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Reptiles
Reptiles are cute, but they are not cuddly! Lizards, snakes, tortoises, frogs etc. are similar to fish in that they need an environment which mimics how they are kept in the wild. They need a responsible owner who understands how best to care for them, and who is not squeamish when it comes to feeding time.
Best suited to the older child or teeager, reptile keeping is a fascinating hobby, and the reward is from observing and understanding these interesting creatures, rather than from being able to have an relationship with them in the same way as you can with a dog or cat.
Best suited to the older child or teeager, reptile keeping is a fascinating hobby, and the reward is from observing and understanding these interesting creatures, rather than from being able to have an relationship with them in the same way as you can with a dog or cat.
Tortoises prefer to be watched rather than handled!
Keeping Reptiles
As with fish, the trick to keeping reptiles is to provide them with the same conditions they live in in the wild. This means keeping them in a vivarium, and maintaining this at the correct temparature and humidity depending on where they come from. Bearded Dragons, for example, come from a desert environment and need heat and low humidity.
As with fish, the trick to keeping reptiles is to provide them with the same conditions they live in in the wild. This means keeping them in a vivarium, and maintaining this at the correct temparature and humidity depending on where they come from. Bearded Dragons, for example, come from a desert environment and need heat and low humidity.
Reptile keeping is not a cheap hobby - you do need to make an upfront investment in equipment (vivarium, heat source, thermostat etc). You also need to investigate the cost of feeding. Snakes, for example, can actually cost quite little to feed - on the other hand, lizards can go through an amazing amount of live food! Two bearded dragons can cost up to £10 per week in live food!
Food for reptiles is not quite as easy to find as dog or cat food, and you may need to investigate local pet shops to make sure that you will be able to get a good supply. Live insect food can be delivered by mail order, so this may be the answer if you haven't got a local shop.
If you don't like handling locusts, meal worms or dead baby mice reptile keeping may not be for you!
If you don't like handling locusts, meal worms or dead baby mice reptile keeping may not be for you!
Do your research!
If you don't keep reptiles correctly they will die. They cannot handle neglect. So make sure that you do your research before buying one as a pet. This site will give you some basic information, but once you have decided which reptile pet is for you, please read everything you can before you start looking for the right animal. Reptile keeping is a specialist hobby - there are plenty of books and magazines for you to read and lots of websites that you can visit - some just for information, but others will have forums where you can ask questions. Your local pet shop may well be another source of good information.
Reptiles are not cheap to buy - for both your sake and your new pet please make sure you know what you are taking on!
If you don't keep reptiles correctly they will die. They cannot handle neglect. So make sure that you do your research before buying one as a pet. This site will give you some basic information, but once you have decided which reptile pet is for you, please read everything you can before you start looking for the right animal. Reptile keeping is a specialist hobby - there are plenty of books and magazines for you to read and lots of websites that you can visit - some just for information, but others will have forums where you can ask questions. Your local pet shop may well be another source of good information.
Reptiles are not cheap to buy - for both your sake and your new pet please make sure you know what you are taking on!
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Warning!
Reptiles can carry Salmonella. They should be kept away from other pets and not allowed to roam in the same room where dogs or cats go. Hands must be washed carefully after handling the animals, or anything inside the vivarium.
Reptiles can carry Salmonella. They should be kept away from other pets and not allowed to roam in the same room where dogs or cats go. Hands must be washed carefully after handling the animals, or anything inside the vivarium.