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Choosing a Reptile Pet and What It Needs to be Happy and Healthy

reptile pet

There are a multitude of different reptile species available for purchase and one of the challenges a new reptile pet owner faces is weeding through the information available to see what will work best for them. We are going to discuss a few different options and see is we could help figure some of these questions out for our customers. This will only cover basic information about tortoises, lizards and snakes but feel free to reach us with any other questions you may have.

Keeping pet tortoises in captivity

The first question most potential pet owners have regarding tortoises is how big do they get followed by how long do they live. There are a variety of pet tortoises available and they are safely categorized into animals that will stay under twenty inches and animals that will grow over twenty inches. After deciding which group you’re interested in the next concern should be the setup for your potential new pet. All tortoises need heat, uvb lighting and plant based diets with calcium additives. When you have established the basics for your new pet you can be assured that they can have a long life that can exceed thirty to forty years and more in most species.

Keeping pet lizards in captivity

The two questions most potential lizard buyers have is does it bite and how long will it get. There are lizards that are notorious for having a very rough temperament but most of the captive born lizards for sale on the market like baby iguanas, leopard geckos and bearded dragons are known for their calm and friendly demeanor. Most lizards will tend to stay under the two foot length but some of the larger monitor lizards and iguanas can reach adult sizes in excess of five feet in length. Like the tortoises they will need a basking area with uvb lighting but most of them have a carnivorous or insectivore diet and will take canned or prepared turkey based diets readily. Knowing the history of the reptile pet you are about to purchase is the best first step you could take.

Keeping pet snakes in captivity

Like the other two categories potential snake owners will worry about whether or not the animals bite and how long they will grow. There is a common misconception regarding most reptiles and especially snakes that states reptiles will only get as big as their cage size. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Potential overall length of the snake in question depends on species, genetics, gender and food consumption as well as the ambient temperatures the animal is kept at. Like many other reptiles there are snakes that are known to be flighty or temperamental and then there are ones that will not strike under any circumstance. Again, knowing the history of the reptile that you are getting and having a clear understanding of the specific needs and potential size of the snake in question will lead to a much happier and healthier snake keeping experience.

Finding a reptile pet for sale online

At xyzReptiles we have had hands on experience with most species of pythons, boas, colubrids, lizards, tortoises and more for a number of years. We are happy to help you find the right reptile pet for you and to help navigate the ever broadening amount of information on morphs and genetics of these reptiles. If you don’t see what you are looking for feel free to reach out to us and let us know what you’re looking for so that we may include it in our future availability lineup.

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