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How to answer the question, "Why would you own a reptile?"

It's never an easy one to answer with any sort of uniformity that leads to the Inquirer reaching real internal resolve. And here's the key to it all, in one concise truth: unless you own now or have ever owned a reptile, then the possibility of coming to a definitive understanding of the desire to own them is almost impossible. Fact is, short of having the desire naturally, or living with someone who has the desire and being influenced by it, owning a reptile seems to make about as much sense as keeping a pet rock.

"They're cold-blooded. It's not like it's a cat or dog, that you can play with."

Heard this one enough that I can usually finish the question within three words. And it's pretty much true. Before anyone starts hurling meal worms or pinkies at me, let me clarify: reptiles do have personalities. Some subtle, some not so much. The species can determine personality. The breed of species can influence personality. Hell, the anomaly of differing animals within the same species from the same breeder can lead to differing personalities. And, of course, husbandry and handling play a huge role in the personality of a pet. Keep a Columbian Red-Tail Boa or Burmese Python (or, hell, a healthy, virile male Iguana for that matter) for years and never take it out and handle it, and you can bet it will have personality. Albeit the Hannibal Lecter variety. But, oh yes, personality it will have.

"But aren't they slimy and disgusting?"

No. There's really no better way to put it than that, is there?

"They're dangerous. I've read so many stories of people getting killed by their own snake."

True. The larger species of snakes, and some of the larger Monitor lizards, are, in fact, dangerous. So are many breeds of dogs. Horses are dangerous. One swift kick from Blacky the Stallion can rearrange the internal organs with little to no effort from the horse.

Reptile owners know one thing: reptiles aren't domesticated. They're conditioned. They know your smell. If they're small, handle them enough and they understand you're not there to harm them, but to feed them and care for them. If they're large, handle them enough and they understand the same thing, plus an added bonus: you're not food. Mostly.

With nearly every horror story I've read in a paper or heard on a news report about a reptile killing its owner, one correlating bit of the human condition has been present: overconfidence. In many cases, the amount of overconfidence

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