Are Reptiles Good Pets? 5 Things to Consider Before Adopting

 Intro  

              Reptiles are fascinating creatures, but they’re not always the best pets for everyone who would like to

own one. If you’re considering getting a reptile of your own, make sure you thoroughly research their

care

and maintenance requirements before bringing one home with you.

Here are five things to consider beforeadopting any new pet from the reptile family.

Outlines:

* Who’s gonna take care of it?

* Are you allowed to have it in your state?

* Do you have room for it in your home?

* Where can you buy all its stuff from?

* What are the rules for traveling with reptiles?

Who’s gonna take care of it?:

Reptiles are high-maintenance pets. They require a lot of time, attention, and money to care for them

properly and make sure they’re healthy. If you have kids at home, it might be better if they take care of the

reptile instead of you. You can also hire someone to take care of the pet while you’re away on vacation or

at work. Be sure that person is trustworthy! Many reptiles (especially chameleons) will bite their owners

when they're feeling threatened, so you want to find someone who understands how to handle

these animals. You also want someone who understands how much your animal needs in terms of food,

water, and cage size. To keep your pet happy and healthy, you need to provide it with a clean habitat with

UVB lights that imitate natural sunlight. It also needs fresh fruits and vegetables every day, as well as live

insects like crickets and mealworms. Some reptiles shed skin periodically which means you'll need some

sort of enclosure for cleaning up the mess before it gets too big! Make sure to research any type of animal

before adopting one just because they're cute or rare; this way you can make an informed decision before

taking on any responsibility. What's your level of commitment?: Most reptiles should be fed three times a

week, but there are some out there that only need to eat once per week or even less than once per month.

These don't usually include tortoises and iguanas. So make sure you know what types of things you plan to

do with your new friend! Will I buy my supplies?: When adopting a pet, the least expensive option is not

always the best option. For example, if you adopt a small mammal, like a hamster or rat, then most of its

supplies can be bought from Wal-Mart or Target without breaking the bank.

Are you allowed to have it in your state?:

Reptiles are high-maintenance pets. They require a lot of time, attention, and money to care for them

properly and make sure they’re healthy. If you have kids at home, it might be better if they take care of

the reptile instead of you. You can also hire someone to take care of the pet while you’re away on

vacationor at work. Be sure that person is trustworthy! Many reptiles (especially chameleons) will bite

their ownerswhen they're feeling threatened, so you want to find someone who understands how

to handle these

animals.

You also want someone who understands how much your animal needs in terms of food, water,

and cage size. To keep your pet happy and healthy, you need to provide it with a clean habitat with UVB

lights that imitate natural sunlight. It also needs fresh fruits and vegetables every day, as well as live

insects

like crickets and mealworms. Some reptiles shed skin periodically which means you'll need some sort of

enclosure for cleaning up the mess before it gets too big! Make sure to research any type of animal before

adopting one just because they're cute or rare; this way you can make an informed decision before taking

on any responsibility. What's your level of commitment?: Most reptiles should be fed three times a week,

but there are some out there that only need to eat once per week or even less than once per month. These

don't usually include tortoises and iguanas. So make sure you know what types of things you plan to do

with your new friend! Will I buy my supplies?: When adopting a pet, the least expensive option is not

always the best option. For example, if you adopt a small mammal, like a hamster or rat, then most of its

supplies can be bought from Wal-Mart or Target without breaking the bank.

Do you have room for it in your home?:

Reptiles make great pets, but they can be a lot of work. They can take up a lot of space and are pretty

messy, so you need to ask yourself if you have enough room in your home for one. If you're considering

getting a tortoise or iguana, make sure that you have the right type of enclosure set up before adopting it.

Geckos will eat bugs around your house and it's fun to watch them hunt at night. Bearded dragons are

easy to care for as long as you give them the right temperature and humidity level (reptiles require these

two things). Corn snakes are very low-maintenance reptiles, which is nice if you're not looking for a

challenge. That said, all reptiles do require some special consideration. The more exotic the reptile,

the higher chance there is for something to go wrong - like a snake eating its tail! There are always risks

with any pet adoption and that goes double for exotic animals like lizards or turtles. You should also

consider whether or not you have time to take on another responsibility. Exotic animals can live decades,

sometimes even 60+ years, so you don't want to adopt one without really understanding what kind of

commitment you're making. It might seem cool to own an iguana now but after 30 years have passed

maybe you don't want an animal in your home anymore. Lastly, is it legal where you live? Most people

who own reptiles keep them as pets indoors because they're illegal to own outdoors in most

states/countries. Make sure that owning a reptile is allowed where you live! And when you finally decide

to get a pet lizard, remember: Have a plan for handling their waste. Buy extra food dishes and tanks so

that you won't have to clean every day. Keep their living environment at the appropriate temperature and

humidity level. And lastly, invest in some good heating pads and hides because they'll feel cozier when

you're away from them too!

Where can you buy all its stuff from?:

When you are considering adopting a reptile as a pet, you will need to prepare for their needs in

advance. These animals require very specific care, and if you don't take the time to do your research

beforehand it is likely that your reptile will be unhealthy or unhappy. It is important to know what type

of animal would work best with your lifestyle before making any commitments. Below are some

questions you should ask yourself before bringing home a reptile: Where can I buy the right equipment

for my new pet? You'll want a habitat large enough for them to move

around comfortably, and this may include an aquarium or terrarium with different levels and hiding

places. If they like climbing trees, then make sure they have one too! What kind of food will I need?:

The types of food required by reptiles depend on which species you're looking at, but most eat live

insects (crickets, mealworms) supplemented with canned food (canned turtle foods are a good choice).

Where am I going to get the appropriate heating and lighting sources?: Again, this depends on the species

- those who live outside generally only need access to warm sunlight during daytime hours. All reptiles

inside your home will require UVA/UVB lights to stay healthy. Make sure there is no way for them to

touch these bulbs while they're lit up this could cause burns and blindness.

What are the rules for traveling with reptiles?:

You must know the rules before traveling with reptiles, even if it's just a short road trip. Some airlines

allow small animals in the cabin (at an additional cost), while others require them to travel as checked

luggage. If you can't find out if they're allowed, then it might be best not to bring them at all. You'll also

need a health certificate from your vet and the proper paperwork for customs and airport security. As long

as you plan and prepare, traveling with your reptile shouldn't be too difficult! Make sure that there are no

bans on transporting reptiles by air or land, have someone meet you with food and fresh water when you

arrive at your destination, and don't forget to pack something warm so they won't get too cold on the way

back home. Your pet may have different needs than some other species of pets, but remember that their

needs can always be met with some preparation and research. With a little extra work, owning a reptile

as a pet could be just what you're looking for! For example, this is a list of things to think about when

adopting: location, age requirements (do you want one now or will you wait until it grows up?), housing

size/design, how active the animal need to be during each day?, how much space will the animal take up

in your house?, do I want a docile animal that likes people?, how much time am I willing to spend

outside my house caring for my new pet? By considering these factors beforehand, buying a new reptile

should go smoothly. There are many species available, ranging from arboreal snakes to aquatic turtles.

Depending on where you live, some areas offer limited options because certain types of reptiles can't

survive the area's climate. A few examples include monitor lizards and bearded dragons who cannot

survive in climates below 50 degrees Fahrenheit; corn snakes who cannot live below 60 degrees

Fahrenheit; red-eared slider turtles who cannot live below 50 degrees Fahrenheit; ball pythons who

cannot survive below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and tree frogs who thrive between 55-80 degrees

Fahrenheit.