Although, to be fair, it might be.

The day could also do a great deal for animal welfare. Reptiles are wonderful pets, but they are not the sort of animals you can look after by guessing and hoping for the best. They need the right heating, lighting, humidity, diet and space. They also need fewer children tapping on the glass every twelve seconds like they are trying to skip to the next video.

National Reptile Keepers Day could encourage experienced owners to share advice and help new keepers avoid common mistakes. Workshops and talks could explain how to set up an enclosure, what different species need and how to recognise signs of illness.

This would be useful because somewhere, right now, someone is looking at an iguana and asking, “Can this thing eat a crisp sandwich?”

The answer is no.

Your iguana has standards.

The day would also help bring reptile keepers together. Dog owners can meet one another in parks. Cat owners can exchange stories about being emotionally manipulated by a six-pound malevolent dictator. Reptile owners, however, often find themselves having to explain things like, “No, my snake is not evil,” or “Yes, I do keep frozen mice in the freezer, and no, they’re not for the kids to eat.”

National Reptile Keepers Day would give reptile enthusiasts a chance to connect, swap advice and proudly share photos of their pets doing thrilling activities such as sitting on a rock, looking slightly to the left or falling asleep in a plant pot.

To most people, that may not sound very exciting.

To reptile keepers, those are treasured memories.

The day could also shine a light on reptile rescue centres and conservation projects. Many reptiles are bought on impulse because they look small, adorable and easy to care for. Then people discover that the “tiny little tortoise” will live for eighty years, require specialist care and eventually inherit the house.

By raising awareness, National Reptile Keepers Day could encourage more responsible pet ownership. People would be more likely to research a species properly before bringing it home, and rescue centres could gain much-needed support through donations, volunteering and adoptions.

Most of all, though, National Reptile Keepers Day would give reptile owners the recognition they deserve. Reptile keepers put enormous effort into caring for their animals. They spend hours researching temperatures, cleaning enclosures and discussing UVB lighting with the intensity of a university professor defending a thesis.

Yet society rarely notices.

There are days for dogs. There are days for cats. There are almost certainly six separate days dedicated to coffee. Meanwhile, reptile keepers are quietly standing in the corner saying, “My gecko learned to trust me,” while everyone else is distracted by a golden retriever wearing sunglasses.

National Reptile Keepers Day would finally be their moment. There could be awards for the best enclosure, fundraisers for rescue centres, reptile-themed cakes and perhaps even a parade.

Admittedly, it would be an unusually slow parade because the tortoises would insist on leading it.

Still, it would be worth the wait.

Because reptiles are not scary monsters or cold little statues that happen to eat insects. They are remarkable animals with their own quirks and personalities.

Even if some of those personalities involve staring at a wall for six hours and then suddenly sprinting across the room as though they have remembered an urgent appointment.

And honestly, if that is not worth celebrating, what is?

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