Iguana tap it, but I have a reptile dysfunction.

Description

There's a flyer from someone who impulsively adopted a bunch of reptiles. Seokjin's in the market for a pet, and he's never had a reptile, but he figures why not check it out. He's more interested in the reptile owner, when they meet.

Foreword

"Here." Jimin passes them each a bottle of water and sits cross-legged on the floor, settling the lizard on his lap and petting her back. "I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to get to know you a little before showing you everyone. I'd like to do this right, at least," he mutters, more to himself than Seokjin.

Seokjin offers a brief life story with added comments and praises from Namjoon. He's from outside the city, is the younger of two brothers, has always played sports for fun but never on a set team, and moved for the first time for school and only rented an apartment last year with his best friend. He's had pets but never reptiles.

"They're a bit more involved than a cat or dog," Jimin warns. "Because they're cold-blooded, they need greater monitoring, but most pet stores can help with cage concerns and food. This girl," he taps Amanda's nose, "is an Australian central beardie and is just about two years old but could possibly live ten years or more if cared for properly. She's as big as she's gonna get, but I was thinking of getting her a bigger tank. Adults should have a twenty to fifty gallon-sized tank. They're not cheap. She needs branches to climb and a constant heat source and a basking spot close to the lamp and, depending on the bedding, she needs to be misted or bathed, so she gets a proper amount of water. She eats a green salad every day, some fruit, insects, and there's a calcium powder every other day.

"It sounds like a lot, I know." He smiles, and Seokjin realizes his lips are dry from hanging his mouth open. He's had friends with pet lizards, and they made it look easy. Namjoon, at least, looks more engaged, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

"You must take really good care of them all," he comments.

Jimin drops his gaze to the lizard and shrugs. "It becomes second-nature after a while. Anyone could do it, if they just tried a little." He sounds sad for some reason. Seokjin tries to salvage the mood and asks why Jimin adopted so many pets and why reptiles.

"I'd always had cats and dogs growing up. My parents didn't want anything else, like birds, rabbits, fish, or reptiles, because they smelled." He shakes his head. "Clean the cages once in a while, and it's fine. It's actually not that hard to care for any animal, if you just pay attention.

“I’m also kinda a believer in retail therapy," he continues, more reserved. "So after this last breakup, I went shopping. Sometimes, Hoseok hyung or Yoongi hyung, my roommates, or my other friend goes with me, but they didn't this time, so..." He waves Amanda's little foot with a half-smile.

Comments

You must be logged in to comment
No comments yet