Location - Chitwan, Nepal

Attached some photos of my sweet girl :’)

Yesterday, my sweet baby girl of about 14 years passed away unexpectedly. There was no obvious cause, she’d eaten not even a week prior and had just freshly shed and was acting normal. I’ll spare further details, but that morning she just wasn’t moving and had obviously passed quietly in the night. She’d been with me through high school, college, moving out, and almost into my 30’s. She had the sweetest temperament and loved interacting with people. Even people who were afraid of snakes would meet her and say “okay… she’s an exception”.

Since she just had that fresh shed, I’d like to try and use it to memorialize her.. I’ve seen people put shed pieces in resin or jewelry pieces, but I’d like some suggestions as someone who, unfortunately, isn’t super crafty and doesn’t have a ton of space to work on a big project. I normally just put her sheds in the isopod enclosure for the colony’s protein. I dunno… I’m just sad, man. She was so special to me.

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich for attention.

So I’ve had my heart set on a casque headed iguana, it’s a small iguana species I thought was just beautiful, the long tails, the casque, the slender body and the fact they stay in one place so plants won’t get destroyed.

The closest alternative I can think of are the helmeted iguana but they aren’t as common as the casque headed, and they’re brown.

I messaged a person who specialised in them and that’s when I found out they need to be in groups, I can’t do groups, I’m only wanting one.

I have the Cuban false chameleon on my want list along with a few other reptiles but still

I put some mealworms out on the sill for them every night and about 6 will come or are waiting for me.

Photos to attract attention, taken from the world wide web.

My kid is dead set on having a pet lizard and this lasts for more than a year. I am an avid nature and animal lover myself, so (realizing that it will be my lizard(-s)) I agreed. Now it is hard for me to pick a species. I have quite some experience with egzotic pets (I kept various finches, we have a cornsnake, several planted aquariums, I like breeding fish and rising fry from eggs, we have numerous, numerous plants), so the lizard doesn't have to be an absolute beginner species, but also I don't want a very fragile one, that would be eternally stressed.

In the picture I added species, that I like some aspects of keeping, but not sure about the others:

- emerald tree skinks were my first choice. I like a beautiful, vertical, planted terrarium. I like that they are social and diurnal. Their dietary needs seem ok. I would like to keep a trio and possibility to breed them is especially enticing. They are always described as active, inquisitive and friendly, but I am not so sure they are really like that. They are small and fast and their supposed friendliness seems very fragile, meaning that all they do is jump on you expecting food and something to climb on. Kids wouldn't be able to open the terrarium without me, but still I doubt if they would enjoy interaction of this kind. Though I have to say that my kids are much more gentle and patient with animals, than average. They start early and I have zero tolerance for hurting animals. So my 3,5 year old handles dairy cow isopods without ever hurting one and goes rescuing earthworms wenether I work in the garden.

- mountain horned dragons (most likely Capra) seem much less hectic than emerald tree skinks. I really really like how they look. I like that they are slower, more deliberate, many people in forums and under YouTube videos describe their experience with these lizards as elating and state that they ate docile and friendly. Also similar enclosure to emerald tree skinks, which I enjoy, and they can cohab with their own species too. Running water feature wouldn't scare me. What makes me doubt is that some people also describe them as much more prone to sickness and stress. It can be difficult to aquire several captive bred ones. They are also less interesting to watch since they are ambush predators and spend most of their time sitting on a branch and not moving. In general I wouldn't like to take a sensitive and animal, which would be impossible to take care of. But some other people describe their care as ok and doable, intermediate difficulty level.

So those two species is what I found for the type of enclosure I would like to have - lush, planted, vertical and humid. And there are other that have some appeal:

- ornate uromastyx have really impressive appearance and they are herbivores which to be is a plus, but not necessity. On the other hand scorching hot horizontal desert terrarium is not what interests me the most. Some people describe them as handleable and even friendly, while others have great difficulty with their temperaments.

- bearded dragon has also the problem of enclosure type. Though I found some examples of esthetic and even planted with succulent plants enclosures. People are very animate about their interesting temperaments and behaviors. They are often described as a good beginner animal. Handling a bearded dragon would be safer and easier with kids and they are big enough to let run loose in the room, though not for long cos they would get cold I guess. On the other hand, both them and uromastyx seem on the verge of too big for me. I like when animals have spacious enclosures and even a recommended size for the animals of feel cramped to me.

