Exotics insurance

[The Londoner]

Just a little question to see what you all think when I finally get my BTS do you think it is worth getting insurance because I found one that covers vets fees , theft and death the reason I am thinking about it is the vets fees over here are so much!! so what do you guys think?. The insurance cost £109 per year. Sue

[Leigh]

You pay your money,you make your choice. I dont have any but thats just me, it does sound a bit expensive, I'm more interested in the care I offer being good and a vet being brilliant, than coughing up the bucks for treatment in the first instance, insurance sometimes gives them an open cheque to do what the fork they like, because its all paid for by the company they will experiment so to speak.

[Bird_Brain]

With owning reptiles for around 8 years, I have only had to take 2 reptiles to the vet, both of which where rescued iguanas. The first one, I worked at a vets office so it wasnt any big deal. The second one i took twice. The first time just for a physical exam when i first got it and the second time for an abscess. I do have fecals ran on the majority of my animals, but your only talking like $10 for that. I dont feel insurance is worth it for a reptile, but thats my opinion. I like my reptiles and give them the best care I can, but they do not get a yearly check ups, vaccinations, etc like my cat and dog get. They only go to the vet if they get sick, which like I said before, just is not that common.

(p.s. I dont think buying insurance is worth it for any animal, IMO)

[Blotch]

I wouldn't worry about it. Blueys are strong little critters, they can take alot. Granted like any animal they may get sick, but if you look after your bluey you won't need any insurance.

as Leigh said though it's your money.

[The Londoner]

Thanks everyone you have all put my mind at rest I do seem to be ok looking after pets my first cat died aged 19 the second went aged 18 and my male rat lived to be 28 months 10 months longer than I was told they do I just wanted to make sure having never had a reptile before. Sue

[jasjmm27]

I would say just put that money you were going to use for the insurance "aside" for a rainy day...that way you will have money to use in the even that anything happened...

[Tattoo]

Sue ... the breeder I got Tattoo from has been breeding Northerns for years and has never had to take one to the vet. Keep your money girl and buy another skink!

[SailleSkinklover]

Hi Sue,
May I suggest having a good reliable herp vet on hand that knows blueys before you even get yours . . . That way you're covered just in case!
(Maybe all you UK Bluey owners can give some help here in what to look for in a good vet for Sue's area of London?)
When I first got my skink, the first thing I did was find this website, (Thank you Zach and all the others who helped me from the beginning!)
the second thing I did was I got very lucky and found an amazing herp vet. I brought Chuffers in for a check up because I wanted to get a starting point with his health from the beginning.
I'm soooo glad I did, we thought he had MBD because he has a spine dent and a kinked tail. Turns out he was got at by a dog or some other animal and violently shaken about, so he had broken bones that had healed. I wouldn never have known had we not had him checked out, I'm so glad we did because his bone density was fine! But he had parasites. So we treated, now he's healthy and hopefully as happy as he can be living in captivity!

[PsyKoViggy]

To be honest, if you google 'reptile vet london' you will get sites that list places with vets who know about reptiles.
If you are looking for recomendations, any UK reptile forum should have a list with more info on, or of course you could simply ask there.

Insurance seems pointless. I'd say get it to a vet for a check up when you first get it, because you can never be completely sure if the shop people are telling you the truth about where the animal came from (a lot don't even seem to know, their stock must just appear in the middle of the night..) and then not worry about it unless it becomes ill.

[The Londoner]

I have just found out that the vet where I used to take my *MeStoopid cats and my rat to who is not far from me at all specialises in exotics so I am all set there did not even know about that but then I guess I never needed them for that so why would I. Sue