You Shouldn’t Have to Stop Traveling Because You Keep Reptiles
If you own reptiles or amphibians, you already know the drill. You start planning a trip, and then you hit the wall: how can you find a reliable reptile pet sitter who can take care of your animals?
Most pet sitters don’t accept reptiles.
The ones who do often treat them as a footnote on a dog-and-cat booking, with no real understanding of what the animals need. You get a sitter who doesn’t know the difference between a basking spot and an ambient temp zone, can’t identify early signs of a respiratory infection, and has never thawed a frozen mouse in their life.
Boarding is rarely better.
Moving a reptile out of its established enclosure is stressful on the animal, and boarding facilities carry real biosecurity risks. Mite transmission, respiratory infections from cross-contamination between animals, exposure to unfamiliar substrates and pathogens. Serious keepers know this, which is why most refuse to board.
Transporting reptiles is its own problem.
Temperature fluctuations during travel can shut down digestion, trigger stress responses, and compromise immune function. For amphibians, which absorb contaminants directly through their skin, the risks multiply.
So, you ask a friend.
They agree to stop by, but they might not know what reptile pet sitting involves. Maybe they can’t tell what a proper humidity reading looks like, or if a shed is going badly, and maybe won’t notice if a heat lamp burns out. Or, they cancel on you at the last minute, and you’re stuck with a plane ticket and no sitter.
The result?
A lot of reptile and amphibian keepers just stop traveling. Or they spend the entire trip anxious, checking cameras, and sending text after text to someone who doesn’t fully understand the instructions.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Reptile Sitting Services
Reptile care varies widely from species to species, and I approach each animal according to its specific requirements. I follow your established routines for heating, lighting, feeding, and handling, and I can recognize signs of common health concerns like dehydration, respiratory distress, incomplete sheds, and husbandry-related stress.
Snakes
Ball pythons, corn snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, boas, pythons, and other commonly kept species. I’m experienced with frozen/thawed feeding protocols, pre-shed humidity adjustments, and monitoring for signs of respiratory infection or mite activity. I know how to handle snakes safely and calmly, and I respect species-specific temperament differences.
Lizards
Bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, blue tongue skinks, tegus, chameleons, iguanas, and more. I supervise UVA/B lighting schedules, basking temperature checks, calcium and vitamin supplementation, and varied diets that include gut-loaded insects, fresh greens, fruit, and prepared foods. For chameleons and other high-humidity species, I pay close attention to misting schedules and hydration.
Turtles & Tortoises
Aquatic turtles, box turtles, Russian tortoises, sulcatas, red-footed tortoises, leopard tortoises, and others. I handle soaking schedules, shell condition monitoring, water quality checks for aquatic species, UV lighting, and diet prep. For tortoises with outdoor enclosure access, I check perimeter security and weather conditions at each visit.
Amphibian Sitting Services
Amphibians have almost no margin for error in their care. They absorb water and toxins directly through their skin, which means water quality, humidity levels, and handler hygiene all have to be precisely managed. I use gloves or barrier methods whenever handling is necessary and maintain strict biosecurity between enclosures to prevent cross-contamination.
Frogs & Toads
Red-eyed tree frogs, White’s tree frogs, dart frogs, African clawed frogs, fire belly toads, and other commonly kept species. I manage misting schedules, monitor humidity and temperature, and check for signs of stress or skin issues.
Bioactive setups get careful attention to enclosure balance without disrupting established microfauna. I monitor substrate moisture or water quality and maintain appropriate feeding schedules.
For Argentine horned frogs and related species, I handle feeding schedules (which can include gut-loaded insects, nightcrawlers, and F/T prey items) and monitor substrate moisture and temperature .
Axolotls & Other Salamanders
Axolotls, spotted and tiger salamanders, fire belly and Eastern newts, and other caudate species. Axolotls are fully aquatic and extremely temperature-sensitive, so I monitor water temperature, water quality parameters, and feeding schedules closely. Overheating is one of the biggest threats to axolotl health, and I watch for signs of stress including gill changes, appetite loss, and unusual floating behavior.
