Choosing the Right Pet Reptile: Key Factors to Consider

By: Jeffrey Hess, DVM

Reptiles are one of the fastest growing types of family pets. There are a multitude of  different species currently in the hobby that can make it difficult to choose which one is  best for you. When deciding which species would make the best new member of your  family, there are a few factors that should be considered: 

Financial costs 

Reptiles typically carry two categories of cost; initial cost of setup and then  maintenance costs. Your initial setup costs typically include things such as the enclosure,  lighting, substrate, and décor for within the enclosure itself. Some other upfront costs to  consider include a stand for an enclosure, cleaning supplies, and even the cost of the  animal itself, given the wide range of prices to be seen for varying species.  

Maintenance costs to consider are the average yearly/monthly costs associated with  taking care of a pet reptile. One of the bigger maintenance costs to consider is feeding your  pet reptile. Omnivores can be a bit more expensive to feed over their lifespan due to the  need for both insects as well as fresh produce as part of a well-rounded diet. Some species  may have specialized dietary requirements meaning food items that are more difficult to  find or more costly than some more readily available options. In some cases, it can be  more economical to raise your own feeders such as maintaining a dubia roach colony if  keeping a reptile or multiple reptiles that require more frequent feeding such as some  monitor lizard species. In addition to feeding it is important to keep other maintenance  costs in mind as well. This can include the cost of veterinary care (both yearly wellness  visits as well as potential medical emergencies) and the effect on an electric bill with the  increased demand from lighting and heating elements.  

Space Requirements 

While many reptiles may start out at a smaller, more manageable size, many popular  species can get large enough to need the equivalent of a small bedroom for appropriate  care. It is important when picking a pet reptile to consider what their requirements will be  as an adult. Sulcata tortoises (gg) are often purchased small enough to fit into an average  person’s hand. As adults they reach weights of around 100lbs and can push their way  through walls requiring 300 square feet of space. Other species like water monitors not  only require large enclosures but also require a more specialized enclosure in the form of  needing large water features. These types of requirements can dramatically increase the 

overall weight of an enclosure as well as specialized needs for cleaning and filtration. When  considering space requirements, it is also vital to consider how fast reptiles increase in  size. Larger tortoises take years to reach adult size where some colubrids grow rapidly  needing either more frequent enclosure upgrades or starting in a larger enclosure. No  matter what reptile you want to care for, you should make sure that you can accommodate  whatever their adult enclosure requirements are.  

Longevity 

There are many common species of reptiles kept as pets that can live 10 to 20 years or  more in captivity. Multiple snake species can live into their 40s and 50s and large species of  turtles and tortoise can potentially live 100 years or more. There are many tortoise owners  who have inherited their pet from family. While life is full of uncertainty and you cannot be  prepared for every scenario, you should consider the long lifespan of potential pet reptiles  when choosing one.  

Temperature requirements 

One of the more fascinating aspects of reptiles is the fact that they are ectotherms.  This means they rely on environmental factors to regulate their body temperature rather  than through their own internal metabolism. This is even more interesting given the wide  range of optimal temperature zones across different species of reptile. Some monitor  species require basking temperatures of 120*F to 140*F, while species such as crested  geckos can suffer from heat stress with prolonged exposure to temperatures in the high 80s  to 90s. Depending on the temperature where you live, it may be more difficult to maintain  hotter or cooler temperatures making keeping certain species more challenging. 

Reptiles are an incredibly diverse group of animals with different species having their own  unique charms. With just a little research you should be able to find the pet reptile that  would best fit into your family.