Why I Built Reptisitter
Founded by Jake Colson · U.S. Army Veteran (20 years) · 30+ years of reptile keeping · Tacoma, WA
The Trip That Started Everything
In 2024 I was planning a trip and ran into the same wall every reptile owner eventually hits: I could not find a reputable, dedicated, experienced reptile sitter willing to come to my house and check on my reptiles. Every general pet-sitting service either didn't take reptiles, treated them as an afterthought attached to a dog/cat profile, or wanted me to drop my animals off at a boarding facility — which serious reptile keepers refuse to do because of the risk of mites, respiratory infections, and the stress of moving a reptile out of its established enclosure.
I've kept reptiles since I was 10 years old. Over the past 30+ years that's included garter snakes, corn snakes, ball pythons, leopard geckos, a tegu, a water dragon, Hermann's tortoises, and my Rhino Iguana Bullet. I attend local reptile expos — first as a customer, now as a Reptisitter vendor.
Why You Can Trust This Platform
- U.S. Army veteran-led: 20 years of military service. Integrity isn't a marketing line.
- 30+ years of reptile keeping: The founder owns and lives with the animals he's building this for.
- Every sitter screened: Vetty background check plus a real reptile-knowledge review before approval.
- In-home only, never boarding: Your reptile stays in its own enclosure.