For terrestrial and semi-aquatic salamanders and newts, I manage substrate moisture, water changes, and humidity levels appropriate to each species.
Racers, Green Snakes & Rattlers, Oh My!
My name is Brea Corwin, and I run Bat Country Pet Sitting in NW Portland, Oregon. I provide professional, drop-in and live-in pet sitting and enrichment consultations for reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic companion animals in NW Portland and surrounding neighborhoods.
I was born and raised in Bat Country. The Sonoran and Mojave deserts, bluegreen oceans and lakes, and forested mountains were all a stone’s throw away.
My earliest childhood pet reptile was a green snake, and I drove my mom batty bringing home whipsnakes I’d caught while horseback riding. I knew how to handle a rattlesnake encounter before I could read.
I started working with parrots, reptiles, and other exotic companion animals at 16 in a well-regarded veterinary clinic in Norco, CA. I trained under Dr. Hannis L. Stoddard III, an internationally recognized specialist in avian medicine and the founder of Avid Identification Systems, the first pet microchip and recovery system.
That clinic handled exotic companion animals like birds and reptiles, small mammals, and wildlife rehabilitation cases, and I assisted with all of them.
Educated & Insured Reptile & Amphibian Care In NW Portland & St. Johns
My formal veterinary technician coursework includes emergency and critical care, veterinary pharmacology, parasitology, animal behavior, and small animal medicine. I’m a certified small animal massage practitioner (CSAMP) and a Pet First Aid and CPR-certified instructor. I carry commercial pet sitter insurance, and I’m also bonded.
My clients include multi-species households with reptile collections, amphibian setups, invertebrate colonies, and everything in between.
I’m comfortable managing:
- temperature gradients
- UVA/B lighting
- humidity protocols
- frozen/thawed feeding
- gut-loaded insect prep
- supplementation routines, and
- the full range of species-specific care needs
Your animals stay home in their own enclosures and are cared for on their own schedules. And you travel knowing they’re in the hands of someone who understands what they need.
What to Expect When You Book Reptile Sitting Services
Every new reptile sitting engagement starts with a free intake call to see if we’d be a good match, and then we’ll schedule a free meet-and-greet at your home.
Before the meet-and-greet, I’ll collect detailed care information through species-specific intake forms so nothing gets missed, from feeding schedules and supplement rotations to humidity targets and veterinary contacts.
At our home visit, I’ll walk through your animals’ care routines, review enclosure setups, and get familiar with your household. I also check each enclosure for escape risks, lid and latch integrity, screen condition, and any gaps that could cause problems while you’re away. If I spot issues, I’ll flag them before your trip starts.
I also go over home security protocols during the meet-and-greet, including alarm systems, entry procedures, and key logistics. Clients sign a key authorization form, and all keys are coded for privacy and stored in a secure, fireproof lockbox.
What a Visit Looks Like
During your trip, I follow your established routines and send photo and text updates so you know exactly how your critters are doing.
If something looks off, I can identify early warning signs and have the clinical background to respond appropriately, whether that means adjusting a husbandry parameter or contacting you or your veterinarian.
Reptile Sitting Rates
Because the needs of reptiles and amphibians vary in detail and workload, I prefer to provide customized quotes. Get in touch today to discuss the amazing critters you’d like me to care for, and I’ll put together an affordable quote for you!
Cage/enclosure cleaning: Price varies according to pet and type of enclosure. Read more about add-on rates.
Additional charges might apply for indoor freshwater and saltwater fish aquariums, outdoor plant care, garden care, aquaponics and outdoor fish/pond care, outdoor animal care in winter, wild animal and bird feeding, etc.
Whatever care your non-traditional pets need, I’m here to help!
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