Rescue Reptile In Need Of A Forever Home!
Updated: Oct 13
We currently have three rescues in need of a new home - meet Viserion, Noodle and Hattie
A rescued reptile rarely arrives with a neat story. Some come from owners who meant well but felt out of their depth. Some have outgrown a starter vivarium. Others need a quieter home, better lighting, safer heating, or simply someone willing to learn their species properly.
What they all need is the same: a stable, informed, long-term place to live.
Adopting a rescue reptile can be deeply rewarding. It can also be a serious commitment. The best forever homes start with honesty, preparation, and respect for the animal in front of you.
Why reptiles end up in rescue
Most reptiles in rescue are not there because they are difficult or dangerous. Many are there because their needs were misunderstood.
Noodle for example was gifted to a child for their confirmation - unfortunately no one checked if the child wanted a snake in their bedroom and so poor Noodle was never handled and the poor child was terrified to go into their bedroom!
Thankfully Noodle has reacted very well to his temporary home with us and is already showing natural behaviours again.
Hattie came to us with her brother from very loving owners who wanted the best for her (we were told that she was a boy, and that the two boys were constantly fighting). We now know that the male and female were not fighting - the male was constantly trying to breed with her which was causing her extreme stress that then led to her MBD becoming much more pronounced that the his. Unfortunately her previous owners did not know how dangerous this could be, and did not understand the complex care a Hermanns tortoise requires, unfortunately her health has suffered as a result.
Since writing this blog Hattie has been taken to a veterinary specialist and thankfully will not require ongoing veterinary care, she is now stable enough to be adopted.
We were very concerned that she may be gravid but x-rays now confirm that she is not. We were also concerned that she may have deep bone misalignment due to her MBD, thankfully this is not the case. She has passed a lung and heart check and has now been officially discharged from a specialist exotic pet veterinarian. We have been told that there is no reason that Hattie shouldn't live a full and happy life.
Now it is recommended that she goes back next year for blood tests and/or a repeated x-ray just to make sure her recovery is going in the right direction.
Then there is Viserion, this one is hard to justify in any way. Being kind here, I'm going to assume his previous owner liked the thought of having bearded dragons but did not know what they needed and wasn't in a position to keep them correctly. Luckily for Viserion a kind neighbour implored his owner to surrender him and his brother to our care. Viserion has made a miraculous recovery and is inpatiently awaiting his second chance with a forever home.
Viserion before his rescue
A forever home starts before adoption day
The best time to prepare is before the reptile arrives. A suitable setup should be running, tested, and stable first. Reptiles cannot regulate their body temperature in the same way mammals can. They rely on their environment to digest food, fight illness, shed, move, and rest.
A proper setup means more than a glass box and a heat bulb. It should match the species, age, size, health, and temperament of the animal.
When re-homing one of our rescues we often ask to see photos of the enclosure, details of equipment, or readings from thermometers and hygrometers. We often throw in some incorrect information to see if you (the potential adopter) will correct us. That is not us being fussy. It protects the animal.
Guesswork is risky with reptiles. A few degrees too cool, the wrong substrate, or poor UVB exposure can cause serious health problems over time. Good care relies on checking, not assuming.
Matching the reptile to the right person
A forever home is not just any willing home. The animal and the adopter need to fit.
A nervous crested gecko may need a quiet home where handling is minimal. A confident bearded dragon may enjoy gentle interaction but still need strict heat and UVB care. A tortoise may need outdoor space in suitable weather, secure housing, and a long-term plan.
As a responsible rescue we will not place these animals with someone unprepared. That is good welfare, even when a potential adopter has kind intentions.
The right match gives the reptile the best chance to settle, feed, shed, and behave normally. Good matching protects both sides.
What we look for in an adopter
Our rescues have already suffered from inadequate care, they deserve nothing less than the best for the rest of their lives but that's not to say we are searching for perfect people. We are looking for careful, committed ones.
Good rescue work is patient. Good adoption is patient too.
An adopter does not need to know everything at the start. They do need to be willing to learn, follow species-specific guidance, and make changes when needed. We may ask questions that feel detailed, but each one has a reason.
We may ask about:
Previous reptile experience
Noodle needs an experienced snake handling experience as he has never been handled, he shows no sign of aggression and has never bitten anyone but its best to know what you are doing and know how to read snake behaviour!
The exact enclosure size and type
Viserion needs a 4ft vivarium, anything smaller is not at all suitable and will result in his recovery going backwards.
