WEIGH SCALES - It has long been said that a dog is man's best friend, but don't tell that to Louie, the 5-foot-long alligator that greets patrons at Pet King on Route 61.
Reptiles have become increasingly popular as pets, and although Louie isn't for sale, alligators are not only legal, but popular pets in Pennsylvania. The only state regulation concerning alligators prohibit their release into the wild.
"I think that they make good pets if you keep their mouths closed," said Angel Schlief, an employee at Pet World, Sunbury. "The bigger the space you give them, the bigger they get, but you can keep them on goldfish and have them in a smaller tank."
Sclief said the store has sold many alligators, and they are popular pets. Pet World has three baby American alligators for sale, and has a fully grown alligator that they show off during birthday parties.
'The long run'
Louie, a 5-year-old American alligator, has lived at Pet King for the last three years. Sharyl Petrovich, a Pet King employee, said the
store took him in after his owners could no longer keep him.
"He likes the attention, just like any animal," said Petrovich. "If you keep them socialized, they calm down and get used to you."
The store used to sell alligators, but Petrovich said that ended because most people can't handle the responsibility.
"It's a cool pet to tell people about, but you have to be in it for the long run," she said. "Just like with any animal, you have to do as much research as possible and talk to people who have one."
Alligators generally live about 20 years, and Petrovich cautioned that such rare pets can be a learning experience.
"You can learn a lot of life lessons by taking care of something like that," she said. "It's a limited experience and you need to make educated decisions."
Ideal pets
Alligators certainly aren't for everyone, but smaller reptiles can make ideal pets.
"People have become more open to new and exotic animals," said Petco employee Bob Bendas, of Catawissa.
Bendas has two 8-month-old bearded dragons, Ulysses and Stonewall, who get along with his three cats, Jack, Iggy and Bella.
He said bearded dragons, which can reach two feet in length, make excellent pets because of their calm and friendly nature.
"We had a 20-inch bearded dragon in Petco that was everyone's buddy," said Bendas. "They're very docile and you can take them for walks. Their popularity is really picking up."
Bendas said that his bearded dragons belonged to a college student who was not allowed to have them in his apartment. When he came to return them to the store, Bendas took them home.
"I've been giving them a good name and showing people how cool they really are as pets," he said.
Although Ulysses and Stonewall sometimes escape their terrarium with the help of the mischievous cats, Bendas said they are easy to care for.
"The lighting can be pricey, but the rest of the enclosure can be homemade," he said. "After the original set-up, the only thing you need to buy is food. I would tell people who are considering a reptile to go for it, but to make sure you're ready to do your best to take care of them."
Bendas said that his wife was "iffy" about the reptiles, but warmed up to them and now helps take care of Ulysses and Stonewall.
"Now I'm thinking about getting a crestie," he said.
A "crestie" is a crested gecko, which get its name from their crested "eyelashes." Because of their calm nature and low maintenance, they have become increasingly popular as pets.
Great for beginners
Megan Angstadt, of Catawissa, also a Petco employee, currently has 25 crested geckos, four rescued bearded dragons, two dogs and a guinea pig.
"I just fell in love with their little eyelashes," she said. "We see more and more people with them, from kids to grandparents. They make great pets for beginners."
Although Angstadt's fiance, Greg Williams, wasn't initially a fan of reptiles, he points out potential new additions when they go to reptile expos. He said they are a new hobby.
"People don't understand how friendly they are," said Williams. "They're just like any other animal. A lot of people don't recognize that."
Angstadt said the reptiles enjoy interacting with people just like any other animal and the bearded dragons get along with their two dogs.
"Each has its own personality," said Angstadt. "They just communicate differently than other animals."
The couple had five bearded dragons (one recently died), all which were rescued from owners who could not take proper care of them.
"It's amazing how many people are looking to get rid of them," she said. "People get them without doing the research. We did months of research, and we're still doing research."
Angstadt said she grew up on a farm and always had pets. With a soft spot for animals and working at a pet store, she always has to fight the urge of bringing home another critter.
"It's nice to come home and know that you are taking care of them, making them better, and giving them a good life," she said.
Angstadt and Williams are starting to breed the geckos and will make them available for those considering a pet reptile. The couple are always looking to add new pets to their home.
As for Louie, Petrovich said he is getting a little too big for his current terrarium and she is looking to build a new home for him behind the pet store.