By Elle Logue and Laurel Merrick,
Managing Editors.
These pets may be cold-blooded and look at you like their next meal, but they still warm hearts across Santa Rosa High School. Here, we’ll look into the lives of our fellow students’ reptilian pets. Reptiles aren’t for everybody — the beady eyes, prickly claws, uncanny slithering and smooth scales — but that doesn’t mean these creatures don’t also have great qualities that make them amazing pets. While the rest of us have been caught up in our cat vs. dog debates, these owners have been enjoying the friendship of their cold-blooded companions.
Who knew that panthers and geckos could get along? In fact, sophomore Peyton Patrick has owned her leopard gecko Gizmo for three and a half years and gave her a name from the movie Gremlins. Gizmo has a diet consisting of mealworms, and Patrick commented that her “favorite thing about Gizmo is feeding her because she gets really excited and she is fun to watch.” Leopard geckos sport stylish spots, detachable tails and adorable smiles. “I chose this type of pet because they are easy to take care of, really cute and don’t take up a lot of space,” said Patrick; for anyone interested in getting a reptilian pet, the leopard gecko is a great species to start out with.
But it’s not just geckos that are found in the homes of SRHS students. Snakes have managed to slither their way into the heart of junior Aiden Williams, who owns two: a corn snake, Noodle, and a ball python, Monty. Williams said, “My favorite thing about them is how curious they are, especially Noodle, who loves to watch me from across the room.” Williams recommends that if you want to get a snake, buy directly from a breeder, as big corporations may not have ethical animal handling.
Reptiles have proven themselves to be great companions, whether a gecko, a snake or anything in between. They may not have the charming god-complex of a cat or the aggressive friendliness of a dog, but they have their own unique qualities that make them just as good as pets to have. If you’re looking for a new pet, consider following in your peers’ footsteps and looking into reptiles!
