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.
5. African pygmy hedgehog
Alana Scott sent us this picture of Luna, her African pygmy hedgehog, whose natural habitat is the steppes, savanna and grassy areas of West, central and East Africa. Photo: Alana Scott
6. Gecko, pythons and a mantis
Ashley McNeill has a collection of exotics including Bindi, a 7-year-old crested gecko, three ball pythons - Flint, Bellatrix and Elrond - as well as a bunch of praying mantis. Photo: Ashley McNeill
7. Crested Gecko
Another from Emma Swinton. Corvelle, one of her crested geckos, a species native to southern New Caledonia, which has specialised toe pads that allow them to move along vertical surfaces effortlessly Photo: Emma Swinton
8. Sulcata Tortoise
This is Meg, a sulcata tortoise belonging to LeeAnn Hamilton. The third-largest species of tortoise in the world inhabits the southern edge of the Sahara desert in Africa. Photo: LeeAnn Hamilton