There are many people who are fans of raising pet reptiles at home, as reptiles attract attention with their colors, nature and life, and any beginner who wants to raise animals can start by raising reptiles. Reptiles vary, as some like to raise turtles, which are cute creatures, or chameleons, lizards, non-venomous snakes and other types.
Before choosing to raise a specific reptile, it is necessary to provide a suitable place for it, know the types of food it needs and learn about all its natural life. It is also necessary to know its care needs in terms of light, ventilation and food, and ensure the ability to meet these needs on an ongoing basis, and review the health of the reptiles periodically with the veterinarian, and provide sufficient time to take care of them. Here is this comprehensive guide from teketrek، with everything related to raising reptiles.
The best pet reptiles
There are many reptiles that people can raise, which vary in their shapes, sizes, and species such as turtles, small non-venomous snakes, chameleons, lizards, and others. Here is a group of pet reptiles that you can raise at home with the advantages and disadvantages of each type and the type of nutrition that suits its care requirements:
- The bearded dragon lizard, which is one of the types of animals that can be raised at home. It is a carnivore and herbivore, as it feeds on insects or vegetables. It was called the dragon because it resembles a dragon and has a shield of spiny scales. It is considered one of the pet reptiles that can live with humans.
- The red-eyed crocodile skin lizard, this type can be raised at home. It is considered a carnivore and feeds on small insects and worms. There are eight types of it in the world. It was named that name because its eyes are red. It is considered one of the shy and gentle pet reptiles.
- Small non-venomous snakes, as this type of reptile can be raised at home by preparing the appropriate environment for it, and the appropriate food, and these types of snakes are harmless and adapt to the appropriate environment for it at home, such as the milk snake, the shiny green snake, and other non-venomous snakes.
- Turtles are one of the most famous pet reptiles that people can meet at home, and there are many types of turtles, including large ones, small ones, and different in their types, and turtles feed mainly on vegetables such as lettuce and parsley, and adapt to human life quickly, and they are cute and playful creatures, and turtles need a tank with water because they love to swim.
- Long-tailed lizard is one of the reptiles that can be raised at home and is considered a carnivore as it feeds on invertebrates such as cockroaches, worms and is called long tail because its tail is long, three times longer than its body, and it helps it achieve balance while jumping and walking.
- There are many types of reptiles in other homes such as the green anode lizard, the monitor lizard, and the African gecko lizard.
- There are many types of chameleons that can be raised at home, and they are quiet reptiles such as the dwarf chameleon, the tiger chameleon, and the hooded chameleon.
- Little monitor lizards can also be raised such as the savannah monitor lizard and the gecko.
Advantages and disadvantages of each type
Each reptile has advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages of raising reptiles is educating yourself about the life of reptiles and spending a fun time with reptiles and enjoying their shape and colors. They are also easy to deal with, and they are harmless if safety measures are taken with them such as snakes. Also, raising reptiles has disadvantages when raising them, as there are reptiles that require a large cost in caring for them, such as providing a dedicated aquarium with modern technologies that clean the aquarium constantly and maintain its temperature and lighting.
Among the disadvantages of raising reptiles are the high costs of providing food and nutrition for reptiles on an ongoing basis, and some reptiles can be dangerous and harmful in many cases, and raising reptiles for people who are not full-time is a bad idea as raising requires devoting a lot of time to caring for the reptiles, their food and their healthy life.
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Basic needs for reptile life
Before starting to raise a type of reptile, it is necessary to know the basic needs it needs, and these needs can be explained as follows:
Living environment
A suitable aquarium must be provided for the reptile, and it must be taken into account that the size of the aquarium is proportional to the size of the reptile, and it is preferable that its area be large for movement and climbing, as reptiles like to sneak and hide inside the aquarium, so branches or small rocks can be added that suit their nature in relaxing and hiding, and it is preferable that the aquarium be made of glass or acrylic, and plastic to facilitate cleaning.
Placing materials suitable for the type of reptile such as sand, dirt, or places for digging or climbing, and one of the basic needs in the reptile’s environment is choosing appropriate lighting for it according to its nature, and it is important to adjust the temperature appropriately through heating officers or hot tubs, and control the humidity.
Lighting and heating
Appropriate lighting and heating must be provided for the animal to ensure its comfort and health, and as for lighting, many rely on sunlight by exposing the tub directly to sunlight, and some use lamps that simulate the sun, which contribute to providing light for growth and activity, and these lamps can be controlled to provide lighting periods, thus simulating nature.
The tub must be heated to ensure the health and activity of the reptile, and heating is done by providing dedicated bulbs, or other heating methods, and the temperature in the tub must be measured continuously. It is necessary to diversify in providing cold areas and hot areas inside the tub so that the reptile can diversify its activity on its own.
Diet
A diet is very important in the life of a reptile, as it must be provided with a healthy diet, by determining the food needs according to the type of reptile. It is also necessary to diversify the food through insects, vegetables and fruits, and control the size and quantity of food provided.
Ensure that the food provided is clean, and nutritional supplements should be provided if necessary. Small reptiles should be taken into account during their growth and reproduction periods, and their food needs should be fully met. Clean water must be provided continuously.
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Tips for choosing the right reptile
Before starting to raise any type of reptile, you must choose the reptile according to the goal you want, as choosing the right reptile is a very important step as it is suitable for your financial capabilities in providing its basic requirements in housing, food and health care, and is suitable for your free time. Also, raising reptiles requires you to be fully aware of how they live in the wild and the ability to provide a similar life for them at home.
How do you start raising your pet reptile?
You can start raising reptiles by providing a suitable environment for them to live in, such as preparing a suitable aquarium with various temperatures and materials that enable the reptile to live with, such as sand or dirt and small branches, and preparing appropriate food and health care for them.
In the end, raising reptiles is a popular favorite for many reptile lovers, as this type of raising adds fun and happiness inside the home. Raising reptiles also requires full knowledge of the lifestyle of the reptile species and its basic requirements in life from habitat and food, its activity and movement and what it needs in terms of heating and appropriate lighting. You can choose the type you like and then educate yourself about its life before buying it. The idea of raising reptiles is a unique and enjoyable experience and creates an atmosphere of fun.
