PSA: Bringing Home Reptiles When Your Parents Dont Approve

Never bring a reptile home if your parents are not okay with it/have not approved it!

Reptiles are very rewarding pets and are a joy to keep! Most species are low maintenance and fun to care for, and it is always exciting to bring a new reptile home.

However, if you are in a situation where you still live with your parents, you must ensure that they are okay with you bringing home a reptile (or any kind of pet!). Many people are uncomfortable with reptiles and invertebrates, and do not want them in their house. While you can do your best to educate and convince them, if they say no, do NOT go ahead and bring one home regardless.

If you are living with your parents, their house = their rules. They are allowed to decide which animals (if any) are allowed in their home. Even if you will be the one caring and paying for the animal, it is ultimately their decision.

If they say no, don’t bring one home!

Bringing a reptile home without your parents’ approval usually ends badly. Your parents will most likely make you get rid of the animal. This is stressful for the reptile and completely unnecessary. It is irresponsible and disrespectful to bring an animal home if you were told not to.

As I’ve said before in previous posts, you should be positive that you can provide a forever home for any reptile you buy/adopt. You have to be sure you have the money to pay for ongoing expenses (including vet bills), the space to properly house the reptile, and the time to properly care for it. And, of course, do a lot of research before bringing any animal home!

While it sucks to have to wait to get a reptile you really want, it’s much more responsible to make sure it will have a forever home with the proper care it requires. It may seem like forever away, but the wait will be worth it.

This also applies to apartment complexes/dorm rooms where reptiles are not permitted. It can only end badly! Most of the time, you will have to rehome your reptile.-@Psii