The LGBT community loves their pets. Many include dogs and cats as an important part of their family (often referred to as “fur kids”) but some people prefer their pets sans fur. Reptiles, amphibians and insects are becoming more and more popular amongst people both gay and straight. These unique pets can be low maintenance, entertaining, and a great addition to your home.

“Reptiles have really become popular in recent years as people lose their fear of them and realize how cool they really are,” said Jason Clevett, president-elect of The Alberta Reptile & Amphibian Society (TARAS) and owner of Calgary Reptile Parties, which does educational programs for kids. “People do need to realize that they are a responsibility though, and do require specialized care such as lighting, supplements, and heat to name a few. Education is a major part of TARAS’ mandate, as well as why I started Reptile Parties. Hopefully people will realize that the cute little snake or lizard they see in a store could grow to be 7 feet or longer, depending on the species, and live up to forty years.”

Rich Wylder got into reptiles through friends. Two years ago he went to a reptile show in Red Deer and came home with a bearded dragon. A year later at the same show he left with a crested gecko. These two lizards are very common and popular in the pet trade, and appealed to Wylder for a number of reasons.

“As soon as I saw the dragon I couldn’t resist her. She was so cute. I hadn’t really had an interest in them before I saw her. My nephew had a snake and a veiled chameleon and I thought they were pretty cool but didn’t think I would ever have one of my own. A year later I got a harlequin crested gecko. They are nice and soft and pretty neat. Really, just going to the shows every year, the different animals and experiences…it is a bonus having an animal that is less care. I purposefully got ones that require less care so that it would be easier. It is nice to take care of them and make sure they have a good home but it is nice to have freedom with my social life and work.”

Erica Allerdings has an affinity for snakes, owning a corn snake and a boa constrictor.

“I have always been really fascinated with reptiles and bugs. It has intrigued me how they moved, lived, their whole being basically,” she said. She adopted the snakes from her girlfriend’s sister two years ago. The couple also owns a bearded dragon. “They are a lot more independent and I like that about them. They are not as clingy and needy as a dog or a cat would be. I just dig them.”

Mack Pahl’s interests lie primarily in animals with more legs - 6 to 100 to be exact. While he has a snake and a gecko, his collection is primarily made up of tarantulas, scorpions and centipedes.

“My earliest memories are of me collecting centipedes, spiders, frogs and snakes. I was never allowed to keep them for more than an hour. I was fascinated by this little world that everybody else had just passed over and treated like it was gross and disgusting. It felt like my own space, that people misunderstood and I was able to understand in a way that nobody else wanted to partake in. It was a way to express myself and expand my mind to learn more.”

Pahl’s face lights up when asked to describe some of his favorites of the 200 to 300 animals that are in his collection at any one time.

“I mostly have communal species. I have a Tanzanian flag tail centipede with two little flags on its back legs. They make a rattling noise when they are startled or scared; it is a really neat sound - some people can’t pick up on the frequency and hear it. I used to have a red knee tarantula that was over 35 years old. She died of old age a few months ago. I have a couple of scorpions that are about half a centimeter to a centimeter when fully grown. Though there are some extremely venomous scorpions like death stalkers and fat tails, the species I keep are more prone to playing dead because their venom is not potent in any way whatsoever - if they are startled they will act like they are dead. I have a couple of different communal tarantula species. One is a Trinidad Olive Dwarf Tarantula, and I have a tank with three generations and probably about 100 tarantulas in there right now.”

“The hobby has a long way to go in really getting [the average person] accustomed to reptiles,” said Clevett. “I’ve done public festivals and had people literally scream when they saw the snake on display. I was taking a photo for someone and a person behind me said ‘I just want to kill that thing. It is disgusting.’ You try and let it roll off your back, but it’s hard because it is a member of your family that they express disgust over. You just have to bite your tongue and accept they are not for everyone.”

For Wylder, Allerdings and Pahl it has been a similar experience. Allerdings’ girlfriend is at a point where she accepts the snakes in the house but wants nothing to do with them.

“Some freak out about it and are uncomfortable, I can’t bring them out. My girlfriend is actually terrified of snakes. If I bring one out when she is around she starts to jump around and freak out until I put it back. So the reaction isn’t really positive. I constantly remind her that it’s ok, he is not going to hurt her. I am not going to do anything to him to make him hurt her.”

Pahl has unfortunately had some difficult experiences due to his pets. While on the dating scene, the reaction from potential boyfriends has varied.

“Sometimes I won’t even tell someone I have the bugs at first because I have had people completely blow me off and call me a freak. I have had some rumors made up about me because of the animals I keep as pets. It is quite shallow and fickle that these people, before they even get to know me or understand my hobby automatically judge me and take what society has taught them. Instead of having an open mind they go ‘this guy is a freak.’ It has been a great conversation starter in other instances. Some people have been very intrigued by it, and want to see my entire collection or feedings. I have gotten mixed reactions, mostly negative, but a few people have really impressed me with how open minded and positive they have been.”

With the more “acceptable” lizards, Wylder says it hasn’t been an issue.

“So far I have found most of them are pretty cool with it. There are a few that are pretty skittish, they don’t understand them or the basics of what they need to be taken care of. So there has been some adverse reaction but nothing severe. Usually people are quite interested and just want to know what they are about, ask some questions and learn more about them.”

So why get a reptile or insect as a pet? The reasons given by all four that we interviewed seemed to follow a common theme – they’re unique, easy to care for, and fit their lives.

“It’s an addiction. I have over 50 animals, and that is in part because I need variety for my business, but in truth I love each and every one of them,” said Clevett. “I worked in a dog kennel once and trying to care for 50 - 100 dogs is brutal. But you can spend an average of an hour or so per day doing maintenance and feeding with a number of animals and continue on with other things in your life. They each have their own unique personality. I like that about them.”

“They are great pets but you can become very attached to them. The fact that you can go away and they will be ok as long as someone can come by and water them. It is convenient to have them and fits in my lifestyle,” added Allerdings.

“I am at school or work all the time which makes bugs a good fit. They are very economical. A small dog is going to cost you $30 - $40 in dog food every month. A Tarantula will probably cost you the same over a year. When you are feeding them five bugs a week, misting the tank for ten seconds every night, there is really not much more you need to do,” said Pahl. “Most tarantulas live in burrows to begin with. A small tank, food dish, water dish, clean it every few months and feed them once a week and they are good. You don’t have to walk them or socialize with them. You don’t need to pay attention to them they are very low maintenance.”

Wylder echoed everyone else’s thoughts, but also felt the learning process was a great motivator.

“It is a good learning experience, to know more about not only the animal and its care but to show other people and help them learn too. As well they are cute, sweet, adorable and fun to play with, just like me.”