October 21st is Reptile Awareness Day! Reptiles may not be as popular as dogs and cats, but they do have some pretty devoted fans, and with good reason. These beautiful animals are captivating to watch, and really can make great pets. Read on as a local Matthews, NC vet discusses reptile care and awareness.

Benefits of Reptiles

Reptiles really do have a lot to offer as pets. As mentioned above, they are very pretty, and can be fascinating to observe. Another benefit is the fact that they don’t make much noise. They also don’t need training, and won’t scratch your furniture or leave a mess on your floor. Reptiles are also easy on the nose: as long as you keep your pet’s cage clean, you won’t have to deal with foul odors. This makes them a great choice for anyone with allergies.

Things To Consider

Buying a pet should never be a spur-of-the-moment decision. There are lots of things to consider before adopting a reptile, or, for that matter, any other animal. First, do some research, and learn about what your potential pet’s care needs are. Some of the things you’ll want to look into are life expectancy, projected adult size, space requirements, dietary needs, and habitat requirements.

Starting Out

If you’ve never had a reptile before, you’ll want to start with something easy. For lizards, Bearded dragons and Leopard geckos are popular choices. For snakes, you could get a California kingsnake, a milk snake, a corn snake, or a rosy boa. Many other reptiles, like African rock pythons, red-tailed boas, and, of course, venomous snakes, should only be kept by experienced handlers.

Buying Responsibly

Unfortunately, the exotic pet trade isn’t always on the up and up. While there are some great breeders out there, there are also a lot of people who just want to make a quick buck. The high demand for exotic pets puts wild reptiles at risk of being captured and sold as pets. This isn’t fair to the animal, since wild animals really don’t adapt well to captivity. It’s also damaging to fragile ecosystems. Be sure to buy only captive-bred reptiles from reputable stores or breeders. Ask your vet for more information. Do you have questions about reptile care? Please reach out to us, your Matthews, NC vet clinic, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!