Whereabouts are UK members from?

I'm in Cambridgeshire! I haven't been in the UK long though, I just moved here this summer from the U.S.

Oops. My connected sneezed and swallowed my post.

harbinger— I'm kind of ignorant. What's AES?

nicegerbils— In that case, I'd better say my welcomes, and ask how you're enjoying the UK so far? Are you excited for winter? Have you seen much of the countryside (if that's your sort of thing?) I love walking our dogs and autumn/winter are my favourite seasons! We've been foraging for blackberries, rosehips, sloes at the moment. =) Whereabouts in the US have you come from?

Oh gosh! I'd love to go. I think my sister would disown me though.

I'll content myself stalking the cross spiders in the garden (and my bedroom, where I'd prefer they weren't but are allowed so long as they're not above my bed!)

I've noticed that the chain pet stores here are WAY better than the one's in America. Like there are still a lot of products stocked that aren't good, but compared to American pet stores they are a dream! The first time I went to a pet store in this country I was floored by the small animal section. So much variety compared to American stores, with much more acceptable cages and tanks. It seems like there aren't as many reptile products stocked though? 

Haha, yes, there is a bit of a reputation/stereotype about how much we love our dogs. There's a line in the radio comedy Cabin Pressure about dogs being "a secret code that lets the English talk to strangers. Anyone with a dog is allowed to talk to anyone else with a dog." 

That sounds like a gorgeous spot to live! We have a few streams nearby, but mostly fields to walk round. 

What were the winters like? =) I suppose it's going to seem a lot milder here? Down here on the south coast, we rarely get any snow, although there's more up North.

Growing up with all the history (my town has a castle), I didn't particularly notice it until I spent a few months in New Zealand, where I noticed its absence! I'm more into natural history than human, but old buildings are lovely.

I've never been to a pet store in the US, so I've only gone on reports! You get some poor ones here, but on the whole, the chains are pretty good! Pet's Corner is generally better thought-of than Pet's at Home. Yeah, I've not seen many reptiles, either. But there are some specialist reptile stores here-and-there. I visited a good couple in Truro in Cornwall. I reckon it's a case of googling and looking for societies/facebook groups nearby. =) 

I've only ever been to a couple of shelters. I guess since the UK is a smaller country, it's easier to get to breeders to collect a pup if you're not taking on a rescue!

I shouldn't enable, but I kept my fish with me in my third year of University! I asked permission of the landlord, and they said yes to a 20litre tank, so my betta came with me. I know other people who had pets, too. (Girl on a floor above me had a leopard gecko, and rats.) I had Toksvig—that's my betta's name!—with me for mental wellbeing reasons. Having him to look after helped me manage my anxiety. But at the same time, pets that require a lot of care, or if you're in uncertain standing with accommodation at Uni, it's not the best idea. It all depends really!

Did you have any reptiles back in Missouri?

Sensible outlook! Before I got my fish, I was going to get axolotls—but decided for similar reasons (they can live to ~fifteen) they would be far harder to re-home, and it wouldn't be fair on them if I had to move and couldn't take them with me!

Gerbils are cute! We had hamsters and mice growing up. I think my cousin had gerbils... I love their little tails!

Toksvig is named after a Danish comedian—Sandi Toksvig—who recently left the quiz show she'd run for years to start up a woman's political party! For some reason, the name struck me as great when I got the fish, and stuck! (Our other betta's name has only just been settled— Io!)