About Reptile Adoption
Adopting a reptile from a rescue offers a truly unique and rewarding experience. Usually, these resilient little creatures have gone through extensive rehabilitation, received specialized care for any health or behavioral issues, and become somewhat more socialized. When you bring a rescue reptile into your home, expect a period of adjustment as they get used to their new surroundings. Don't try to handle them immediately, no matter how tempting it might be! Patience and slow, gradual introductions are essential. Here at Jonathan's Reptiles, we will do our best to provide you with helpful information about the reptile's background and any specific care needs they might have. However, YOU will need to be ready to continue the caring approach started by J.R., ensuring your new scaley (or slimy) friend has a safe and enriching home.
adoptable reptiles
As of September 2025, we have a few reptiles available for adoption. If we don’t have the reptile you’re looking for, please contact us to join our list of interested adopters, and we will keep you informed about local herps needing a home that match your interests. Please note that those interested in adoption must complete our adoption application at the time of adoption. Submitting the adoption application is not required for those simply interested in adopting available reptiles.
Am I ready to Adopt?
- Am I in a position to provide food, lighting, enclosures, expensive veterinary care, and other various expenses for my reptile's long lifespan? Do I have money set aside and saved for this?
- Will I be able to provide an appropriately sized enclosure for my animal as it grows?
- Would I be okay being bitten, scratched, stung, or tail-whipped by my animal?
- Have I researched the complex husbandry needs of my animal?
- Do I have a backup plan if I can no longer care for my herpetile? If my power or heat goes out?
- Do I have contact information for an emergency/routine pet sitter or reptile veterinarian?
What Kind of Herptile Do I Want?
- Am I comfortable handling or feeding live insects? Frozen/thawed rodents or poultry to feed my reptile?
- Do I want a reptile that stays small? Am I prepared for something larger?
- What is the largest size enclosure I can accommodate in my current living situation?
- Do I want an animal that tolerates being handled? Or am I okay with a display-only animal?
- What is my budget? (For lifetime care).
- What level of cleaning/maintenance am I prepared for?
- Do I want to co-habitate my reptile? (Hint....This answer should be NO, except in rare scenarios.)
- Do I want a reptile that eats daily? Weekly? Monthly?