While we’ve seen some very notable and accomplished cats and dogs grace the pages of the Helix blog, let’s just say it- there’s been an embarrassing lack of animal diversity. That’s why we were especially excited when Natalie Thorsland, Support Specialist with Affective Needs Center students at DSST: Henry, reached out with not just her 2 dogs, but 10 pet reptiles. 

Natalie and one of her favorite reptiles, Puff

Here's a quick collage of all 10!

Clockwise from top left: Atlas (Ball Python), Milo (Tegu), Deimos, (Brazilian Rainbow Boa) Enyo (Kenyan Sand Boa), Frank (Mexican Black King Snake), Puff (Halmahera Blue Tongued Skink), Caesar (Albino Tangerine Honduran Milk Snake), Brutus (Florida Mosaic Kings Snake), Dio (Veiled Chameleon), Splatt (Crested Gecko)

As you can imagine, caring for 10 reptiles is no easy feat, and requires nearly daily maintenance. However, the routine and interactions with her pets is quite therapeutic. 

While each of the reptiles and her dogs all have a special place in her heart, we know you’re busy, so we’re highlighting just a few of the most interesting little guys. 

Caesar is an Albino Tangerine Honduran Milk Snake. He’s Natalie’s calmest snake, and she often does yoga with him. 

Baby cobra on point

Dio, a tough guy veiled chameleon, will crush any bug you give him. They do have a complicated love-hate relationship, as he often makes a huge mess. 

Dio waits patiently for a fresh bug to savor

Puff, a Halmahera Blue Tongued Skink, is her baby. He’s basically a super fat snake with legs, and very clumsy.

“Does this fern make me look fat?”

Milo, an Argentine Black and White Tegu, is her son. While he’s just 6 months now, he’ll be 4 feet and 10 pounds when fully grown! 

Check out Milo’s growth, from just a few weeks old on the left, to 6 months on the right

Splatt is a crested gecko and one of the more shy members of the family, but is slowly coming out of her shell as she spends more time with her humans.  Crested geckos enjoy jumping from surface to surface, and Splatt was named for the sound she makes as she hops around and lands on something flat.  

Don’t think for a second I messed up “onomatopoeia” at the spelling bee!

To see more of Natalie's reptile buddies, follow her on Snapchat- @natexasns, where it's strictly reptile content. 

Do you have a pet that everyone needs to know about? Email us at mac@scienceandtech.org