When buying your first reptile you want to ensure that you are making the right decision for both you and the animal so there are a lot of things to take into consideration and we are here to help you with that. There are a plethora of animals that we have in shop that are brilliant for beginners whether you are looking for a family pet or looking to get into the hobby, we are here to support and help you.
What do you want from the animal?
Are you looking for yourself or a family member? It's important to take into consideration what you want from an animal. If you're looking for a super active animal that is great for handling and really well socialised then something like a Bearded Dragon would be ideal. If you're looking for something that requires a little less maintenance time then a snake might be more ideal for you. There are a lot of factors that come into play when purchasing an animal for the first time and usually being able to do that in store enables you to be able to have some hand on experience in handling the animal and seeing how you feel.
What space do you have available?
Measuring out the space you have available before you look for an animal is important, as the size vivarium you can accommodate for does dictate what animals you would be able to have. Let's say you only had the space for a 2ft vivarium, we know that your options would be limited to a smaller species such as a Leopard Gecko. They do not require as large of an enclosure as something like a Bearded Dragon so we would discuss what your options would be and help you with your choice on what animal would be better for you.
How much maintenance is involved with each animal?
Buying an animal always comes with responsibilities and certain requirements for care. However, some species are a lot less work than others. A lot of the time Lizards require more attention than what a Snake would. For the main factor being that most species of Lizard require daily live feeding whereas with a Snake you tend to feed them a lot less- looking at potentially twice a week whilst they are younger and then every two weeks or longer (depending on species and size of food) when they are adult. This can overall add to how much time you have to put into your animals on a daily basis which could have a deciding factor on the animal that suits you and your life best.
Your animals diet would be another thing you would have to take into consideration when purchasing. Whether it be crickets or frozen mice, you need to ensure that you are willing to feed what your animal needs. We are able to offer you advice on the best ways to feed if handling things like crickets doesn't sit well for you. There aren't many loopholes when it comes to an animals diet so taking into consideration what you are prepared to feed or what you feel more comfortable feeding is another factor on picking your first reptile.
Thank you for reading!
If you are looking at buying your first reptile, do not hesitate to contact us or pop in store today with any questions you may have.
From,
Danni
Comments