Considering Proper Care Before Purchasing a Pet Reptile
| Having a reptile as a pet requires much education, specialized equipment and money. Reptiles need specialized care not only as a group but among each species as well. Arming yourself with the knowledge and the know-how before taking on a pet reptile is crucial for its happiness, health and general well-being for many years.
First and foremost is to check with your local municipality and/or Fish and Wildlife Department to see if owning a certain reptile is legal and if so, what are the regulations if any. Each State has its own laws, especially when it comes to endangered and protected species. Find a veterinarian that has herptile specialization. They can consult with you about what reptile is right for you and provide you with all of the necessary information needed. When considering owning a reptile, think about the size of the pet when it becomes an adult. A baby boa constrictor may be cute when it is curled around your wrist but it is not going to be so cute when it is 200 pds. and wrapped around your neck. Also, consider the accommodations it is going to need to house its size. Reptiles, even the 200 pd. boa constrictor, are going to need housing big enough for at least easy mobility. Once you consider the adult reptile size and the housing requirements, it is going to need special lighting and heating devices for temperature and humidity regulation. Reptiles are cold-blooded animals thus they are not equipped with an internal heating system. Finally, proper nutrition is essential. There are some commercial foods out there for some reptiles but most will require either live small animals or fresh fruits and vegetables. Either way, it is an expensive venture and will require a lot of money to keep up. |