Things to Consider When Getting a Reptile: Part 2

Things to Consider When Getting a Reptile: Part 2

Hi! continuing from the last post, getting a young pet reptile can seem like a good idea to begin with, but you have to be prepared for very specific heat and dietary requirements that need to be kept an eye on even more so than an adult reptile. If this is your first reptile, an adult could be more suitable because they will be less lively and will need less attention.

Life spans of common reptiles in captivity
Leopard Gecko	20 years or more
King snake	10 – 15 years
Ball python	15 – 20 years
Bearded dragon	5 – 10 years
Corn snake	10 – 15 years
Boa constrictor	15 – 25 years
chameleon	3 – 8 years
Leopard tortoise	50 or more years
Green anole	4 – 8 years
Eastern box turtle	25 – 50 years

As with all pets (especially if you have children) you need to really think about whether or not you want to keep one in the long term. I would definitely recommend doing a lot of research about the reptile you want to get before visiting the pet shop, because a pet reptile is a long term commitment – all common reptiles live past 5 years, the average life span being around 15/20 years (with some tortoises having a 170 year life span, they will outlive you). The oldest reptile ever recorded was an Aldabra Giant Tortoise that lived 225 years in captivity in India! (If you want to see this tortoise take a look at this link:http://cbsnews1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2006/03/24/d34c03da-a642-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/thumbnail/620x350/bed562ba988fc6b32708a99f85aa27d1/image1434569x.jpg )

Here is a rough guide as to how many years these common reptiles will live on average

It might also be a good idea for you to prepare for the worst before getting a pet reptile; here are some simple disaster solutions:

1. Heating: Occasionally, your house will lose power so your reptile’s heating will stop working and this will affect and potentially kill a sensitive reptile, especially during winter months. To prevent this from happening, buying a heat pack is recommended.http://www.heatpacksuk.co.uk/uniheat-shipping-warmers.php is a website that sells cheap heat packs, if you are looking to purchase one.
2. Housing: insulated styrofoam boxes that perishable goods are delivered in make good temporary housing if something has happened to your vivarium and you need a quick solution before you order a replacement. Find out more about temporary housing in the next episode of Your Reptile Live by Synopticity productions, with a feature on the cheapest housing that you can buy. If you are interested in super savings then you could check out page 5 in our ‘Your Reptile’ magazine, which gives you more mays to cost effectively keep a reptile.
3. Cleaning: regular checks for waste in the enclosure need to be done so that your reptile does not get sick from bacteria in the enclosure. A cage cleaner  (you can purchase one at http://www.bluelizardreptiles.co.uk/reptilecleaning/other/015561226684?gclid=CjwKEAiA04S3BRCYteOr6b-roSUSJABE1-6B9Xd8gecqp5OAYOFwAxKpe-zxDb-_Y8-Bs9YOqZovjhoCA1fw_wcB )is a good idea, because it will decrease the likelihood of infection or disease.  It can also help to stop spreading diseases like Salmonella (to see a full list visit https://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Zoonotic/ReptilesandRisksofInfectiousDiseases ) to you, as a reptile owner. Don’t be scared of getting a reptile because of this, these diseases are fairly uncommon, although it’s better to be safe than sorry!