| Reptiles like bearded dragons, snakes,and geckos are | | | | of the day. They require less attention than other |
| now such popular pets that they outnumber dogs, | | | | caged animals, as their waste is dry and solid. |
| new research has discovered. | | | | The calculation of reptile numbers has been made |
| Who would have thought that could ever be the | | | | from the volume of food suppliers to the market, |
| case in Britain, where we have always been known | | | | based on things like insects and mice. Since 2004 |
| as as a nation of dog lovers. Seems like the dog has | | | | when the reptile populations was recorded as 5m, |
| gone the way of fish and chips, which itself has been | | | | sales of crickets has doubled from 10 to 20m a |
| replaced by curry as our most popular dish. | | | | week, Locusts had more than quadrupled to around a |
| Calculations by the British Federation of | | | | million a week. |
| Herpetologists (BFH) indicates that there are now as | | | | The five most popular species are {leopard geckos, |
| many as 8,000,000 reptiles and amphibians being kept | | | | bearded dragons, corn snakes, royal pythons (ball |
| as pets in the UK. This compares to an estimated | | | | pythons), and Hermann's tortoises| bearded dragons, |
| dog population of 6.5 million. | | | | corn snakes| leopard geckos| royal pythons (ball |
| Chairman of the Federation, Chris Newman said: | | | | pythons), and Hermann's tortoises. |
| "There are now, without question, more pet reptiles | | | | Other common species are the colubrid snake, veiled |
| than pet dogs in the UK. You only have to look at | | | | chameleon and crested gecko. Which is now the fifth |
| the way the market has grown. I have no doubt | | | | most commonly bred lizard in captivity. |
| that there are now between seven and eight million | | | | The biggest snakes being kept as pets are thought |
| reptiles living as pets in the UK?. | | | | to be Burmese pythons, which can grow up to 20ft |
| Reptiles' popularity as everyday pets has grown rapid | | | | in length, with the biggest lizards being water |
| rise in numbers. They have moved into mainstream | | | | monitors, which can reach sizes of up to 7ft. |
| form being niche. | | | | One of the most common reptiles is the bearded |
| Reptiles fit into a busy life as they are more time | | | | dragon, they are very sociable and are happy to sit |
| friendly, and can also be easier to keep, than | | | | on your lap watching TV, then run off around the |
| traditional cats and dogs.numbers is so rapid that | | | | room for a bit of fun, many report that they fit in |
| within years they will surpass the country's nine million | | | | well with their existing more tradition pets also. |
| cats to become Britain's first choice pet. | | | | Although it is an odd sight to see a dog, a cat a |
| Reptiles are fairly inexpensive to to set up and look | | | | tortoise and a lizard all curled up together in front of |
| after. Most are kept in heated tanks for at least part | | | | the fire! |