Lucero has loved unusual animals since he was a kid. Most children ask for a puppy or a kitten, but he wanted something more interesting. He always dreamed of working with exotic animals, and he eventually turned that dream into a business.
His animals also include Pac-Man frogs and other invertebrates. Yes, Pac-Man frogs are real. They are round, with enormous mouths, and they look like the classic video game character.
Don't go looking for a storefront. Owl Town Exotics operates out of Lucero's home in Hale Center, so you can't walk in and browse the snakes like you would at a traditional pet store.
Instead, folks in Lubbock and across the region can find him two ways. He connects with customers through Facebook, and he appears at reptile expos in Lubbock, Amarillo, Odessa and Abilene. Those shows give people a chance to meet Lucero in person and learn more about the animals before they take anything home.
A kid's fascination with scorpions and snakes now runs out of a house in Hale Center, and it travels to four West Texas cities.