Exotic animals make brilliant pets for owners who want to venture away from keeping the everyday pets, such as cats and dogs. Reptiles in particular are good pets to keep and are both rewarding and fascinating to care for. With our minimal number of native reptiles present in the UK, it is important that we provide them with specialised care so that they live a happy and healthy life.
Let’s have a look at the general overview of reptile care and what they need in their environment in order to thrive.
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Common pet reptiles
The list of reptiles that can be kept in the UK is long and extensive. There are also certain types of reptiles that are better for beginners and others that are better suited to more experienced keepers. As always, it is best to do extensive research before committing to any pet, no matter whether it is a reptile, cat, dog or a feathered friend.
Reptiles including bearded dragons, crested geckos, corn snakes, leopard geckos and hermann tortoises make great reptiles for beginners, as their care is relatively easy to carry out. For the more experienced reptile keeper, iguanas, chameleons, sulcata tortoises and tegus make for good pets.
When adopting a reptile or exotic pet, it is important that you know where your closest exotic practice is located in case you require veterinary help. Take a look at our vet locator tool to find your closest practice.
Enclosures
The type of enclosure that your reptile requires will change depending on their species and natural habitat. Some reptiles are known as arboreal, meaning that they spend a lot of time high up in the tree canopy. Snakes such as green tree boas, along with lizards such as chameleons, are examples of arboreal reptiles and will require an enclosure that has more height than floor space, so they have plenty of climbing space to explore.
Other reptiles can be classed as terrestrial, and this means that they spend their time exploring the world from the ground level. Common reptiles such as leopard geckos, tortoises and bearded dragons are examples of terrestrial reptiles and will require an enclosure that is longer than it is high to provide more floor space to explore.
There are different enclosure types that you can house your reptile in depending on their specific needs. Some reptiles will require plenty of fresh air flow and will need extra ventilation. Wooden vivariums with sliding doors are also a popular option, as well as full glass vivariums. However, glass or synthetic vivariums make for easy cleaning and are less prone to rot.
Some species of reptiles, such as tortoises, will appreciate some time spent outdoors in the summer sun. An outdoor run or enclosure will help to keep them safe and prevent them from wandering off to explore the world outside of the garden.
If you are unsure, visit your local exotic pet shop and they will be able to assist you further.
Temperature and UV levels
There are different temperatures and UV levels that reptiles require depending on their species and where they originate from. Temperatures should always be controlled with the use of a thermostat to avoid overheating, as well as avoiding the enclosure not being warm enough in the colder months.
Common heating elements include basking bulbs, heat mats and ceramic bulbs. Many reptiles require heat in order for their bodies to function correctly. Heat sources allow reptiles to regulate their own body temperatures so that they can move from warmer areas to cooler areas.
It is important to use monitoring equipment to make sure that temperatures are at their maximum and minimum values. If enclosures become too hot or cold, it can be detrimental to a reptile’s health.
Reptiles that regularly bask in sun may require a UV bulb in order to produce Vitamin D3. Not all reptiles require UV, but chameleons, tortoises and bearded dragons will benefit from a bulb that emits ultraviolet rays. A lack of UV can cause serious health concerns, so when setting up your enclosure, double check whether UVB is required.
Ideal temperatures for some common reptiles…
This is not a definitive guide, but should give a good indication.
- Bearded dragons – 25°C (cold end) – 40°C (basking)
- Chinese water dragons – 25-35°C
- Veiled chameleons – 25-40°C
- Green iguanas – 25-40°C
- Dab lizards – 25-40°C
- Leopard geckos – 25-30°C
- Bosc monitor lizards – 25-40°C
- Tropical snakes – usually between 27 and 30°C
- Temperate snakes – generally a wider range, of 22-28°C
For most of the more common lizards, a cooler overnight temperature of 21°C is ideal.
Humidity levels
Depending on where in the world your reptile originates from will determine what humidity levels are required. For example, a bearded dragon that is usually found in the desert will require less humidity than a crested gecko which is found within a rainforest environment.
Humidity levels can vary drastically and should be monitored with the use of a hygrometer. In order to achieve good humidity levels, automatic spraying systems can be installed, or a spray bottle can be used to dampen the environment. Wetting the substrate can help to increase humidity levels, as well as placing live plants in the enclosure.
A humid hide can also be provided for most reptiles. This can be a small hide that is filled with a damp substrate such as sphagnum moss. Reptiles can enter the hide when they require more humidity, as it can help with shedding their skin, especially in areas that are difficult to shed, such as the toes and the tail.
