My personal collection of exotic pets has afforded me many years of hands-on experience with a wide variety of animals. Beyond being the basis for the educational reptile shows I produced while in college, it proved an invaluable resource in the development of my veterinary skills relating to non-traditional pets. Over the years, I learned how most appropriately to handle and to care for these animals, and accumulated first hand experience with their most common ailments. Daily intimate interactions lent me a more thorough appreciation for “normal,” and I believe that personally grappling with many of the common problems encountered by collectors left me more able to help clients steer clear of avoidable pitfalls.