Reptile Information For The Newbie
So You Are Thinking Of Getting A Reptile For A Pet
There are numerous species available at pet stores and breeders
What your first step should be is to learn what kind of reptile would be the best pet for you
Most importantly - How much care is needed for that species of reptile which you chose?
Reptiles are very sensitive creatures and require a lot of special care and feed
Buy from a breeder or a reptile pet store, it is important that the vendor cares about how you keep your pet healthy and happy.
The vendor should also know where it came from and the pet should be disease free.
Beware of imported! Captive bred is better!
How much do I want to spend? Don't be frugal! If you skimp now you may end up paying more later.
Learning the hard way can be devastating to your pet and your pocket book!
Take your time, shop around & ask lots of questions!
This will insure that your final decision will be right for you and your new pet
Investments You Can Expect
Terrarium and accessories $200-$500
Food for a year up to $500
Veterinarian Services
Any Pet Is An Investment! The Rewards Are Great!
Top 8 Common Mistakes of New Exotic Pet Owners
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Reptiles & More Rescue Information:
Reptiles are interesting animals. Many types of reptiles and amphibians
are kept as exotic pets. Snakes, turtles, iguanas, and frogs are
popular examples. Keeping a reptile as a pet is a tremendous
responsibility. Many reptile owners discover that owning a reptile is
not as rewarding as they had hoped.
Reptiles do not bond with people
the way mammals can, and are sometimes neglected for that reason.
 Out of all the lizard pets, the Bearded Dragon is the best for beginners. They have better temperaments and are very docile. Some can be temperamental but the majority of captive bred bearded dragons are very laid back. They grow up to two feet including the tail and should be housed singly in a 45 gallon aquarium or larger.
If you acquire a baby to start with it should be fed a staple insect several times a week and have a salad mixture offered daily. Adults should be fed a salad mixture daily and staple with feeder insects, such as crickets, super worms or roaches, at least twice a week.
Your next option, if a smaller reptile is preferred, would be a Gecko. There are numerous species to choose from. There are Leopard Geckos, Fat Tails, Tokay, Cresteds, Gargoyles, Day Geckos and Leaf Tails to name a few.
The Crested Geckos and Gargoyle Geckos are the easiest. They do not require as much extra heat or light sources and can be housed in a 15 gallon tall aquarium. However, if the temperature in your home is less than 75F then extra heat sources will be required. The Crested Gecko eats a special formulated diet food that you add water to, this is their main source of food. They also eat fruit baby foods once or twice a week as a treat and they eat crickets once or twice a week.
 Leopard Geckos and Fat Tail Geckos are kept nearly the same with some variations. Leopard Geckos should be kept between 85-90F and the Fat Tail Gecko prefers between 82-88F.
The Fat Tail Gecko requires slightly more humidity which you can obtain by using a humid hide container.
Both kinds of geckos can be housed in a 10 gallon aquarium but they really love a 20 gallon aquarium and this size can house two geckos.
Do not be tempted to mix the two species because of their different requirements!
Fat Tails favor eating crickets
where as Leopard Geckos will eat crickets, mealworms, butterworms, silk worms, etc.
This video is courtesy
and copyright of National Geographic.
Snakes
The best three beginner snakes are
Ball Python
Corn Snake and King Snake
Be sure to check with your state laws
to make sure these snakes are allowed in your area before purchasing
 Out of the listed three snakes, Ball Pythons are very docile and laid back. They can reach a length of 5-7 feet long. Females are larger than the males.
They are very picky eaters and can go up to 6 plus months without eating if they choose.
The Corn Snake is by far the most popular and most available in the pet trade. They are relatively small and grow usually no more than 5 feet in length. They are active feeders and can tolerate a variety of environments.
Corn Snakes come in a wide variety of colors and are very easy to breed. A 20 gallon aquarium would be sufficient but you must have a secure top to keep the crafty snake in it's enclosure. They eat an appropriately sized mouse once a week and clean water in a stable dish should be available at all times.
Care should be taken not to handle the snake excessively or after it has eaten
 The California Kingsnakes are docile, hardy, moderately sized and priced, come in a variety of color morphs and are easy to breed. Care is similar to the Corn Snake.
An adult Kingsnakes housing should be a 20 gallon aquarium with a secure screen top. The cool end temperature should be 70-75F and the warmer end 82-86F.
Both the Corn Snake and the Kingsnake should have available adequate hiding spots on both temperature extremes of the tank. A clean dish of water must be provided at all times.
California Kingsnakes have a taste for other snakes "do not" house with other snakes
 
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