Reptiles and even giant snails are starting to edge out dogs and cats as favorites of animal-loving Britons, a report says.

ADVERTISEMENT

The number of snakes, lizards and invertebrates kept as pets in the U.K. has risen five-fold in 10 years, The Independent reports. The British Federation of Herpetologists actually believes that the country now has more pet snakes than dogs.

One new favorite is the bearded dragon, a playful 2-foot-long lizard. Experts say that the lizards have a lot of advantages, including not needing as much attention as dogs and cats.

Sam Davies, 15, owns two bearded dragons as well as two corn snakes.

"I used to have cats, but I prefer my dragons because they show more interest," he told The Independent. "They're more like a dog -- they scratch the glass of their tank when I get home and want to play. They recognize me and form a really strong bond."

Observers of the pet scene say that even cat and dog owners have more exotic tastes these days, abandoning mutts and familiar breeds for more exotic purebreds like Bichon Frisees and the Norwegian forest cat.