Around 2% of Americans have reptiles as pets, reports a Gallup survey, while a Reportlinker report shows that around 1.8 million households are homes to reptiles. The popularity of these pets can be attributed to several factors — many are low maintenance, independent, and easy to handle. Their calm disposition means that they generally get along with everyone in the family (including little kids). If you are thinking of bringing a little reptilian magic into your home and you want to ensure you have the time and budget to care for it well, consider either a bearded dragon, corn snake, or crested gecko.
Bearded Dragons
These cute dragons are an ideal match for families who may not have cared for a lizard before because they are calm, passive, and easy to handle. They like to let you know they are around, often running around within their enclosure to get a little attention. Taking care of them is easy. You will need a vivarium that is a minimum of 120cm long x 60cm high x 60 cm wide for one adult dragon. It should be well ventilated and made of a material that is easy to clean. The vivarium should have both a warm (88-100ºF) end and a cool, shady end (21-24ºF). The RSPCA in the UK reminds owners of the importance of using a 10-12% fluorescent UV tube at the warm end since if you fail to do so, your pet can develop metabolic bone disease. The vivarium should have a low humidity level (check the latter on the cold end). Fill the enclosure with rocks, structures, and branches your bearded dragon may enjoy climbing. Bearded dragons consume a diet of live insects and vegetables. Your pet will also need supplements so check well with your vet to ensure all its needs are fulfilled.
Corns Snakes
Corn snakes are generally calm and don’t mind being handled gently. When they feel threatened, they may ‘rattle their tails’ so be aware of this and give them space if required. These snakes thrive on pre-killed frozen mice which have been thawed and they usually eat twice a week if they are growing or once a week when adult. During shedding season your pet’s appetite may go down slightly so you can reduce the amount you feed it during this time as advised by your veterinarian. It is important to create the right environment for your reptiles by providing them with a perfect biotop. Humidity is not a cause of concern because corn snakes usually thrive in the humidity levels that are present in a typical home. However, it will need to be contained within a 20-gallon, long glass tank. This box should have many spaces your snake can hide in, as well as a layer of loose substrate. The ambience temperature within the enclosure should be between 80-85ºF. There should also be a warmer spot with a temperature of between 85-88ºF. At night the temperature should go down as low as 75ºF but no lower. Make sure your snake always has a fresh, shallow water dish.
Crested Geckos
Crested geckos are also well-loved because of their gentle personality. They are super easy to feed since they mainly consume commercial crested gecko food, which contains all their daily nutritional requirements. They also enjoy insects as night treats around three times a week, as well as sweet baby foods like banana and mango. To ensure they are comfortable, keep them in a 10-gallon reptilian tank that has a good height and provide various branches since this little gecko loves to climb. Add a few live, non-toxic plants, and sphagnum moss and moss-style substrates. Keep the daytime temperature at between 75 and 82ºF and the night time temperature at 68 to 75ºF. Use radiant heat and ensure your gecko gets at least 10-12 hours of natural sunlight a day. The basking area of the enclosure should have an incandescent day bulb. Do not include more than one male in an enclosure and do not mix this reptile with other species.
Reptiles are a popular pet in the U.S., with many being easy to take care of and having good dispositions. Three pets you might want to start out with are bearded lizards, corn snakes, and created geckos. Always do your research first and talk both with the breeder and your veterinarian to make sure you get all your pet’s requirements — food, temperature, humidity and more — exactly right.
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