125 Top Dinosaur Puns (Plus An Interview With A Reptile Expert)

Where Does Gerardas’ Devotion to Reptiles Come From?

Reptile lover Gerardas also does educational programs about these creeper animals and has his Facebook page, called Džiunglių Žmogus (Jungle Man), where he shares exciting information about his unusual pets and all kinds of cold-blooded vermin. So, for starters, we wanted to know where his fascination with these scaled beings stemmed from.

And, as you’re about to see, Gerardas tells a story far from ordinary: “I’ve been fascinated with nature for as long as I can remember—I loved closely observing my environment. Thankfully, I’ve spent my childhood living near various natural habitats, which made it all even more interesting. For example, a lively rivulet supplied a pond nearby, overgrown with bushes and vast meadows. There were many animals to investigate—bugs, spiders, mollusks, frogs, toads, hedgehogs… You name it. Even reminiscing about it makes me feel the joy of exploring wild fauna!”

Devotion to Exotic Pets: The Story Continues

Continuing the story from childhood, Gerardas shares: “Growing up, I was kind of an underdog—nobody understood this fascination of mine. So, feeling misunderstood, I tried to compensate for it by understanding more about those who also seemed like outcasts to me. That’s why I chose arachnids, reptiles, bugs, and amphibians as my ‘friends’—they were considered ‘creepy’ by many, and it resonated with me.” 

Furthermore, the enthusiast reveals how he saved money for his first reptile pet: “When I was around nine, I made a firm decision that I could own and take care of a snake alone. But, seeing that this fascination of mine won’t go away easily, my parents finally caved in and permitted me to own a grass-snake. With the condition, of course, I’ll save the money to buy it, and it will come out of my pocket. So, instead of spending my allowance on pastries, chocolate bars, and ice cream, I started saving it for my dream.”

“Once I did it, I knew I was about to become the happiest kid on Earth! With the adder ordered, my parents supplied the terrarium and needed decorations, heating devices, and all the other things needed for the snake’s comfortable living. And that’s exactly how Rikis, a Taiwanese Beauty Rat Snake, became part of our family. My fascination with all these ‘creepy crawlies’ grew, and soon enough, I got more pets—Afroditė, a Leopard Gecko, and Gena, a Sudan Plated Lizard. This trio still lives with me!”

Social Media Presence and a Degree in Animal Sciences

After Gerardas gained some experience, he started a Facebook page called Džiunglių Žmogus [Jungle Man]. Naturally, we wanted to know where his nickname came from. Gerardas told us this: “My parents’ friends started to call me after seeing my reptiles at our home. So I took this nickname and still use it for my social media, which I use as an educational tool talking about these fascinating animals.”

Want to meet Gerardas’ crew? There’s a whole list of them! Currently, he takes care of a Boa Constrictor, California King Snake, Sinaloan Milk Snake, African Brown House Snake, Banded Water Snake, and Plains Hognose Snake—and that’s only the snakes! He also owns a colony of Harvester ants, an African Giant Land Snail, a Salmon-pink Birdeater spider, and various exotic bugs. That’s an impressive team if you ask us!

“Growing up, my passion for animals didn’t wane, so I got my bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences and my master’s degree in Biodiversity. With two diplomas in my hand, I understood that keeping exotic pets requires a constant deepening of knowledge! I’m delighted to have the opportunity to educate audiences about reptiles and bugs via social media—I’ve recently hit the 13,000 followers mark on my Facebook page.”

The Guide to Exotic Pets: Tips from Gerardas

Okay, suppose you also have an obsession with exotic pets and want one of your own but aren't sure where to start. Don’t worry about where to begin with your first scaled friend; we have you covered!

Gerardas shared some tips: “First of all, figure out the laws of your location—some animals may be illegal to be kept at home, and for others, you might need to get various documentation and permits. Be sure that those living with you agree with such a pet—as with any animal, it has to be a cherished friend, not a nuisance. Once you get a green light, choose the animal you wish to acquire; different species need different maintenance.”

According to Gerardas, the most important part of your homework comes after you make a decision. You must read about your chosen pet, talk with experts, and gain more than basic knowledge: “Don’t buy an animal on a whim! After figuring out how that particular animal lives in its natural environment, read about keeping it at home.” 

“Do your research for the optimal terrarium and the devices that your pet will need, and only then find a veritable seller. Make sure that the animal is captive-bred and not wild-caught. Once your pet is home, give it time to acclimate to its new environment. All these steps are vital for successfully keeping exotic pets.”

In Closing: the World of Reptiles, Jokes, and Love

Lastly, we wanted to know if there have been any unexpected or funny situations with Gerardas’ exotic pets. And there surely are, as he says: “Oh, of course, there are some curious and unexpected things with pets like that. I keep laughing that most snakes never act like they’re supposed to. For instance, Boa Constrictors are known to love water, yet in the five years I’ve owned mine, I’ve never seen her spend time in her pool.”

“Similarly, the African Brown House Snake supposedly loves staying on the ground and in burrows. Mine chooses hanging out on branches! I have plenty more examples about animals behaving not like they’re ‘supposed’ to, but let’s leave it at that this time.”

“In the summer, I bring out my pets to soak in the sun, and while my neighbors are accustomed to seeing various snakes around the house, the passersby often stop to take a picture or ask questions about the animals they’ve probably never seen before.”