AITA for calling out a coworker about his pets?

A Redditor shares their frustrations about a coworker they nicknamed “Phony Fred,” who seems to exaggerate or fabricate stories, including claims about owning exotic pets. When the coworker misrepresented basic reptile facts, the Redditor, a self-proclaimed reptile expert, called him out in front of others, questioning his knowledge and care of the animals. Now, they wonder if they were too harsh or if their concern for the welfare of the pets justifies their response.

‘ AITA for calling out a coworker about his pets?’

So there’s a guy I work with who gave me the ick the minute I met him. On his first day working with me he called me “Baby boo” before even knowing my name. So he didn’t start on a good foot with me. Over time I’ve come up with the name “Phony Fred” for him in my head.

I call him Phony Fred because everything he says sounds like BS to me. And it’s come to my attention that I’m not the only one who thinks he’s full of it. There’s actually a lot of us on the unit who think he’s sus.

A few examples why: He talked on about how his wife is the love of his life and love at first sight. Then he said “She was 18 and I was in my 30’s. Oops!” He said it worked out because they’ve been together 12 years. He also says he got her pregnant on the first date. But at another time he said he met her 7 years ago.

Another time two coworkers and I were talking about divorces, and I guess he thought nobody heard him but he said “And in November I won’t be married anymore.” But it’s passed November and he’s still going on about the wife he’s been with for 12 years but met 7 years ago. He talks about investments earning him tens of thousands, his properties in the Bahamas, etc…we all think he sounds like a finance bro.

Anyway, the other week Phony Fred was going on about the exotic pets he has. He said he had two snakes and a skink. Another coworker had not heard of a skink. So he said “Oh it’s a BIG ASS lizard!” Now, I love reptiles. I am very familiar with their care and I am knowledgeable about various species. I have been most of my life. I participate in my area’s herpetological society. I’m the reptile nerd of my social circle. Anyone who knows me knows this.

Apparently he doesn’t. I turned and said “Skinks usually aren’t big. What kind do you have?” He stared at me for a second and said “… I don’t know.” I asked him what color is the mouth. “blue.” I said hat’s a blue tongued skink, they get to about 24 inches max.

He said “well…I’m not used to big snakes not lizards, but lizards are basically snakes.” I said no they’re not basically snakes, they are different species and require different care. He said “well they’re both amphibians!” Here’s where I may be TA. I said “They’re reptiles. You don’t know s**t about what you’re saying and you don’t even know what you own.” He sat down and muttered to himself.

I think he either doesn’t actually own these animals or I should be concerned for their wellbeing because he clearly doesn’t know what he’s doing with them. But maybe that was harsh. I already tend to think he’s full of it so maybe I should just ignore him?

EDIT: So it seems consensus is I wasn’t TA, but I should definitely keep a professional distance regardless. I agree. Talking to him only about work when it’s absolutely necessary and then otherwise ignoring him is what I should do going ahead. He can run his mouth but I don’t need to be listening.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Pascalle112 −  NTA. You were calling out potential animal abuse, can’t ever be the A for that! I don’t know how you put up with him!

Party-Argument-8969 −  I think he is a pathological l**r Nta get a coworker to send photos of his pets.

Bitter-Whole-7290 −  NTA but I also don’t think any of this is really worth your time. Eventually it’ll come across as pettiness, know it all behavior or worse from you. I’d just ignore him.

afishieanado −  He’s just a habitual l**r. It’s psychological he can’t help himself. People with pets have pictures of them.

Particular-Emu-4432 −  It sounds like you should be all more worried about his l**atic behavior than what he has as a reptile pet. Of course, if you know your way around reptiles, definitely call out the BS, especially when it’s someone annoying like Phony Fred. But keep your distance, you are absolutely better than this.

Aidyn_the_Grey −  NTA. Dude clearly has issues with self-worth or something similar to be so desperate for attention and approval. Blue Tongue Skinks are fairly big for a pet lizard (compared to leopard geckos and the like), but I’d never refer to them as large. You’re not the AH for correcting him on matters you know well.

Also Snakes are lizards, just highly specialized lizards (genetically, there is no clade one can make to include both geckos and, say, lacertas without also including snakes. Geckos are actually the oldest divergent branch of lizards, splitting off from common ancestors before snakes did).

coldqueer −  possibly he’s thinking of a monitor (?) iirc thise are the large ines granted I’m not in reptile care (but i work at a pet store and some lady brings in this big rescue) but any OWNER should know this.

Friendly_Fall_ −  I mean if I saw a 24 inch lizard I’d be like “that’s a big ass lizard”. Keep calling him out, maybe you’ll get lucky and he’ll stop talking.