The Benefits of Owning a Reptile as a Pet

Image credit @ Cat Sitter Toronto

Every animal deserves the opportunity to feel love, and we have observed numerous owners who form bonds with their reptilian pets. Reptile pets may be a blessing for your house in a similar way that a cat or dog could, but they are also quite different and require very different care than a pet domesticated animal that roams free.

Because they require low maintenance, reptiles are excellent pets. There are no worries about unpleasant smells, chewed or scratched furniture, or loud noises because of how reptiles are handled as pets. Reptiles are excellent lifelong buddies because they are also noted for having long lifespans.

Even those who have never had a reptile should think about having one as a pet for a number of reasons. There are a number of very solid reasons why people are keeping reptiles as pets in today’s fast-paced world. The Benefits of Owning a Reptile as a Pet will be discussed in detail in this article.

The Benefits of Owning a Reptile as a Pet

Reptiles can make great pets for those looking for a unique and interesting companion. Owning a scaly friend has many advantages, and reptiles make fantastic exotic pets. Reptiles are interesting to care for as pets, but they can need a lot of time and effort. Instead, you may relax and watch your reptile explore with just occasional feeding and habitat maintenance being required. Here is a list of many benefits of owning a reptile as a pet:

• Affordable
• Long Lifespans
• Low maintenance
• Interesting and Cool Creatures
• Reptiles Have the Ability to Adapt
• No Loud Noises
• No Fur or Allergic Risks
• No Damage
• No Mess
• No Funky Smells
• No Training Required
• They Shed Differently
• They are Self-contained
• A Wide Selection of Reptiles to Choose From
• You Can Go Away Without Worrying

Affordable

If you’re searching for an affordable pet, reptiles are a fantastic choice. With over 7.5 million homes having at least one reptile, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) ranks reptiles as the third most common pet in the US. Even though they aren’t the cheapest pets, reptiles aren’t the most costly to care for over time. The majority of the significant expenses will be used to purchase a proper cage for them, along with all the enrichment, necessary supplies, and accessories. You will only need to purchase them food, supplements, and other necessities that they consume up within a few months after the initial payments.

If your reptile consumes live foods, such as crickets, you may even raise your own insects to provide it with a constant supply of food. By doing this, you may avoid making unnecessary trips to the store and save money. Unlike many other pets, reptiles don’t require annual vaccinations, but you will still need to save money away in case you have to take them to an exotic veterinarian.

Long Lifespan

Depending on the species of reptile you choose, you could find a lifelong partner. Some individuals choose home pets like fish or hamsters because they live shorter lives. Some reptiles fall within this category, such as chameleons, which can survive in captivity for up to three years, but many live for much longer.

Reptiles are among the world’s oldest and longest-living creatures in the world. Some reptiles can live more than 50 years or even 200 years, depending on the species! While some tortoises may live to be 100 years old, certain lizards and snakes have been reported to survive for over 30 years. Although this entails a long period of time spent caring for your pet reptile, you will be able to form a bond with it and experience all of its life stages with it.

Low Maintenance

Reptiles are low-maintenance pets because they are not as demanding as dogs, cats, or other small pets such as rabbits. Reptiles are not completely self-sufficient: you must give them food, fresh water, a comfy cage, and ensure that the humidity or temperature (depending on the species of reptile you possess) is optimal. They don’t require as much care as other pets, nor do they require groomers to clean or wash them. They still require cleaning and maintenance of their enclosures, as well as veterinary care as necessary. However, unlike other animals, many of our scaled friends do not require as much regular care or attention.

Interesting and Cool Creatures

Just for a second, let’s be sincere here. Reptiles are awesome. They are different and unique. We all like cats and dogs but they are not exactly rare. We don’t suddenly get interested or deeply curious when we observe someone walking their dog in the park.

On the other hand, reptiles, which are also quite cool, are significantly less frequent as house pets. How often do you encounter someone in their house with a live snake? How frequently have you come across a chameleon in your life?

Reptiles are just incredibly amazing and interesting animals to look at, from the snakes that slide and slither to the lizards that laze and lounge.They’re entertaining to touch and watch (when they feel like moving), and they’re simply so different from the usual pets we have. Without a doubt, having a reptile for its cool aspect is a good argument.

