Basic Reptile Care Sheet...     

Every Pet has requirements that must be fulfilled by their owner for them to live a long and happy life. Reptiles are no different and make as good of a pet as a dog or cat if taken care of properly. In some ways reptiles are easier. Some of them require very little space, they virtually have no odor, are quiet, and no harm is done if you forget a feeding. Our best solution to knowing what care your reptile needs is to purchase a book specially designed for your pet or research information from the Internet. But you must be careful in selecting information from the Internet that it is truthful and not biased. Other people can be helpful as well, but remember, they only know what has worked for their pet, and that may not hold true for yours. This is a basic care sheet that should be helpful for any reptile, but should not be your main source of information. We also recommend knowing what care is needed for your choice of pet before you purchase it, so that you know what responsibilities are required before you make the commitment.  

• Housing:

  • Cages: Cages can vary from a wide range of sizes and materials, but mainly need to fit the needs of the pet you are housing. Cages can be made of plastic, glass aquariums, wood, or metal. The main concern is that they are escape proof, draft proof, moisture resistant, heat resistant, well-lighted, the proper size for your pet, and easy to clean.

• Housing Requirements: There are Five Basic elements that all reptiles will need:

  • Heating, Lighting, Floor Covering, Décor, and Cleaning

• Heating: Reptiles require a hot and cold area to their cages to allow them to thermo regulate. Reptiles are ectothermic, which means they cannot regulate their body temperature like we can, this is why you need the hot and cold areas.  For most reptiles you will need a range from 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit in the cold side and 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the hot side. We do not recommend heat rocks, because most reptiles have low sensitivity to heat and will sustain burns from sitting on heat rocks too long. The best source of heat is from specially designed heat pads that stick to the bottom of the cage. These heat pads can be purchased at your local pet store. You may also use heat pads design for people, but they must be placed outside the cage, never put them in with your animal. These heating pads may also not provide enough heat needed by your animal. We recommend the heat sources designed for reptiles. You will also need to provide heat lamps or basking lamps mounted above the cage so that they will not burn your pet. These lights provide heat and/or UV rays that some reptiles need.

• Lighting: For some nocturnal snakes and lizards this may not be necessary, but for all of your diurnal reptiles they need UV-B rays to sustain life. Most heat and basking lights provide enough lighting and UV-B, but there are other full-spectrum lights that may be added if needed.

• Floor Covering: There are a variety of floor coverings available. You need to consider the health of your pet and the ease of cleaning. There is Astroturf type substrates that are cheap and easy to clean, but are not very friendly or realistic for your pet. We recommend aspen wood or bark for most reptiles. You cannot use pine or cedar shavings because of possible respiratory problems that occur with most reptiles. Play sand is also recommended for dessert type reptiles.

• Cage Décor: Cage décor is important for your pet because it provides a sense of security through shelters and camouflaging. As well as other important décor such as food and water dishes. Reptiles need to have at least one shelter in the hot area of cage and possibly another in cold side. Climbing branches, logs, rocks and other décor is nice to provide exercise and a more natural surrounding.

  Cage Cleaning: Your pet needs to be protected from harmful microorganisms and parasites. Fresh water and food daily is highly recommended. Cages should be cleaned weekly and substrates changed. Mild dish soap is recommended for cleaning. Anything brought in from outdoors such as rocks or logs need to be cleaned and bleached to sterilize them before being used with your pet.  

   

• Food and Feeding: Diets vary with each animal, but they are primarily one of three types: Herbivore – plant eater, Carnivore – meat or protein eater, or an Omnivore – eats both plants and proteins. Herbivores need to eat daily and large amounts. Most lizards that tend to be an omnivore can be raised eating strictly fruits and vegetables with diet supplements and maybe the occasional protein. Snakes are primarily carnivores and eat once or twice a week. It is recommended to feed pre-killed food because of lower risk of harm to your snake and it is more humane. Most captive bred snakes do well feeding this way, unfortunately, there is a high number of reptiles still being wild caught and imported in to sell. These reptiles are harder to handle, feed, and keep in captivity. If you know the animal was wild caught, please do not purchase the animal; together we can put a stop to the sell of illegally caught reptiles.

Some Do’s and Don’ts:

• Always research the animal before purchasing

• Always handle the animal before purchasing

• Never release animal into the wild if you feel you can no longer care for it

• Always have your animal checked by a veterinarian on a regular basis

• Always purchase or obtain a guide to properly care for your pet

• Always give us a call with any questions, concerns, or if you need to surrender your reptile to Wild Rescue One.

 

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