Creepy crawlies man's best friend

FORGET fur, Bundy pet owners love scales, stingers, spikes and scares.

Boylans Garden and Pet Manager Wendy Robson with a Pink Tongue Lizard. Picture: Darryn Smith

FORGET fur, Bundy pet owners love scales, stingers, spikes and scares.

Boylans Garden and Pet manager Wendy Robson said snakes, scorpions, spiders and lizards were some of the shop’s biggest sellers.

“There are a lot more people buying reptiles these days,” she said.

“There is a lot of interest in these animals than a few years ago, especially among young boys.”

Mrs Robson said the main draw of these creepy critters was most likely due to their low maintenance needs.

“They are a lot easier to take care of than a cat or a dog,” she said.

“They need to be fed and walked every day where a snake only needs feeding once a week and can be left alone for days.”

Mrs Robson said pet owners loved their creepy crawlies just as much as most people loved their dog.

“We have a woman who carries her bird-eating spider with her everywhere,” she said.

RSPCA Bundaberg manager Vicki Beer said people who are short on time would be better off with a snake, spider, lizard, scorpion, bird or fish rather than a dog or cat.

“They don’t need as much vet care or attention,” she said.

“We don’t usually get these animals in but we have taken care of a few stray snakes before.”

Mrs Beer said potential pet owners needed to carefully consider their choices when purchasing a pet.

“You can’t just buy an animal and neglect it,” she said.

“They should be part of the family.”

Biggest sellers

The most popular creepy pets at Boylans Garden and Pet are;

• Blue Tongue Lizards
• Bearded Dragons
• Snakes
• Scorpions
• Spiders

Originally published as Creepy crawlies man's best friend