PRO:
1) Reptiles don't shed, so no allergic reactions. However, if you're allergic to rodents, a snake might not be for you.
2) Most reptiles can be left alone for a long weekend, unlike a dog.
3) Some reptiles don't make noise - no barking to wake up the neighbors. (Sorry, but my iguana can plenty of noise when she thinks I'm too late with breakfast - lots of clanging and banging and scratching on the front of the enclosure.)

CON:
1) There is a greater risk of salmonella, even though dogs and cats can carry it, also.
2) Harder to find a vet that can care for a reptile.
4) Harder to find a pet sitter that can care for a reptile.
3) Some reptiles are harder to care for than dogs or cats. My iguana was as much work as my dog, more so in some cases. She needs a freshly prepared salad every morning, while the dog just needed a few scoops of dry kibble. Some tortoises grow so large that they need thier own room in the winter and need an acre to roam and graze in the summeer - eat like a cow, deficate like a cow. Red-eared slider turtles need very large aquariums or outdoor fenced-in ponds, at least 55 gallons, but more often 75 gallons or more.

Katrina

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