From bearded dragons and tortoises to snakes and spiders – Edinburgh is home to a number of rare and unusual pets.
We asked Edinburgh Evening News readers to submit pictures of their exotic pets and here is the first of our picture galleries.

1. Leopard Gecko
Emma Swinton's Leopard Gecko, named Pedro. Emma says: "I have quite a collection of Exotics! I have 12 snakes, 6 geckos and a tarantula!" Photo: Emma Swinton

2. Fern - bearded dragon
Charlene Clark sent a picture of Fern, the bearded dragon. She is two. She likes chilling on her hammock, balancing on branches and munching on rocket leaves and dandelion! Photo: Charlene Clark

3. Tarantula
Afraid of spiders? Not if you're Emma Swinton. She keeps a baby Mexican red knee tarantula, currently nameless! They can grow from 12.7 to 14 cm in length. Photo: Emma Swinton

4. Leopard Gecko
Another submission from Emma Swinton, who also has a pet leopard gecko named Cintra. These lizards are native to the rocky dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-west India, and Iran Photo: Emma Swinton

