Exotic animals, such as reptiles, are not very common pets. But people nowadays are warming up to the idea of having such reptilian pets. The relative ease of care and their increased availability are making reptiles an increasingly popular choice for pets.
But keeping reptiles is by no means an easy task. There is plenty of stigma and apprehension with reptiles, and that makes choosing the right reptile pet for your family a huge challenge.
According to Reptile Dork’s David Johnson, knowing these basic things can help you prepare for your home for your new reptile pet. To help you decide if reptiles are a good fit as your family pet, we have also put together a list of seven questions you need to explore before you decide to bring home a reptile.
Here are the questions:
1. What Reptile Should I Choose?
There are a lot of reptiles that you can keep as pets. Some of these reptiles are geckos, bearded dragons, chameleons, snakes, tortoises, etc. The most common ones of them are geckos and tortoises.
They are both easy to maintain, and you do not need to spend too much money on them. If you want something truly unique, you can pick bearded dragons or chameleons.
And unless you are really enthusiastic about it, we suggest you do not keep snakes as pets. That is because many people have a fear of snakes and this might cause some trouble for you.
One thing is for sure; whatever reptile you get, you will not have to worry about their food. Omnivorous reptiles love insects, and you can easily get mealworms and Wax Worms For Sale online.
2. Is My Family Ready For A Reptile?
As mentioned before, reptiles are not that common of a pet. So some of your family members might not be fond of them as pets. If you talk to them about getting a pet, they will likely think of dogs, cats, birds, or even fish. Reptiles could be out of their comfort zone.
Therefore, turtlecaring.com is important for you to have a conversation with your family beforehand Ask their opinion about what type of reptiles they might accept because there might be people who do not want you to have a gecko as a pet but be ok with tortoises.
3. Do I Have The Time To Maintain These Pets
Reptiles do not require you to spend time for companionships like cats or dogs. They prefer to be by themselves. But that does not mean you should leave them alone all the time.
Moreover, since they are cold-blooded, you need to ensure that their enclosures have proper heat and light sources.
Without a good source of heat and light, they will likely fall sick. Many of them come with a specialized diet too.
All of this adds up to the time commitment you will need to make to adopt a reptile as your family pet.
4. Can I Prepare The Habitat For The Reptiles?
The next thing you need to consider is the habitat of these reptiles. Unlike cats or dogs, reptiles can’t just live amongst us, roaming freely. They need a specific enclosed space where they can live.
Most commonly, a glass container is used as the habitat for these reptiles. But you need to prepare the glass container enclosure with certain requirements to make them habitable for your reptile pet. You need to add soil and some plants to mimic their natural habitats.
Since reptiles require a lot of light and a good heat source, you need to install a UV light in the container and keep the container in a room that has proper heating.
5. Am I Dedicated Enough?
Some species of reptiles can last a long time. But almost all reptiles have a lifespan of at least about ten years. If you are eager to keep a reptile for ten years, then, by all means, get one.
But since reptiles are not very responsive to humans and can live by themselves, many people lose interest after a while and surrender their reptile pets. If you are not one of these people, then a reptile could be the right pet.
Therefore, make an honest assessment about how dedicated you are towards the responsibility of owning a reptile pet.
5. How Often Should I Interact With Them?
Some reptiles do not like human interaction that much, while some reptiles enjoy human company. It basically depends on the species. For example, reptiles like snakes and chameleons are not very fond of human interaction.
Too close contact with humans can agitate or even frighten them. In contrast, other reptiles such as bearded dragons and tortoises can bond with humans. So if you have some family members who do not know when to interact with reptiles, you will need to teach them how to properly interact with reptiles and when to give them space.
6. Should I Get A Young Reptile Or An Adult Reptile?
This can be a big factor while choosing a reptile as a pet. This is because age determines the level of care the pet will require – at least initially.
A young reptile will require you to look after them much more. You need to invest plenty of time behind it. But the benefit would be that they will be much more comfortable around the human company and be accustomed to the human environment.
An adult reptile will not require you to spend much time with them. You can interact with them once a week, and that will be fine. But the downside is that because they are already an adult and will not be as comfortable around humans as other reptiles who grew up from infancy around humans.
7. Can I Provide A Proper Diet For My Pet Reptile?
The food your reptile eats should always be one of your primary concerns in caring for them. Some reptiles are omnivorous, while others are herbivorous.
Omnivorous reptiles will eat both insects (or animals) and plants. Herbivorous reptiles will only feed on vegetation and plants.
The age of the reptile also determines their diet. Small and young reptiles will require a protein-based diet. So feeding them a lot of insects is the right choice.
Grown-up reptiles do not require much food, and you need to feed them once a day. Some reptiles will only need to be fed a few times a week, depending on the season and its age.
Final Thoughts
In many ways, reptiles are easier to care for than dogs and cats and can make for great family pets. However, that does not mean they will not need your time and attention (and resources). Ask yourself the above questions to help you determine if a reptile pet is right for you.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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