I love critters. All kinds of critters. Though I love furry critters like the next person, I'd rather have more--ah, shall we say--unique pets than the usual dog or cat. (Besides, I'm not a dog person, and half of my family is allergic to cats. Oh, and scratches on furniture = bad.) Despite the odd looks and threats of disownment from friends and family, I have started to collect an odd plethora of other fun critters....

Zathras

It was rather lonely the couple weeks after Big Dude--my last Leopard Gecko--passed away. However, one of the amazingly nice people who work at the vet (and who took a liking to good ol' Big Dude), hatched some Leos spring 2006 and was still trying to find a good home for one of them. She called me up after learning of the loss of Big Dude and offered one of her geckos to me. I was floored...and incredibly grateful. Thank you!

Zathras is a feisty gecko--a nice mix between Big Dude and Stumpy. He's large like Big Dude and skittish like Stumpy. It's hilarious watching him eat crickets. He'll chase them all over the tank, and get all excited when he corners one, wiggling the tip of his tail before pouncing.

Geneva

Geneva hatched on March 2, 2009, at midnight. I got the egg from my friend Kim, who has four fat-tail geckos. I'm currently incubating what I hope will be a male.

Leto and Ghanima

Due to my own laziness and ignorance about bearded dragons, I hadn't thought much about getting one. But after hearing and reading about them, all that changed. Again, my friend Kim came to the rescue. She had a clutch of beardies last year (2007), and she'd offered me one or two babies shortly after they were born. I declined. But, like usual, after a few months, I couldn't resist, so I asked if she had any left that needed homes. Sure enough, she had two: a brother and sister.

Stilgar

Stilgar was originally traded to a friend for Starbuck. He has since decided that he doesn't have room for and cannot currently take care of him, so I took him in...and continued with the Dune naming theme for my beardies. His outdoor cage is known as Sietch Tabr.

Shai-Hulud (Shy)

My friend Kim comes to the rescue again! She had two litters of these guys (Ocellated Skinks). I said I'd take one off her hands. Hee. Shai is still just a baby, but he's growing!

Irulan

Ever since I was little and tortured Mom by proudly showing her the random garter and bull snakes I'd find outside, I've wanted a pet snake. This, of course, wasn't exactly possible with my phobic Mom, so I knew I'd have to wait until I moved far away from home. After a year of being in Arizona, I discovered the wonder of reptile shows...and this little bundle of ball python joy.

Iridium

Iridium is a ball python of the lesser platinum color morph. His name comes from the element, which is frequently found with platinum (known sometimes as its "sister" metal), and its color is similar to that of platinum except with a yellow tint.

Isis

Here is yet another of those "I've always wanted one of these" creatures. I still remember drooling all over the place when I first saw a picture of a Brazilian rainbow boa. Pictures (especially my crappy ones) don't even come close to doing this snake justice. Their scales have an additional clear part that acts as a prism, making their scales shimmer with rainbows in any light. They truly are stunning to behold, especially right after they shed, when they almost appear to be glowing from within.

Madagascan Hissing Roaches

I've had a fascination with these crazy things ever since I was introduced to them in sixth grade. A friend gave me some babies (two females survived to adulthood), and then I found two males in a pet store. Let's just say I won't need to buy any ever again. o.O But hey, free lizard food!

Feel free to contemplate my sanity for a few moments.