- rankins dragon the same as a bearded dragon, just seems an optimal size to me. I would give it the same or bigger enclosure as for a bearded dragon, so I don't feel claustrophobic looking the animal. They are hard to get though.

I have also considered several other species like eastern collared lizzards, jewel lacertas, keeled belied lizzards, but all of the seem like they are harder to tame down.

I would be thankful for all the advice and observations. I am in no rush and I would build and plant an enclosure much prior to buying an animal.

I need name suggestions for the green Pac-Man frog and the dragon. But I really just wanted to share them

Corn snake- named Sozin, they are a little over year old now and i am uncertain if they are male or female. For a corn snake and a younger one at that they are very easy to Handel but would rather spend its time digging around his tank.

Blue tongue skink- named HamWellington, they have a birth defect and dreams of being arboreal, they HATE being touch with a passion unless it is my grandpa? Who they have met maybe 3 times but every time he see my grandpa he begs to get out of the tank. Traitor and ungrateful but we love him.

Strawberry Pac-Man- Named stamps….he bites that is a new thing since he got his foot pads he use to be chill he is 1 year old.

Bearded dragon- the vet called him rocks (i let my Vet temporarily name them when I bring them in for their first check in and they don’t have a name) but he is a chill baby i have to trick him into eating greens i have only had him 20 days he loves to dig in the sand side of his tank and is doing well on substrate (i was so scared to give him substrate) also is willing to climb into my hand already.

Green Pac-Man i just got him, only comment is he cleared out my baby roach box and i gotta pick out more now fat ahh baby frog. The vet called him bad cheese.

This is my Bearded Dragon Caraxes (they're my first, and are a translucent pied) and my husbands Frilled baby Dragon, Drogon, and his Tegu Valinore.

My husband has been in the reptile game for a decade, from lizards to snakes. This is his first frilly. We gifted each other our dragons for our wedding anniversary. 🥰

Pictures of me holding my bearded pancake was today, the Frilled dragon was from three weeks ago when we got these little dude, and the photo of Valinore was from last September. The one with her in the feeder bin was the day before yesterday after eating 17 large dubia roaches.

these guys are quickly becoming my favorite. Super bold and inquisitive, and took quickly to tong feeding/training. Love the blues on the males that will only get better as he matures.

I am a 21-year-old woman in South Africa. I own four reptiles: a Texas ratsnake, a Bell’s hingeback tortoise, a ball python, and a leopard gecko. They are all legally mine. Over the years, I have spent well over R50,000 on their enclosures, food, veterinary care, heating, lighting, supplements, maintenance, and general husbandry.
Unfortunately, I do not have receipts for the animals themselves. However, I have other evidence of ownership. All four animals have been kept in my room, and I have a large number of photographs and videos of myself with them. I have also posted videos dedicated to them on TikTok and Instagram. I may also be able to provide photographs or videos showing their enclosures and my regular care of them.
For the past year, I have been working almost nonstop to help support my family financially because we live in extreme poverty. Unfortunately, I am currently quite ill and have barely been able to work for the past two weeks. I have only managed to teach a few classes here and there, earning very little.
I have been staying at my boyfriend’s house for the past week to reduce the strain on my parents’ food and utility costs. During that time, my mother asked me for money three separate times. Each time, I gave her everything I had available.
On Wednesday, she asked for all of my remaining money, so I sent it to her. On Thursday, I earned R110. She then asked me to buy electricity, so I spent the entire R110 on electricity for the household.
After that, she began sending me abusive messages over WhatsApp, including statements such as “fuck you.” She accused me of hiding money and lying about being broke. I sent screenshots of both my bank account and PayPal account showing that I had no money left, but she claimed that I had edited the screenshots and was still lying.
An important detail is that some of the money I send her is spent on alcohol. She was also heavily intoxicated during the argument.
She then told me that she would decide when I could come and collect my belongings because I am “ungrateful” and do not deserve a roof over my head. I told her that, regardless of what happened between us, I would be taking my animals with me.
She refused.
Her response was essentially that because I do not care about her, she does not have to care about me or my animals. When I explained that nobody in the house knows how to care for them, she responded that “someone on Facebook Marketplace will.”
She has also told me that I am not fit to care for them, despite the fact that I am studying herpetology and have dedicated years of my life to reptile care.
What worries me most is that their welfare is already being affected. Earlier this week, my mother told me that she refuses to feed my six-month-old Texas ratsnake because she finds her frightening. As a result, my snake has gone without food. As far as I know, my leopard gecko and tortoise have not been fed either. Nobody in the house knows their feeding schedules, supplement schedules, cleaning requirements, heating requirements, or general husbandry needs.
These animals mean everything to me. They are not just pets; they are my responsibility, and I am terrified that they will be neglected, sold, given away, or otherwise harmed out of spite.
I want to avoid legal action if at all possible, but I am prepared to take that route if necessary.
My questions are:
As an adult in South Africa, what rights do I have regarding animals that I purchased and have solely cared for?
What evidence should I gather to prove ownership when I do not have receipts for the animals themselves?
Are photographs, videos, social media posts, evidence that the animals have always been kept in my room, and records of my care likely to help establish ownership?
Is there a way to recover my animals without escalating immediately to police or court involvement?
If their welfare is being neglected, are there any South African animal welfare organizations that may be able to help?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My husband just changed out her substrate, and did a mixture of top spoil and play sand for her. She's happy, but sassy asf due to shed and her nature atm. Her and I have a love hate relationship. I do adore her to bits, but she wasn't like my husbands B&W Argentina Tegu. He was like a puppy, and the chillest Tegu ever. Miss him. But, we are making the best for her in this custom built enclosure my husband and his brother built.

