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Posted by Samcin on September 17, 1999 at 19:00:59:

Forget Puppies, Cuddle a Reptile in Japan

By Elaine Lies
Reuters

TOKYO (Sept. 17) - It was love at first slither for Akiko Ohtake when she walked into a pet store six months ago.

The object of her affection was not a puppy or kitten, it was a scaly, lime-green chameleon. ''I thought it was really cool,'' she said of her inscrutable pet. ''I actually went in to look for a snake, but wanted this as soon as I saw it.''

The number of Japanese keeping reptiles as pets has been creeping steadily upward, leading to the growth of specialty shops, a reptile-only hospital and a magazine called ''Scale'' with advertisements for products such as ''Lizard Litter.''

''I'm often asked if reptiles are cute and certainly they are. But it's a different sort of cuteness from cats and dogs. They're kind of reserved,'' said ''Scale'' editor Kazu Harada.

Reptiles have gone through boom and bust cycles in Japan, but this time they appear here to stay. Though still a small proportion of Japan's pet population, Harada said about 80,000 people now own them.

Clean and quiet, they usually live in terrariums, a big plus in Japan's cramped apartments where leases often forbid conventional four-footed pets because of their mess and noise.

''They're also way more convenient than dogs or cats because you don't have to make time for walks. And some of them don't even need to be fed more than once a week, freeing you to go off on trips,'' said Harada, who owns 30 reptiles.

Nationwide, snakes and lizards tie for second place in popularity among reptiles. Turtles remain No. 1, in part because of a well-known Japanese folk tale, ''Urashima Taro,'' in which a young man rescues a turtle who changes into a beautiful woman and takes him to a kingdom under the sea.

Social pressure also favors turtles. ''A lot of people are afraid their neighbors will think they're weird if they keep snakes or iguanas,'' said the owner of a Tokyo reptile shop.

Many reptile lovers believe the real reason behind their popularity is the Zen-like solace they offer from the hurly-burly of real life -- especially now, when economic pressures and job fears loom large for many.

''Reptiles have very contained lives in their own environment and live at their own pace,'' said Hitoshi Koieyama, director of the Reptile Clinic, Japan's only reptile hospital. ''This seems to make people feel calm.''

There is also the cathartic effect of fright. ''Reptiles, especially snakes, bring a bit of the fear of nature into your home. People need that tiny sense of danger,'' Harada said. ''If a snake doesn't come after you, it's no fun.''

This pleasure does not come cheaply. While some iguanas can cost as little as 2,000 yen ($18.25), more exotic beasts such as chameleons can cost hundreds of dollars. Some go for more than 300,000 yen, driving a black market in imports. Several Japanese, including a couple on their honeymoon, were arrested in Australia last year with luggage full of rare reptiles.

Although the ascetic nature of reptiles makes their care seem easier than that of other pets, this is deceptive. In fact, detailed recreation of their natural environment, with dry sand or lush greens and elaborate calibrations of heat and humidity, is needed to keep them alive.

The smallest deviation may cause trouble. Air-conditioning, essential for human owners in Japan's hot, soggy summers, gives many animals colds or pneumonia, while the dry heat of winter homes can cause life-threatening constipation in iguanas.

Maintaining balanced nutrition is also hard, Koieyama said. ''People have to give them as much attention as their kids.'' Or even more. Koieyama said he knew at least one mother who spent more time on her iguanas than her children.

In his clinic, he treats ailing reptiles with a mix of gentleness and cutting-edge technology, referring to his patients as ''little ones.'' An enervated lizard gets a vitamin injection and is soon jumping around its cage, while a skink with paralyzed hindquarters receives a laser treatment.

If needed, he does surgery, removing eggs from a turtle unable to lay due to stress or fixing an iguana's broken leg.

''It's so hard to tell when a reptile isn't feeling well that they usually come in on the brink of death,'' he said.

After hearing of such problems, Harada decided to start ''Scale'' magazine to provide help for owners who might not know, for example, that the little iguana they were buying would in three years at least triple in size.

The glossy twice-yearly journal is crammed with information on building terrariums, chameleon propagation and a look at iguana health through the seasons. Ads plug food guaranteed to produce ''well-nourished, healthy mice'' for feeding snakes.

''Reptiles are just really cute,'' Harada said, struggling to express his feelings. ''Even their expressions are cute. All I have to do is see one little scale and I just melt.''