Substrate
Substrate types can vary depending on the natural environment of the reptile. For a desert type environment, sand, rocks and pebbles can be used to create a more arid environment. A well draining, sterilised cactus soil will also be a great option. Reptiles such as leopard geckos, bearded dragons and desert snakes will all benefit from an arid environment.
However, it is important with loose substrates, such as sand, that they are not accidentally ingested and this can cause an intestinal blockage. Some reptile keepers advise to steer clear from sand altogether.
Substrates for a more tropical environment are often made up of soil, bark and sphagnum moss to aid in retaining moisture. Crested geckos and chameleons would benefit from a tropical substrate mix. Many exotic pet shops sell premixed substrates that can be used in enclosures which are specifically formulated for exotic animals.
Other options include tiles, reptile carpet or lino flooring. Whilst these make for easy cleaning, it is important when housing reptiles that they are kept in conditions as close to their natural environment as possible, helping them to exhibit normal behaviours.
Bioactive enclosure
Bioactive enclosures are the most natural way that you can keep your pets. As the name suggests, the enclosure is fully bioactive meaning that it is self sustainable, requiring minimal maintenance. The easiest environment to turn bioactive is a tropical environment, however, a bioactive desert environment can sometimes be achieved.
A bioactive substrate usually contains microfauna such as isopods and springtails. These help to digest mould and faeces and prevent a bacterial build up, as well as helping to aerate the soil. Their excrements also help to fertilise the soil, which aids in feeding the live plants within the enclosure.
By providing animals with a bioactive enclosure, it provides them with a naturalistic enclosure that can be left to grow and develop, with minimal interference from you as an owner. If you’re more of an owner who prefers to sit back and watch their pet with no handling, then a bioactive enclosure prevents you from having to go in and clean out the environment routinely.
Diet
The diet of a captive reptile will vary depending on their natural diet. Some reptiles are herbivores, some are omnivores and others are carnivores. Reptiles, such as tortoises, are mostly herbivores and eat a range of weeds, greens and some types of fruit. These should be fresh and offered daily.
Many snakes, such as boa constrictors are carnivores and eat solely a meat based diet. Meat should be purchased from an exotic pet store and should be thoroughly defrosted before offering it to the snake. Animals such as pinkies, mice, rats and chicks can all be offered to meat eating reptiles. Meat eating reptiles usually only require feeding every few days. It is important that live animals are never offered to reptiles, as this is inhumane and can be dangerous.
Reptiles such as bearded dragons are omnivores, meaning that they eat fruit, vegetables and meats, including insects. Insects should be fed high quality greens, which provides them with plenty of nutrients that can be passed on to the reptile.
All reptiles will require some form of calcium dusting which will provide them with an extra source of nutrients. This is often sprinkled on food, including directly on salads, fruits, insects and rodents.
Enrichment
A reptile is no different to any other animal and requires plenty of enrichment in their enclosure and their diet. It is easy to enrich a reptile’s diet by offering a wide range of different foods, as well as looking at creative ways to offer them food.
For example, a tortoise’s salad could be placed in a hanging food holder, making them work a little harder to be able to retrieve their food. Releasing insects into the enclosure of a leopard gecko can encourage hunting behaviours and stimulating snakes to eat by moving defrosted food with tongs can present similar opportunities to hunting.
Environmental enrichment
Environmental enrichment is also extremely important. The decor of the enclosure should replicate the reptile’s natural environment as much as possible. If they are an arboreal species, provide them with plenty of branches, plants and hides which can allow them to climb and explore. Chameleons will appreciate plenty of branches and foliage to be able to climb and bask under their heat lamps.
Terrestrial species should be offered plenty of opportunities to explore and hide too. These can range from logs and caves, to branches and low growing plants. Smaller varieties of tortoises can be like little bulldozers, so make sure that hides are big enough to fit their shells in too!
You can really go to town with enclosure decoration and it is important to make it as realistic as possible. Not only does a well decorated enclosure look nice, but it will help your reptile to feel more at home.
Final thoughts on reptile care
Reptiles are a great exotic pet to keep and really do make fascinating pets. Whether you are looking at sharing your home with a lizard, snake or even a tortoise, you are going to get a lot of satisfaction out of reptile ownership.
Always make sure that you do plenty of research before committing yourself to an exotic pet. Not only do they require specialised husbandry, but vet bills can often be expensive. Many reptiles have a longer lifespan too, ranging from 15 – 20 years and up to 100 years+ in tortoises!
So, if you’re ready to earn your badge as a reptile fanatic make sure that you are in it for the long run. Most of all, enjoy the unique experience of owning one of these fascinating creatures.
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