According to Matt Davies Harmony Communities, while conventional pets like dogs and cats still reign supreme in most homes, reptiles have been crawling up in popularity for some time. However, owning a reptile is radically different from owning a dog.

Let’s check out a few details about shopping for a reptile.

The Details

1. Space – While reptiles seem small, they need a lot of room to stay healthy and happy. Even the smallest tortoise would require a large tortoise table while snakes and lizards require large vivariums to move around and explore their environment.

You can’t just let your pet snake, lizard or tortoise roam around in their home. Just the floor cleaner that’s used to keep your home clean can make them sick. That’s why you need to make sure you have enough space for the reptile you’re about to befriend.

2. Live food and dead rodents – Your lizard may be happy with the occasional tomato and strawberries. However, most reptiles are carnivorous and require live food. That means you’ll need to buy a lot of insects and rodents and handle them while feeding your pet reptile.

If the insects and rodents escape from their enclosures, you may find a dead cricket on your bed or a dead mouse behind the freezer. Make sure you’re prepared to feed your reptile live feed and comfortable handling dead insects and rodents.

3. Specialist equipment – Unlike common felines and canines, reptiles are cold-blooded animals. That means they require help from the external environment to regulate their body temperature. Unless you live in Florida or in any other subtropical or tropical climate, you’ll need to buy and use specialized gear to create that environment.

Some lizards may require heat mats while others may require UV lights or overhead heat lamps for their enclosures. These things are expensive./ even if you can get used equipment for cheap, they are going to consume a lot of power and increase your energy bill. Some even come with recurring costs. For instance, bulbs that create UV light need to be replaced over a period. Make sure you can afford that expense.

4. Risks – At most, your dog may shred your carpet or furniture upholstery to shreds while your cat leaves scratches everywhere. That’s just messy and creates temporary financial loss you can easily recover from. However, reptiles come with additional risks. Some require a very specific and careful handling method so that they don’t attack you.

For instance, if you don’t feed anacondas the right way, they may go for your arm and crush your bones. Others require protective gear so that you don’t get sprayed with poison. The rest require you to handle dangerous equipment like heat mats and hot lighting equipment that can burn your house down if you’re not careful. You need a completely different mindset and way more discipline than a typical dog owner. Make sure you’re prepared for that.

Conclusion

Matt Davies Harmony Communities suggests that you use the above-mentioned tips for deciding on owning a reptile. You need to be prepared to care for your reptile friend with more caution and address its specific needs like a special habitat, medical conditions, and diet.