BARRIE ADVANCE (Ontario) 26 April 05 Demystifying reptiles as pets (Elizabeth Koning)
They prefer a tasty dish of crickets, worms, and frozen rodents but, according to Chris Naylor and Jenny Kovats-Naylor, they are ideal easy-to-keep pets.
Dubbed "Barrie's unofficial free zoo" by customers, The Reptile Wrangler in Barrie has been selling snakes, lizards, turtles, and amphibians, since it opened in February of 2004.
Even though they don't allow holding and petting of the animals, the owners are busy, especially on weekends, with customers coming to purchase and observe the variety of displays featuring the slimy and slithering reptiles.
"One of the reasons we're so popular is because they are always seeing the same face," said Kovats-Naylor who, along with her husband, not only runs, but works in the store. "We have a lot of really nice, loyal customers."
With the number changing often, the store usually holds more than 100 animals, including the most popular sellers, the bearded dragon, which they breed themselves, the leopard gecko, and the corn snake.
A common misconception that comes with selling reptiles, is the possibility of poisonous breeds, but Naylor assures they sell nothing poisonous, and all their pets are safe. Though they are ideal for children with the common allergy of cats and dogs, their pets can do their share of biting.
"Really, anything with a mouth could bite," said Naylor, who added it's just like any other pet with teeth. "It's great breaking down the phobias and seeing people who were afraid get one of these pets and actually enjoy them," said Kovats-Naylor, who worked with animals for 13 years as a registered veterinary technician in Toronto.
Each week their inventory of animals varies, with some monitor lizards as large as two metres, or dart frogs as small as two inches. The life span of many snakes and lizards ends in their teen years, but most tortoises can live to be more than 100 years old.
Naylor explains the reptiles they sell are easy to manage, not needing to be walked ,only requiring to be fed once a week, and ideal for someone "looking for something a little more exotic."
The couple does stress, "All the reptiles are not native to Canada, but are captive bred in Canada."
For those taking their first crack at animal life, the shop has starter kits available, as well as feeders and supplies, which include everything from educational books to decorations. Prices range from $6.99 for newts to more than $1,000 for some of their tortoise species. Unlike the traditional house-broken cats and dogs, their pets are required to be kept in terrariums and glassed-in cages. You won't find these animals wandering freely around the house.
As well as the store, Naylor and Kovats-Naylor enjoy "educating people properly" with their educational presentations at school groups, malls, public displays, and birthday parties
For more information, call 737-1008, or visit the store at 12 Commerce Park Dr.
**Before bringing an exotic pet home, check with the Barrie Bylaw Enforcement Office, 739-4241, regarding any possible restrictions on the types of animals allowed in residences.
Demystifying reptiles as pets