The bearded dragon, a kind of lizard, had its sore jaw treated at a cost of £410.
The food-resistant python proved even more expensive, costing £790 to treat.
They were both among 932,000 pet insurance claims made in 2016, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
The total amount paid out to policy-holders was £706m, a 7% increase on 2015 and also a record high.
Among other unusual treatments were:
The average cost of a claim is now £757, a 5% rise on 2015.
"There is no NHS for pets, and the cost of getting quality veterinary treatment can quickly run into thousands of pounds, particularly with rising veterinary costs and a greater range of medical treatments for pets now available," said Rebecca Hollingsworth, general insurance policy adviser at the ABI.
However most pet owners do not bother with insurance.
Only 30% of dog owners and 16% of cat owners pay for an annual policy.
A bearded dragon with an abscess, and a Burmese python with anorexia were among a record number of pets treated under insurance policies last year.