Page 5 - Kind News, March/April 2021

REPTILE CHECKLIST
ARE YOU GAGA
OVER GECKOS?
FIND SNAKES
SENSATIONAL?
For Jeremiah Thomas,
reptiles are part of the
family. When he was
five, his favorite movie
had a dragon in it. At
Christmas, he got the
closest thing to one:
a bearded dragon,
a reptile native to
Australia. Jeremiah
named him “Spike”
after his spiky beard. “This was the best
present my parents ever got me,” he says.
“Then I realized I have all this responsibility.”
Jeremiah had to learn about the hot, dry climate
bearded dragons live in and how to recreate it in
enclosures, or sealed off spaces, in his bedroom
and his yard. He learned about substrate or
bedding for the habitat, cleaning, and diet. He
feeds Spike carrots, strawberries, leafy greens,
waxworms, and hornworms.
Now 13, Jeremiah has learned what Spike is
feeling through his facial expressions. He even has
dirty looks! His family has added a crested gecko
named Phoenix and a ball python named Mulan.
“Sometimes when I watch YouTube, Mulan watches
with me and rubs her body on the screen,” says
facing pages: redrover. Jeremiah. “Spike just stares at me the whole time
which is a funny moment. They love screens.”
Jeremiah’s advice to other young people
wanting a reptile friend? “Do your research.
Show kindness. Be responsible.”
Jeremiah’s mother, Magdalena Thomas,
wrote a children’s book called The Adventures
of Spike & Jeremiah about her son and his
years of fun with his beloved bearded dragon.
You can find out more about the book — and the
duo's work to teach others about reptiles — at
TheAdventuresofSpikeandJeremiah.com.
What should you think about before adding a
reptile to your family? Jessica Watters is Jr. Herp
Club Coordinator at San Diego Herpetological Society.
(“Herp" is short for herpetofauna, a name for amphibians
and reptiles as a group.) She says everyone in your
family should go through this checklist:
Are you OK with feeding live animals to
your pet? Many reptiles require live prey,
from insects to small mammals.
Do you have the time? “If you have time to
care for a cat, you probably have time to care
for a reptile,” Watters says.
Do you have the space? Some reptiles require
a large terrarium to move around in. Some need
a separate space for exercise.
Can you provide a natural habitat? “[Reptiles]
require certain ‘furniture’ in their habitat from
perches to substrate and plants,” says Watters.
You must also maintain the right heat and
moisture in the air.
Can you afford it? “The cost can be quite steep,”
says Watters, and includes a special diet and
veterinarian who focuses on exotic animals.
Did you do your homework? Research your
species of choice and the best place to get one.
“There are so many rescued reptiles out there,
and you can find the most commonly owned
reptiles available for adoption,” Watters says.
“A quick internet search can lead you to your
local rescue or herp society.”
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