I began considering the prospect of owning a reptile about 6 months into quarantine in 2020. To put this whimsical thought into perspective, I am what you call an “unbiased animal lover.” I am not a cat-person or a dog-person or a bird-person, I love all animals big and small, slimy and soft. My mom, on the other hand, is very afraid of pretty much every variety of reptile. Which meant I grew up with very little knowledge on scaly pets.