Pet Ownership For Everyone

Three Tips For New Reptile Owners

Owning a snake or lizard as a pet can be a great option for those that want an animal companion but live in confined quarters. While a pet reptile can be a great pet, it is easy for inexperienced reptile owners to be unaware of the numerous steps that should be taken to protect your reptile.

Invest In An Emergency Heat Rock

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals, and this means that they are dependent on their environment to regulate their internal temperature. This will usually be done with a heat rock or lamp. While these are highly effective solutions, they can fail during periods of electrical outages, and this can put your reptile at an imminent risk. Emergency heat rocks are battery powered, and they will be able to provide your reptile with a source of heat for several hours before the battery needs to be changed. By investing in one of these devices and an ample number of batteries, you can help keep your reptile warm and comfortable during lengthy power outages.

Keep A Cleaning Schedule For The Reptile Container

Ensuring that you keep your reptile's enclosure clean is critical for minimizing the risk of your reptile developing infections and other diseases, as well as reducing stress levels. Sadly, it can be easy to overlook this task and accidentally go a lengthy period of time between enclosure cleanings. You will be able to minimize the risk of this occurring by keeping a cleaning schedule near the enclosure. By being able to see this schedule each time you feed or handle your reptile, you will be able to easily determine whether you need to do this maintenance.

Be Patient When Handling Your Reptile

Individuals will often be extremely excited at the prospects of handling their reptile. However, it is important to appreciate the need for patience when it comes to this aspect of pet ownership. Your reptile will likely need several days to fully acclimate to their new setting, and during this time, it is likely that the reptile will be fairly stressed. This can make them more likely to bite. After the reptile has adjusted to the new setting, you will want to gradually increase the amount of handling that you do until your reptile is comfortable with you handling it. You may help to expedite this by always moving slowly, confidently, and gently when handling your reptile. Also, you should ensure that your reptile has been fed recently to minimize any aggressive tendencies your reptile may exhibit.

For more information, you will want to check out a company such as Snakes at Sunset.