Things To Know Before Visiting The Reptile Store For A Pet
Posted on: 2 May 2023
If you are looking for a pet who will mostly stay in a cage, then you may want to visit a local reptile store. These stores tend to only sell reptiles like turtles, snakes, and various lizards. Most also sell tanks, food, and other gear that you would need to keep a reptile as a pet. Here are a few things that are helpful to know before you visit a reptile store to look for a pet.
Many reptiles require climate control.
Some people are surprised at how much it actually costs to "get into" reptiles. Not only do you need to buy the pet, but you also need to buy a tank for that pet. And the tanks can be more expensive than you'd assume, largely because they need to have a heat source. Reptiles are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their own internal temperatures. As such, their tanks need to be kept within a certain temperature range in order for them to be healthy. Different reptiles, however, do tend to have different needs when it comes to climate control. If you can't afford an expensive heat lamp, consider bringing home a milk snake or a gecko. These reptiles are less particular about temperature and often do fine with a basic light bulb.
You may need to buy live prey as food.
Some snakes and lizards are happy to eat frozen food or dead bugs. Others, however, will only eat live prey. For instance, many ball pythons really prefer to eat live mice over dead ones. And some lizards will only eat live mealworms or cockroaches, not dead ones. Think about whether you'll be comfortable feeding your pet live prey. If not, just let the people at the reptile store know; they can recommend a pet that will eat dead food or even pellets. (Many turtles do fine on just pellets!)
Some reptiles are really long-lived.
People tend to think of lizards, snakes, and turtles as short-term pets since they live in cages. However, some species of snakes and lizards are surprisingly long-lived and may be around for a decade or more. So, always ask about the lifespan of a certain reptile before choosing to bring it home. Understand how long you are committing to caring for this pet, and make sure that's compatible with your life plan.
Now that you're a little more informed, you should be able to have a more productive and rewarding visit to the reptile store. For more information, contact a reptile store near you.
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