Follow Ups:

Good article,thanks cirsisue 9/18/99 (0)
Re: Interesting Article. Thanks Cindy! nm Lola and Harry's Mom 9/18/99 (0)

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: Forget Puppies, Cuddle a Reptile in Japan : By Elaine Lies : Reuters : TOKYO (Sept. 17) - It was love at first slither for Akiko Ohtake when she walked into a pet store six months ago. : The object of her affection was not a puppy or kitten, it was a scaly, lime-green chameleon. ''I thought it was really cool,'' she said of her inscrutable pet. ''I actually went in to look for a snake, but wanted this as soon as I saw it.'' : The number of Japanese keeping reptiles as pets has been creeping steadily upward, leading to the growth of specialty shops, a reptile-only hospital and a magazine called ''Scale'' with advertisements for products such as ''Lizard Litter.'' : ''I'm often asked if reptiles are cute and certainly they are. But it's a different sort of cuteness from cats and dogs. They're kind of reserved,'' said ''Scale'' editor Kazu Harada. : Reptiles have gone through boom and bust cycles in Japan, but this time they appear here to stay. Though still a small proportion of Japan's pet population, Harada said about 80,000 people now own them. : Clean and quiet, they usually live in terrariums, a big plus in Japan's cramped apartments where leases often forbid conventional four-footed pets because of their mess and noise. : ''They're also way more convenient than dogs or cats because you don't have to make time for walks. And some of them don't even need to be fed more than once a week, freeing you to go off on trips,'' said Harada, who owns 30 reptiles. : Nationwide, snakes and lizards tie for second place in popularity among reptiles. Turtles remain No. 1, in part because of a well-known Japanese folk tale, ''Urashima Taro,'' in which a young man rescues a turtle who changes into a beautiful woman and takes him to a kingdom under the sea. : Social pressure also favors turtles. ''A lot of people are afraid their neighbors will think they're weird if they keep snakes or iguanas,'' said the owner of a Tokyo reptile shop. : Many reptile lovers believe the real reason behind their popularity is the Zen-like solace they offer from the hurly-burly of real life -- especially now, when economic pressures and job fears loom large for many. : ''Reptiles have very contained lives in their own environment and live at their own pace,'' said Hitoshi Koieyama, director of the Reptile Clinic, Japan's only reptile hospital. ''This seems to make people feel calm.'' : There is also the cathartic effect of fright. ''Reptiles, especially snakes, bring a bit of the fear of nature into your home. People need that tiny sense of danger,'' Harada said. ''If a snake doesn't come after you, it's no fun.'' : This pleasure does not come cheaply. While some iguanas can cost as little as 2,000 yen ($18.25), more exotic beasts such as chameleons can cost hundreds of dollars. Some go for more than 300,000 yen, driving a black market in imports. Several Japanese, including a couple on their honeymoon, were arrested in Australia last year with luggage full of rare reptiles. : Although the ascetic nature of reptiles makes their care seem easier than that of other pets, this is deceptive. In fact, detailed recreation of their natural environment, with dry sand or lush greens and elaborate calibrations of heat and humidity, is needed to keep them alive. : The smallest deviation may cause trouble. Air-conditioning, essential for human owners in Japan's hot, soggy summers, gives many animals colds or pneumonia, while the dry heat of winter homes can cause life-threatening constipation in iguanas. : Maintaining balanced nutrition is also hard, Koieyama said. ''People have to give them as much attention as their kids.'' Or even more. Koieyama said he knew at least one mother who spent more time on her iguanas than her children. : In his clinic, he treats ailing reptiles with a mix of gentleness and cutting-edge technology, referring to his patients as ''little ones.'' An enervated lizard gets a vitamin injection and is soon jumping around its cage, while a skink with paralyzed hindquarters receives a laser treatment. : If needed, he does surgery, removing eggs from a turtle unable to lay due to stress or fixing an iguana's broken leg. : ''It's so hard to tell when a reptile isn't feeling well that they usually come in on the brink of death,'' he said. : After hearing of such problems, Harada decided to start ''Scale'' magazine to provide help for owners who might not know, for example, that the little iguana they were buying would in three years at least triple in size. : The glossy twice-yearly journal is crammed with information on building terrariums, chameleon propagation and a look at iguana health through the seasons. Ads plug food guaranteed to produce ''well-nourished, healthy mice'' for feeding snakes. : ''Reptiles are just really cute,'' Harada said, struggling to express his feelings. ''Even their expressions are cute. All I have to do is see one little scale and I just melt.''

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