Reptile Keeper Experience Study
Academic Research Survey
The Reptile Keeper
Experience
Understanding what draws people to keeping the world's most misunderstood animals.
We are inviting reptile keepers of all experience levels to share their stories — the early encounters, the curiosities, and the communities that shaped their passion.
About the Study
Why do some people fall in love with reptiles?
Reptile keeping is one of the most passionate and dedicated hobbyist communities in the world — yet remarkably little research exists on what draws individuals to it.
The Reptile Keeper Experience (RKE) study seek to understand the pathways into reptile keeping: the childhood encounters, the influential figures, the media, and the life experiences that spark a lasting interest in these extraordinary animals.
By gathering the lived experiences of keepers across all backgrounds, species preferences, and experience levels, we hope to build the first comprehensive picture of this unique community — and what makes it thrive.
What We're Exploring
Survey Topics
First experiences with reptiles — in the wild, in books, at zoos, or in the home.
Family environment, geography, and cultural attitudes toward animals and nature.
How and when you began keeping reptiles, and what made you take the first step.
Mentors, online communities, breeders, or events that shaped your journey.
What reptile keeping means to you personally, and how it intersects with your identity.
Basic demographic information to help us identify patterns across the community.
Participation
Your privacy is our priority.
- — All responses are completely anonymous. No personally identifying information is collected at any point during the survey.
- — Participation is entirely voluntary. You may stop at any time without consequence, and you are not required to answer every question.
- — Data will be used solely for academic research purposes. Aggregated findings may be published, but individual responses will never be shared.
- — The survey takes approximately 10 minutes and consists of a mix of multiple choice and optional open-ended questions.
- — No specialist knowledge is required. We welcome responses from keepers of all experience levels — from first-time owners to lifelong enthusiasts.
Ready to share your
experience?
Your perspective helps build a richer understanding of the reptile keeping community. Every response makes a difference.
Begin the Survey