Reptiles Have the Ability to Adapt

Reptiles are cold-blooded. These scaly animals can adapt to a wide range of environments and ways of existence. They are able to survive in a variety of habitats, including deserts, ocean regions, and mountainous landscapes, thanks to their incredible ability. Reptiles have developed physical characteristics like molting and behavioral characteristics like hibernation (sleeping during cold months) and estivation (sleeping during hot months) as a result of evolution. These characteristics are crucial for their survival in their habitats.

No Loud Noises

The fact that reptiles are quiet is one of their best qualities. The fact that other fuzzy creatures frequently make noise is something that some people find annoying. Even if you share a room with others or live in an apartment, this might be an issue. Reptiles are an exception to this rule. They won’t make any noise during the day or night.

Reptiles are normally quite vocal, unlike cats, dogs, and birds who may be quite noisy. Your pet won’t sing, whine, or bark in the middle of the night to awaken you! Because most reptiles communicate through body language, they make for rather quiet pets.

No Fur or Allergic Risks

Reptiles are significantly simpler to maintain because they lack fur, unlike common pets such as cats and dogs. Before important events, you may say good-bye to stray hairs on your clothing or furniture. This is ideal for individuals who want to love but can’t because of allergies to fur or pet dander.

Furry animals have the major drawback of being difficult for those with allergies to handle. Many individuals are allergic to dog dander, making it difficult for them to keep a dog, while considerably more people are sensitive to cat dander. People with allergies are not benefited by fur and dander, and they could also attract dust mites, which makes the situation worse.

On the other hand, allergies are hardly ever a threat from reptiles. While there are some cases of reptile allergies, they are quite uncommon and most people get along just fine with their little scaly pets.

No Mess

You will not be concerned about arriving home to a mess because reptiles often spend much of their time in their own enclosures. A lizard won’t leave a hairball in the middle of the floor or scratch up your carpet, and your snake won’t dig up your yard or chew on your shoes. Unless you keep a tortoise, you aren’t required to worry about picking up poop in the garden or digging holes in your flower beds. Rather, you will be taking care of a pet that keeps your home clean and doesn’t cause any trouble. Cleaning may be one of many issues if you own a pet. Reptiles don’t cause any damage to the house. Additionally, it might lessen the quantity of work you have to do.

You won’t have to be concerned about your pet reptile causing havoc while you’re away from home as long as their enclosure is secure. Numerous types of locks exist, ranging from sliding locks to combination code locks, to lock your pet’s enclosure, use locks found at pet stores.

No Funky Smells

Your pet could sometimes leave your house smelling strange, whether it was because of an indoor mishap you are trying to find or because you forgot to empty the litter box for a while. However, reptiles have special “rooms” within their enclosures where their odour is confined. You can’t smell within a reptile’s tank, which is one of its attractions. The cage of your reptile pet won’t even smell unpleasant if you keep it clean. When you keep a reptile as a pet, the air in your house will always be clean! There’s no need to apologize to guests for the funky odor.

No Training Required

It’s fun to train your pet. It can, however, take a lot of time at first. Furry animals need to be trained in a variety of skills, including house manners and potty training. Cats, for example, tend to train their owners rather than the other way around, but that’s a different topic. Not everybody can devote this much attention to their pets. Reptiles, on the other hand, don’t have to learn how to be good pets. It won’t be necessary to get a professional trainer for your lizard or bring your snake to daycare.

Reptiles, in contrast, are often obedient and don’t require special training for every task. If you’d like, you could teach them a few tricks. Most reptiles that have been handled by their breeders will already have the fundamental training they require, so you generally won’t need to worry about “housebreaking” your pet.

They Shed Differently

Hair gets all over the place with cats and dogs. You could find yourself sneezing as a result of the shed hair that is covering your house, unless you intend on cleaning up following your pet with a vacuum or broom. However, reptiles shed quite differently and their shedding does not cause allergies. No more apologising profusely when you invite a guest over for dinner because they have allergies to your pet’s hair.

It’s common knowledge that reptiles lose their skin as they develop, and some even consume it later. You won’t have to continuously clean up after your pet reptile, whether or not it consumes their shed skin. You may be confident that their skin will never get all over your floor, unlike cat or dog fur, even if they choose to shed in the privacy of their enclosure or tank or if you have to assist them in doing so through a soak.

