Best Reptile Pets

If you are looking for a pet that is exciting to care for, a reptile could be a great option. You can go into any reptile pet store and find a reptile to bring home as a pet. However, before you do so, it is important to know more about what the best reptile pets are. After learning more about good reptile pets, you can decide which one you would like to bring home to your household. 

You will need to learn about reptile diets, sizes, environmental needs, and more if you are going to become a reptile pet owner. It might be helpful to know that many reptiles are low maintenance. However, you still need to make sure you have the proper equipment for them. They need to have enough space to live a healthy and comfortable life. 

Lizards

If you go to a reptile pet store, one of the most common lizards you will find is an iguana. However, if this is going to be your first time having a reptile or lizard as a pet, iguanas aren’t a great choice. They are often more aggressive as they get older and they are specific environmental and dietary needs. Chinese Water Dragons also have specific environmental and diet needs that are difficult to manage. With this being said, there are some lizards that make great pets. 

Leopard geckos are great for beginner reptile owners. They are quite small and don’t take a lot to care for. If you only get one adult leopard gecko, having a 15 to 20-gallon tank will be big enough. You won’t need to get them any special lighting like many other reptiles need because they are nocturnal. You will need a good supply of insects, as this is what they will eat. If you are looking for a docile, easy-to-care-for lizards

You could also choose to get a bearded dragon. They are a bit more difficult to care for. However, this is mostly because of the extra equipment that you will need. Many bearded dragons will become 18 to 24 inches. This means that you will probably need a 50-gallon tank when your bearded dragon is an adult. Frill necked lizards are similar to bearded dragons and they would be good reptile pets, as well. Both of these lizards need to have UVB and UVA lighting. While this type of lighting costs a bit more, they do last a while. You can easily tame a bearded dragon, so that is another reason why they are great exotic reptile pets. If you get a bearded dragon, you will need to feed them plenty of fruits, vegetables, and insects. 

Snakes

If you go to a reptile pet store, you will probably find a variety of snakes. If you are thinking of getting a pet snake, you will need to pay attention to their diet. You will likely need to give your snake whole rats or mice. The good news, however, is that snakes are usually fine being fed a whole mouse once a week, so you can leave the house for a few days and you won’t need someone to look after your snake. Snakes do require UVB and UVA lighting. 

One of the good reptile pets is corn snakes. They are pretty snakes and they are not difficult to care for. When fully grown, they can get 3 to 5 feet in length. These snakes can live 10 years or even longer. It is important to know that corn snakes can easily escape. You should make sure their enclosure has a lid that is tightly shut. 

You could choose to get a ball python, as well. Most of the time, these snakes are docile and simple to take care of. However, it is important to make sure your snake eats properly, as this type of snake is known for not wanting to eat at certain times. A ball python could live 20 to 30 years. 

Turtles

Many families own red-eared sliders. These often make for good reptile pets. Aquatic turtles require more maintenance to care for. It is important to know that, with many turtles, the environmental needs are quite challenging. You must be prepared and committed if you are going to get a pet turtle. 

Eastern box turtles are some of the best turtles to have as a pet. They can live for a very long time. However, they won’t get very big, as tortoises do, so you won’t need to worry about having to get them a bigger tank. You won’t need to worry as much about the environmental requirements and needs of this type of turtle, as they require much less maintenance. Eastern box turtles are fairly adaptable. You can feed them insects, plants, or both.

As you can see there are a variety of different reptiles that you can have as a pet. Some of them do have a few more environmental requirements and dietary needs than others. However, if you find out exactly how to properly care for the type of reptile that you plan on getting, you won’t have to worry as much. Out of the lizards, snakes, and turtles mentioned here today, you can decide which type of reptile is the best for you and/or your family. 

What are the best reptile pets?

With proper care, leopard geckos, bearded dragons, corn snakes, ball pythons, and red-eared sliders are some of the best reptile pets. They all have some environmental requirements and dietary needs. However, each one of these reptiles is fairly low maintenance. For some of them, you won’t even need special lighting.

What is a good first reptile pet?

If you are looking for a good first reptile pet, you should check into getting a leopard gecko, bearded dragon, corn snake, ball python, or eastern box turtle.

Should reptiles be pets?

If you are looking to get a pet, it might be helpful to know that reptiles can make great pets. You won’t need a lot of space to house a reptile. They don’t have very many additional needs like many other animals do. Most reptiles are fun to watch or play with. Even though many reptiles get a bad rap, most of them are quite friendly.

Check out our blog and follow me on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date!