Lizards And Reptiles Make Great Pets
Reptiles are called exotic pets. They aren’t one type of animal, but include many types including snakes, amphibians, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles. There are over 1,000 lizard and reptile to choose from, although only a tiny portion is kept in prison. Reptiles can be caught in the wild or reared for home usage. Those that are bred for home usage tend to do better in a home aquarium since wild lizards aren't conditioned to being confined.
Part of the excitement of caring for or breeding a pet reptile is choosing both the kind of animal you want and then constructing an environmentally appropriate vivarium. Reptiles such as snakes and lizards come from all sorts of environs including woodlands, tropical areas, savannas, deserts, and marine areas. Reptiles from each need to be kept in a habitat that reflects these native areas.
Reptiles are called ectotherms, suggesting that heir body cannot control temperature. Instead, their body temperature mirrors the ambient temperature. So if you make a decision to care for a pet savanna reptile, you'll need to create a the same arid or high humidity level. This includes an area that will allow the reptile to bask in elevated temperatures, a cooler daytime area, and a nighttime temperature that is roughly 10 to 15 degrees lower. Daylight or UVB light is important and leads to the creation of vitamin D, a factor that is essential for calcium absorption. Calcium may also be provided thru the diet. The optimal type of light is unfiltered sunlight, since light that passes through aquarium walls or glass or Plexiglas that removes important UVB rays.
Each reptile species has unique dietary requirements. The reptile diet is composed of insects, plants, veg, fruit or meat. Omnivores eat a combination of plants and meat. In fact, most reptiles in prison get used to easting all types of food at a young age. The dominant food needs to mirror the diet they would eat in natural settings. Insect diets are composed of mealworms, crickets, and other live insects. Meat can include live small rodents called pinkies. There are also complete commercial diets available in pellet form, although most veterinary nutritionists suggest a wide variety of foods in addition to the all in one food. If a pet doesn’t eat a diverse diet, then a vitamin supplement is often required.
Reptiles can survive for ten plus years. They’re fascinating animals to watch with part of the fun dedicated to the design of the perfect habitat. While they do not like to be held, they are fascinating to watch and offer years of pleasure.
Cathy Doggins is the author of this and hundreds of other articles on exotic pet lizards and reptiles. When not writing about reptiles and topics like this Cathy can be discovered caring for her Bearded Dragon, Leopard Gecko and multiple dogs and cats. She's a famous speaker and advocate for the handling of exotic and small animals.