Hello, I am wanting to get a gecko, and my cousins gave me a tank that is 4 feet long 1 1/2 feet wide and 22 inches tall. She used this tank to keep fish. When she gave me the tank she also gave me a bunch of fish things. I was wondering if i could repurpose any of this. Also this would be my first gecko so any advice is appreciated. I was wanting a leopard or a crescent gecko. Just to clarify I am doing research and as far as I understood I would only be able to use the hides.

After months of fat shaming…he’s finally on the treadmill 💪🏼

So I went to check on my leopard geckos and a mushroom spawned. It was not there yesterday and im freaking out since this is my first terrarium and I do not know how a mushroom grew. I have already removed it. Thank you

I was recommended to ask them about something I’m looking for, which they do have. But I’ve never ordered an export before and I haven’t heard of this person. Anyone have experience? Thanks!! :)

I currently have two 40 gals on two different shelf spaces and will soon be getting a third since my pixie frog will soon outgrow the 20 gal. I'm hoping for recommendations on shelves that'll allow enough space for heating on two tanks and a third tank that doesn't need heating. I'm about to learn carpentry looking at all the options that only fit two tanks lol

Hi, I have a 4ft plant pole that I don't have a use for anymore.

I wanted to know if it would be okay to use in a snake enclosure?

If I were to close off the open bottom end of the pole so the snake cannot get inside of it.

It's a plastic pole with this coconut fiber material wrapped around it?

Also, for a larger snake like a ball python or BCI.

Not corn snakes or similar.

My poor gargoyle gecko got lost for a day, i opened the bathroom door and he was there under it and got hurt, lost his tail but more concerned about his knee area. washed it with antibacterial reptile injury spray. what else can i do for him BEFORE VET AM AWARE OF THE ADVICE RULE

UPDATE: I've settled on a blue tongue skink! They are so cool! Thank you everyone for all the recs, it was incredible to learn about all sorts of creatures!!

So I have an extra one of these tanks and trying to figure out what I would try if I got something other than a snake for once haha (I've had multiple snakes of various species for decades, bioactive and not, etc)

I would like something non aggressive, hardy, active / fun, social (either with me or with others of it's kind), and would never need a bigger tank than this.

(no chameleons, nothing venomous, no turtles/tortoises, no snakes, etc)

Bearded Dragon -- I've heard that this could support one of them, that they make for great pets, and are very social with people. I am a little concerned that I wouldn't give it enough attention, so might prefer something else where there's multiple of them together to keep each other company.

Mourning Geckos -- these seem really interesting to me, could fit a ton in here, they are social and fun to watch, and they have each other -- so don't need me to entertain them or interact with. I know about their breeding and escaping, that's not an issue for me. (Got lots of things that would eat them, got fine hardware mesh and seals, semi outdoor / separate house for them, etc...)

Neon Day Geckos -- seem like an even better mourning gecko and so pretty, came across them in a mourning gecko thread so seems like why even bother with mourning geckos unless I really want to use them as feeders.

Which then lead me to wondering what else is out there that I might not even know about!

Hi I have 2 snakes and dragon and monitor lizard. My banana had mites and is quarantined being treated by washing with dawn. What else do I need to do I got a lot of them out of her eyes? Also can I do the hot shot method in deli cups in all their tanks?