An unexpected reptile passion becomes full-time career

By ETHAN WALLACE 

CMU Journalism Intern 

FARWELL – Carrie and Mike Parker started raising geckos in their spare bedroom around 16 years ago. Now their entire garage is dedicated to raising over 250 reptiles, primarily snakes and geckos.

Raising reptiles for a career was not expected, Carrie said. Before that, for 20 years, she was a Certified Nursing Assistant at a nursing home and was raising fish, such as African Cichlids.

When the COVID pandemic started, she worked 16-hour shifts, and her reptile business, Parker Reptiles, had grown a lot. Carrie said she could not manage both.

“So, I made the jump and quit my job as a CNA and started doing this full time, and I've got a MorphMarket account, which is where they list all the animals for sale,” Carrie said.

MorphMarket is an online platform for reptile breeders or keepers to list their animals, she said. Photographs, price, and information are added which can help buyers know specific details without calling the buyer. While some buyers stop by in-person, she also ships her animals overnight and says that it’s quite safe, though people are surprised by it.

Carrie also said that, unlike pet stores that are focused on selling animals and making a profit, it is important to know what kind of home they’re going to. That includes asking questions about what kind of experience or set-up potential buyers have. 

If a buyer has no experience, Carrie said she’ll tell them some information, such as what an enclosure should look like and what kind of food to buy.

“These are my babies that I raised from a hatchling,” she said. “I take a lot of pride in them, and I want to make sure that they go to a good home that they're going to live for a long time.”

Carrie said she encourages questions because people won’t know unless they ask to help educate themselves. Reptiles are more than just an animal someone buys, but a living creature that feels.

“I'm more than happy to help give out information, because the bottom line is, I want the animal taken care of, regardless if it came from me, and there's never a stupid question,” Carrie said.

Also, if someone gets a reptile, or any animal, it is important to do the research. That includes asking reptile handlers/breeders who have experience. She said that’s what happened after she got her first reptile.

Carrie said that she learned how to take care of all the reptiles through experience and asking people in the reptile community. It wasn’t simple to learn about the different types of reptiles, but it’s rewarding to know.

During the interview, she brought out several geckos and snakes, such as the ball python. She said they’re docile animals and would rather tuck their head into a ball than attack.

 “They like your skin; your body temperature is like 90 °F," Carrie said. “That's why they feel comfortable up against your skin, and they will just sit with you on the couch.”

Snakes are misunderstood creatures, she said. For example, boas are more lively and some people can be startled by seeing active snakes. However, they will lay on someone’s shoulders while on the couch.

Carrie said that it’s a full-time job taking care of the animals. She has to spray all gecko cages with water, clean them and feed them. Along with geckos, she also breeds rats for the snakes.

Parker Reptiles has over 80 snakes and tries to get them to be familiar with their owner’s scent. She said while they can’t all be held, she tries.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s what I love to do,” Carrie said.