Is a reptile the right pet for you?

Is a bearded dragon the right reptile for you?

Reptiles are often one of the first pet (if not the only pet) that little boys ask for as they are growing up. They are also pretty much the only pet that moms (and some dads) are completely horrified of. Why are people so afraid of reptiles, snakes in particular? Reptiles are not cute, they are not cuddly and they often have to eat other animals to survive.

What often attracts people to reptiles is that they are quiet, they are generally small in size, they don’t often smell and they don’t need to be taken out for a walk. They do, however, have some very specific needs. They (generally) need to have a UVB light – this helps them to absorb calcium, they need an external heat source to help them maintain body temperature, they need a good quality food source and a large enough enclosure.

When choosing a first reptile pet, there are also things that need to be considered. Reptiles come in many sizes from a small anole to a larger bearded dragon to a 6 foot long iguana. The choice that is made should be made based on how much time and space you have to offer. An anole is a wild reptile that is small and doesn’t like to be handled by people. A bearded dragon grows to about 22 inches (including the tail), is a good size to hold and seems to enjoy spending time outside of its enclosure and with people. An iguana gets very large - 6 feet (with the tail), they do like to spend time with people, but need to be with a person who can devote lots of time to it, as they can inflict damage if they are not used to people.

A small lizard such as an anole, can live comfortably in a 10 gallon aquarium with a secure screen lid that has space for both a UVB and heat source. An anole will eat small crickets – generally between 2 and 5 in a sitting, but the food should be left in the cage for about 15 minutes to assure that the anole has a chance to catch all that he wants. The anole will normally not eat out of a water dish, but will enjoy a spritzing of water everyday (it will drink the water droplets from the glass). Anoles like to climb and should be provided with vines and branches for this purpose as well as with hiding spots.

Bearded dragons will need a larger cage to accommodate their larger size. Full grown dragons will require an enclosure that is at least 2’ x 4’ – as they are growing they will need enough space to turn around without touching its tail on the sides. Bearded dragons eat both protein and vegetable matter. Crickets are again a good source of nutrients for a dragon. Greens are also required by bearded dragons, collar greens, mustard greens and kale are among some of the good food sources. When a dragon is young, it will need a ratio of 90% protein and 10% greens, as they grow this will flop flop. Dragons also need a good source of UVB as well as a heater for their well being. Dragons, like anoles tend not to drink from a dish and will defecate in it if left in the cage, it is often best to forgo the water dish in favor of a weekly bath.

Iguanas can make fantastic pets for the right people, however they are not a good reptile for the beginner. They get huge (up to 6’ with the tail) and they have strong, long nails and a whip like tail (that can be up to 4’ of their body length) and if they get irritated, they aren’t afraid to use it. For this reason, great thought should be put in to getting one of these reptiles. Iguanas may appeal to a lot of people for the simple fact that they don’t eat insects…they are strictly vegetarians. While Iguanas still need the UVB and the heat source, they are often keep in a spare room, or allowed to roam the house as they grow too large for a real cage.

While reptiles may not be the right pet for many people, they definitely have a lot of fans out there who are completely devoted to their care and happiness. If you are tempted to have a reptile as a pet, start small and work your way up.