Marshmallow: Sponsor An Animal Ambassador

Marshmallow is a White-Throated monitor lizard. These powerful lizards can live up to 20 years and are found in Southeastern Africa. They are carnivores eating insects, birds, and eggs. Marshmallow is still young and we expect them to more than double in size as they age! 

Marshmallow was found roaming in Sacramento in May 2025. After no one came forward to claim them as a lost pet (monitor lizards are not native to California!), Things That Creep adopted them two months later. 

Marshmallow says: Don't Release Pets! 

Monitor lizards have become increasingly common as pets, which is how Marshmallow found themselves in California. While many people in the United States own and care for reptiles and amphibians, it is important to remember that these animals have complex and specialized needs that take time, energy, and money. 

Most of these pets are not native to the Bay Area (or sometimes anywhere in the United States!) and most are unable to survive is released into an unfamiliar ecosystem. In other situations, these animals thrive, often facing fewer predators and can overrun delicate habitats, causing native animals and insects to become endangered.

The Bay Area is not alone in this critical problem. One of the most widely reported issues of invasive species is the Florida Everglades, which has been greatly damaged by multiple invasive species, including Burmese pythons. Largely due to the release of exotic pets, these large snakes have been one of the main causes for a decline in the number of mammals in the everglades, affecting the entire ecosystem. 

A pet reptile or amphibian is a serious commitment and it is critical that we take responsibility for the life, health, and safety of these animals, as well as the larger ecosystem. 

What should you do with a pet you can no longer care for? You can take it to your local animal shelter, a reptile rescue, even pet stores will often take in pets that need somewhere to go. If you're in the Bay Area, you can always call us and we can help you find the right solution for your pet. Finding a new home in captivity for your pet is the best thing you can do for the animal, as well as the ecosystem around us.