Know Your Reptile

Imagine weighing the options before getting a car. There are simple things that one thinks about, like, are there cupholders? A GPS? But then there are more complicated questions such as how many miles does a car of this model go before it goes kaput? Can you financially afford a new car, or will you have to buy used? What if the car breaks down, could you afford to pay for repairs?

Or what about the planning one does before they have kids? Can you afford to pay for their food, extracurriculars, health insurance, and potentially college?

This level of thought and care is rarely brought up to people when they adopt a pet. Unless if they’re a cat or a dog, which generally people put much more thought into before purchasing, most people who adopt a pet just ask the people at their chain petstore what they need, they purchase the things, and don’t do any further research.

This is especially the case with reptiles. A lot of people have an expectation that they aren’t that hard to care for; sticking them in any old enclosure, and feeding them only crickets and/or pellets, and calling it a day. This is why many reptiles purchased don’t last longer than a year or two. Before one adopts any pet, especially a reptile, it is imperative to do research. Most reptiles require very specific care, and have diets tailored to their species. Some are vegetarian, some only eat meat, some only eat insects, etc. Some require more height to their tank, some require more length. Some like to be held, some become very distressed when picked up. Reptiles are not one size fits all.

Pictured above is my little turtle, Debbie. I adopted her from a friend, who assured me that she was healthy, and that most of the necessary equipment required to take care of her would be provided to me. I took their words at face value, and didn’t question further. However, upon arrival I realized that this animal has been neglected for years. Not only did she come in a leaky rubbermaid bin, instead of a proper tank, but with a filter a quarter of the necessary size, and her shell had stuck shed due to a poor diet and/or a lack of proper lighting. I immediately sat down and spent hours researching everything I needed to know. Things like diet, tank size, lighting, etc, and booked her a vet appointment to deal with her health issues.

This website is merely to give people a full perspective on the price range, time commitment, space requirements, etc in order to see if a specific reptile is right for you BEFORE you adopt them as a member of your family. Please do not consider this a primary source, I hope people will use this as a jumping off point for further research. I am not a veterinarian, I just have done a lot of research.

At the end of the day, the animals we bring into our lives do not chose to live with us. Therefore, it is our responsibility to provide the best possible care while they reside in our home. Together we can become more conscious about the specific needs of our pets, and give them happy loving lives.