There are more reptiles who are entering Canadian homes today than ever before. Whether it’s a snake who is relaxing in a heated tank, a gecko under a UV lamp or even a tortoise slowly but surely exploring its surroundings. No matter what kind of reptile you own, it comes with a high need of responsibility and awareness.
Reptiles are very complex animals with specific environmental and dietary needs, and as we see the ownership of reptiles gradually increasing, education and specialized care are becoming essential parts of Canada’s fast-growing reptile community.
Colombian Gold Tegu resting on a rock at Reptilia London, Feb. 24, 2026. (Evan Frederiksen/XFM News)
Recent industry research shows that younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are playing a big role in fueling the rise of reptile ownership as they make up about a third of all reptile owners, a significant jump in recent years as reptiles become more popular in pet culture.
Among Fanshawe College students, opinions surrounding potentially owning a reptile were a mix, as some were hesitant, but some were open to the idea.
“I have a pet cat and I love it, and it’s great. I think they bring a lot of friendship to lonely moments in life,” said Luke Dawson. “I would not have a pet reptile because they’re kind of slimy and not very cuddly and frankly, I just feel bad for the reptile.”
For others, fear plays a significant role in their willingness to own a reptile.
“I would not, because reptiles like snakes and spiders are my biggest fear, so I would not want to have one around my house, especially if it gets out of the cage,” said Jasiu Nowak. “Lizard wouldn’t be bad, but the way they move just kind of creeps me out.”
But not all students feel that discomfort.
“So right now I have a little dog named Milo. He’s a cockapoo. Love him,” said Phillip Millawrd. “I’ve thought about getting a cat, you know. I’ve thought about getting another dog, something kind of normal. But then I’ve also thought about getting something a little more unique, like a gecko or a bearded dragon, you know, because I think it’d be cool. They’ve got a lot of personality. There’s something unique, you know. I would totally get one.”
“I don’t have a reptile, but I see myself getting one in the future,” said another Fanshawe student who wished to remain anonymous. “I think they’re great. They don’t need too much. I mean, you don’t need to be taking care of them all the time and stuff. Maybe a snake. I feel amazed by those animals, and I’d like to get one in the future.”
African Spurred Tortoise at Reptilia London, Feb. 24, 2026. (Evan Frederiksen/XFM News)
But while curiosity about reptiles is growing, the realities of their care, rescues and everyday management are less well understood.
For facilities like Reptilia London, bridging that gap is one of the many goals they have. Ashley Maika, the Community Engagement Coordinator for Reptilia London, works in both community outreach and hands-on reptile care.
“Part of my job is actually visiting different organizations in the community, whether that is local libraries and helping them partner with us to have passes available for maybe those who might find it a little bit costly to have the whole family visit, or just in general allowing people to have that experience that may not otherwise be able to visit Reptilia,” Maika said.
Ashley Maika holding a corn snake, Linguini, at Reptilia London, Feb. 24, 2026. (Evan Frederiksen/XFM News)
Maika also works with the animals as a zookeeper, giving her important insight as to what the responsibility involved for taking caring of reptiles looks like.
“With the animals that we care for, we do have over 250 animals at any given location, almost a thousand overall at all three Reptilia’s, and over 75 percent of them are going to be rescues or surrenders,” Maika said. “That can include little corn snakes that were found abandoned or species that people realized were more work than they expected.”
The long term commitment is a factor many new owners may not initially realize.
“Even a little corn snake can live 25 to 30 years,” Maika said. “They can definitely be a huge commitment if you’re not really sure what you’re signing up for.”
Behind the exhibits, daily care involves detailed environmental management that is designed to mirror what the reptiles would see in the wild.
“Every single exhibit is meant to imitate their wild environment,” Maika said. “We need to make sure that we’re keeping their humidities the way that they would like it in the wild so they don’t develop any health conditions or skin problems.”
Education also goes hand-in-hand with the daily care of the reptiles.
“When people visit, every single time we aim to have every single guest learn something new on every visit,” Maika said. “Especially with a species that doesn’t really look like us, oftentimes they are the ones that garner the most fear, and we want them to feel a little bit more connected with them so they ultimately care more.”
Burmese Python at Reptilia London, Feb. 24, 2026. (Evan Frederiksen/XFM News)
Painted turtle at Reptilia London, Feb. 24, 2026. (Evan Frederiksen/XFM News)
As reptile ownership continues to grow in Canada, the contrast between perception and reality becomes clearer. Some see reptiles as intimidating.
Others assume they require little effort. But in reailty, the factors needed to even entertain owning a reptile require responsible ownership, research and long-term commitment.
In a time of rising interest, Reptilia London is proving to be more than a zoo, it is a professional standard for care, rescue and education within Canada’s expanding reptile community.