Heat sources, thermostats, and lighting
Each species care needs are completely different but the equipment is the same - linear UVB bulbs, ceramic heat emitters and thermostas.
Substrate and decor
Noodle was kept on shavings, he is now in bio-active organic soil - the difference in his behaviour was visible from day one - he loves to dig and burrow, he feels safest under the soil. When he comes up to bask you know he's feeling confident in his surroundings.
Handling expectations
Viserion loves cuddles, Noodle not so much! Hattie cannot be handled at all due to her current condition.
Access to reptile veterinary care
This is a must! We would highly recommend Phoenix park vets in Dublin, That's where we take our beasties and they are fantastic with each and every one!
Long-term housing plans
Hattie could have another 50 years in her - we do not expect our adopters to promise that will live another 50 years, but we do ask that they seriously think about an end of life plan that includes provisions left for their tortoises.
How to know adoption is the right choice
A rescue reptile may be right for a home when the adopter feels steady rather than swept up in excitement. The best signs are practical.
The enclosure is ready. The care requirements are understood. The animal’s lifespan feels manageable. The feeding routine is acceptable. The household is on board. The adopter is willing to ask for help and take advice.
It may be better to wait if the setup is not ready, the species is unfamiliar, the cost feels tight, or the goal is frequent cuddling. Waiting is not failure. It is often the kindest choice.
For anyone unsure, fostering, volunteering, or speaking with experienced rescue keepers can give a more realistic view of daily care. Cleaning enclosures, preparing food, checking temperatures, and observing behaviour teach more than a quick care sheet ever can.
Helping a rescue reptile settle in
Bringing a reptile home is exciting, but the first days should be quiet. Many reptiles need time to adjust to new smells, sounds, light cycles, and routines. Too much handling too soon can slow that process.
The safest approach is usually simple. Place the reptile into the prepared enclosure, check that temperatures and humidity are correct, then give it space. Watch without hovering. Offer food and fresh water but keep handling limited until the animal shows signs of settling.
Signs of stress can include:
Refusing food
Hiding constantly, depending on species
Repeated attempts to escape
Defensive striking, hissing, puffing, biting, or tail whipping
Dark colouration in some lizards
Restless pacing
Poor sheds
Some stress is normal after a move. Long-lasting or severe signs may need advice from us, or a reptile vet.
Build trust slowly
Reptiles do not bond in the same way as dogs or cats. That does not make them cold or uninteresting. They simply read the world differently.
Trust might look like a tortoise eating happily in front of you. It might look like a snake calmly moving across steady hands. It might look like a bearded dragon basking in the open rather than hiding all day.
Small steps matter.
A calm routine helps:
Open the enclosure gently.
Move slowly and predictably.
Support the whole body when handling.
Keep sessions short at first.
Never grab from above unless safety demands it.
Avoid handling around feeding time or during shedding.
Respect the animal’s limits.
A reptile that is allowed to feel safe often becomes easier to care for. For many rescue animals, that sense of safety is new.
Why rescue adoption matters
Choosing a rescue reptile gives an existing animal a second chance. It can also reduce demand for impulse buying, poor advice, and unsuitable starter kits. When done well, rescue adoption raises standards across the hobby.
It encourages better questions:
What does this species need as an adult?
Can this setup support natural behaviour?
Is this animal healthy enough to move?
What does stress look like for this species?
Is handling for the animal’s benefit, or only for ours?
These questions shift the focus from ownership to care.
Rescue reptiles are not damaged goods. Many are healthy, curious, and full of character. Some need rehabilitation. Some need patience after neglect. Some simply need a home that understands the basics and sticks to them.
Their past matters, but it should not define their future.
Every forever home is built day by day
A forever home is not created on adoption day. It is built through many small acts of care.
It is the thermostat checked before bed. The UVB bulb replaced on schedule. The hide added because the animal seemed exposed. The vet appointment booked early. The feeding record kept. The decision not to handle during shed. The upgrade made before the enclosure becomes too small.
Rescue work often starts with an animal in need. Adoption should end with that animal being understood.
A reptile does not need a perfect story to have a good life. It needs warmth, safety, the right environment, and a keeper who sees it as a living creature with specific needs. When those pieces come together, a rescue reptile can do more than survive. It can settle, grow confident, and finally be home.
With all that said, Noodle the baby cornsnake, Hattie the misshapen tortoise, and Viserion the adult male bearded dragon are available for adoption NOW!
If you are interested in Adopting either Noodle, Hattie or Viserion please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
This blog has been updated since Hatties vet visit.
Comments