They are Self-contained

Owning a reptile also has the benefit that, for the most part, they may live their whole lives in a tank, terrarium, vivarium, or whatever name you want for it. They do not have any strong reasons to leave wherever they are living. Reptiles aren’t animals that roam around in your home, but that does not mean you can not take them outside to explore (though you will want to be cautious, particularly if your reptile is small).

A Wide Selection of Reptiles to Choose From

Having a pet reptile is still possible if you’re not the great fan of snakes. Reptiles are a wide variety of species, unlike cats or dogs which may vary from breed to breed but are all fundamentally the same. Whether you choose a gecko, chameleon, corn snake, or turtle, you probably won’t have trouble finding the ideal reptile.

There are now about 8000 identified species of reptiles. You’re sure to find the ideal reptile pet to meet your demands, depending on how much free space and time you have. You may get specific guidance on the best reptile for your pet’s needs from a pet store or a reptile breeder depending on your preference.

You Can Go Away Without Worrying

One of the most challenging aspects of owning pets is being able to leave abruptly for the weekend. Getting someone to pet sit or a kennel to bring in your pets can be difficult at times. You may decide that the stress of seeking someone to care for your pet isn’t worth it and choose to stay at home. You have greater freedom with a reptile.

Depending on how many days you are gone and the routine of your reptile pet, you may just need a buddy to come check on you for one day while you are away. This is achievable because reptiles are often low-maintenance pets that do not require frequent walking or feeding. You may be confident that your pet reptile will not suffer, chew your favorite shoes or disturb your neighbor while you are away.

Tips

Even though keeping reptiles has numerous benefits, not everyone should keep one. There are some tips to help you:

1. You must ensure you can care and accommodate for your pet when he/she is fully grown because many reptiles grow to be quite large.
2. Reptiles can make great pets, but they require a lot of specialized care and space. Before getting a reptile, it is important to research the specific needs of the species you are considering.
3. Reptiles need an enclosure that is large enough for them to move around comfortably and that provides the correct temperature and humidity levels for their species.
4. They also need access to UVB lighting, which helps them absorb calcium and other nutrients from their food.
5. Reptiles often eat things that are not appetizing to humans, such as insects or mice. It is important to provide your reptile with a varied diet that meets its nutritional needs. Many reptiles also require live prey, so it is important to be prepared for this before bringing one home.
6. Additionally, reptiles are not typically cuddly pets like cats or dogs; they may enjoy being handled but do not usually seek out affection as other animals do. It is important to understand this before committing to owning a reptile pet.
7. Last but not least, although being interesting to watch, many reptiles aren’t exactly cuddly. When you get home, your snake most likely won’t welcome you in the shape of a heart.

Conclusion:

Reptiles offer interesting and entertaining pets for the whole family. They are a great option for anyone looking for a peaceful, low-maintenance pet that is enjoyable to care for. Reptiles don’t require as much care as other pets do, nor will they consume as much of your time and effort. If you want to keep a reptile as a pet, you should undertake extensive study about the type and species you want so you can give it a caring environment and the care it needs. This blog post will help you in finding the benefits of owning a reptile as a pet.

FAQs:

Why are reptiles the best pets?

Reptiles are excellent first pets. They do not occupy much room, have minimal requirements, and are cute and entertaining. You are sure to find a pet reptile that is ideal for your family with the wide variety of species and care requirements available!

How do reptiles benefit us?

Reptiles have a significant role in human life. Reptiles serve as pets, food, and have been used in art and culture for thousands of years. They also play a crucial part in many food chains that help to manage the number of small animals.

Are reptiles easy pets?

For people searching for pets that are simple to care for, unique, or even hypoallergenic, reptiles are a great alternative. They are wonderful pets, but they have different needs than dogs and cats.

What reptiles are suitable as beginner pets?

For a hobbyist wanting to take care of their pet, the Bearded Dragon, Blue-Tongue Skink, and Crested and Leopard Geckos are excellent selections. The Gold-Dust Day Gecko, Crested Gecko, the Long-Tailed Gecko, and Green Anole are all suitable options if you want a little lizard.