According to the UK pet store chain, Pets at Home, more people than ever are interested in owning a reptile as a pet, thanks to BBC's Life in Cold Blood series. The company reports that sales of Fire-bellied Newts and Albino Clawed Frogs have more than doubled in some stores.

Following the debut of the Sir David Attenborough series on 3rd February, and its second instalment the following week, Pets at Home received a surge of enquiries from customers regarding keeping reptiles and amphibians as pets.

Steve Fairburn, Pets at Home, said:

"A programme like Attenborough's 'Life in Cold Blood' really ignites public interest as it shows a different side to reptiles and amphibians and helps us feel we can connect with these animals. Reptiles really can make fantastic pets, as they are quiet, fascinating to look at and relatively easy to look after and maintain. But be warned, they can live for over a decade.

"It is extremely important for anyone thinking of taking on a reptile or amphibian to assess which particular species would be suitable for their living situation. For example, some reptiles are a lot easier to feed than others, some require specific temperature and lighting control, and others are more tolerant to being handled.'

The series producer of Life in Cold Blood, Miles Barton, has also warned:

"Anyone thinking of having one as a pet, should research the subject very carefully, check that the animal is definitely captive bred and be prepared to spend a lot of money on their enclosures.

"Even better dig a pond to provide a home for wild ones."

The experience of Pets at Home is not necessarily repeated across the sector. Gordon Bloomfield of Oxfordshire based All Pet, (formerly the Reptile Ranch) which supplies reptile starter kits for snakes, geckos and lizards, said today:

"I can't say that I have noticed any difference in enquiries."

The online (only) reptile shop Wilder Reptiles & Exotics does not sell livestock through its website. Its owner Markus Wilder has not seen a change in sales. His customer base he says, does not rely on newcomers to the hobby:

"I am guessing that if the program has any effect it will probably have a bigger effect on high street shops where the people can go and look at live animals before making any purchases. It is much easier to buy the equipment at a shop for first timers while the staff there hopefully go through the correct care for the animals with them.

"I dont feel that it is necessarily a bad thing that more people will want pet reptiles due to this program as long as shop owners are responsible, however sadly some of them are more interested in the money than the animals' wellfare.

"Shop staff need to remain responsible and not just see this as an opportunity for making some quick money."

Submitted by: Steve O'Malley      

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