Choosing the Best Pet Reptile

by Seth Mullins

Unfortunately, the fact that certain reptile species are readily available in many pet shops doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s easy or even desirable to keep them in captivity. We might bring home a beautiful Green Iguana only to find that we can’t accommodate its strict diet of calcium supplements and a wide variety of green leafy vegetables. A Spectacled Caiman might seem like an endearing pet until it grows into a 2-meter-long crocodile that’s both strong and aggressive. We must always keep in mind that pretty babies can turn into frightening monsters in just a few short years.

Even if a reptile makes a safe and attractive pet for us, it might be miserable in captivity. Some species, though they continue to be sold commercially, have never really adapted well to life within a tank or cage. All varieties of turtles, for example, present certain difficulties for their owners because of their very specific temperature, lighting and feeding requirements. They require more effort and expense, therefore; and some species are even illegal to keep as pets in certain states.

Various snakes and lizards provide a more viable alternative for beginners. The ideal kinds are captive-bred, meaning that they’re accustomed to captivity and store-bought pet food. Also, keeping such pets doesn’t threaten natural reptile populations. Some have richer or more varied coloration - and are healthier - because they are the products of carefully planned mating.

Of course, we want a pet that we can look at, show off to others, and even touch on occasion. A reptile that we rarely see because it prefers burrowing under moss or sand isn’t much fun to keep in captivity. We must consider, also, how well it tolerates being handled. Finally, are we amenable to its diet? We might grow comfortable with offering live crickets and mice to a snake, but what if it prefers lizards and frogs?

For beginners, some snakes that make ideal pets include the Common Kingsnake, Corn Snake, Rosy Boa, Western Hog-nosed Snake and the Ball Python. All are captive-bred, non-poisonous and relatively easy to feed. Because they’re popular, it’s easy to research their care and maintenance in books and magazines or to inquire with pet shop owners. Of the various lizards that fit the above criteria, five of the best are Leopard geckos, Blue-tongued skinks, Green Water Dragons, Texas Alligator Lizards, and Island Bearded Dragons.

We should buy, whenever possible, captive-bred species that can subsist on a diet of readily available foods. If we can’t identify an animal to its species then it’s impossible to know for sure where it came from and how we can best take care of it. Why endanger the little creature’s life and set ourselves up for disappointment? There are many other species (like those mentioned above) that we can choose from with confidence.