5 Must-Haves When Getting Reptiles as Pets

Are you looking for a non-traditional pet? If so, you might be thinking about the option of reptiles as pets.

Reptiles are animals that require a wet environment but can also survive on land. Some common examples include lizards, geckos, snakes and turtles. Before adding a reptile to your family you need to make sure that you have everything you need in order to take care of it. This includes the following…

1. A Vet Who Can Help You

Just as you take dogs and cats to the vet regularly, you need to make sure you take your reptiles to the vet regularly as well. Therefore, take a look at the list of reptile vets near me. Not every veterinarian has the training or experience necessary to take care of reptiles, so before you call to make an appointment, make sure the veterinarian is comfortable taking care of reptiles.

2. Plenty of Space

Reptiles also need plenty of space. If you are trying to find a tank, cage, or enclosure, remember that a larger habitat is usually preferable to a smaller one. If you own one reptile, you may need to get a 20 gallon reptile tank. While this might sound large, it will give your reptile plenty of space. You need to have space in the tank for food, water, and structures that can provide your reptile with some source of privacy. In addition, an enclosure will provide some degree of insulation, which will help your reptile regulate his or her body temperature.

3. Plenty of Heat Lamps

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals. This means that they’re not able to regulate their body temperatures on their own. Therefore, if you want your reptile to survive, you’ll need to help them regulate their body temperature. There are plenty of tools you can use to help you accomplish this task. You might be interested in under-tank heaters, ceramic heaters, or special light bulbs. Remember, don’t ever place the heat sources in the tank as this could lead to injuries with your reptile. Different reptiles have different temperature requirements, so you will need to reach out to someone with experience in this area if you want to figure out what temperature you need to maintain.

4. Plenty of Water

Of course, you will need to give your pet reptile a source of fresh water, but you also need to think about the humidity level. Remember that most reptiles are used to living close to the ocean in the wild. As a result, they expect to live in a very humid environment. There are plenty of ways you can control the humidity in the enclosure, and one of the easiest ways to do so is to have running water going through the environment or to spray the air with water. You may even want to invest in a hygrometer, which you can use to track the humidity level of the habitat.

5. A Proper Source of Food

Finally, you need to make sure you have a proper source of food for your reptile as well. Different reptiles eat different things, so you will want to talk to a specialist who can help you. Even though there are some reptiles that subsist solely on vegetables and plants, this is not always the case. If you have a reptile that requires meat, you should talk to an expert who can help you figure out if you could go with live animals, dead animals, and what type of animal you should purchase. That way, you provide your reptile with the nutrition required.

Get Ready To Take Care of Reptiles

Ultimately, these are just a few of the most important points you should keep in mind if you are thinking about getting a reptile. Even though you need to think about what you need to have to take care of your reptile, you also need to figure out what you should avoid. For example, you should probably avoid cedar and pine shavings because these can irritate the skin of your reptile. You should also avoid putting heat sources in the tank, as they can lead to serious burn injuries. Finally, you should try to avoid most branches, metal objects, and plants. Some of them can be incredibly dangerous for reptiles, and they could have an allergic reaction. Make sure to schedule an appointment with a local vet who can help you take care of your reptile.

As a bonus, you may want to consider purchasing a CritterZone Air Naturalizer for your reptile. Works both as an air purifier for pets and pet odor eliminator, CritterZone unit allows for your reptiles to receive the same outdoor air they normally would be missing out on in their tanks.