What you should know about reptiles
When people think of reptiles they think of slimy, cold, scary creatures. What they don’t know is that with the proper education, they can make great pets. The key to that statement is, “proper education”. Normally when one goes into a pet store they can find a variety of reptiles: snakes, geckos, bearded dragons, and many in between. You may think to yourself, “Aren’t they cute” or “Ew why would anyone want to own one of those”. Whichever thought it may be, before you decide to purchase one or run in the other direction for that matter, you need to know the facts surrounding each one.
Did you know that most snakes that you find in pet stores; corn snakes, king snakes, ball pythons, and red-tail boas; can grow to an adult size ranging from 3-feet to 10-feet in length? Yes, you read that right. That small, cute red-tail boa can become a 10-foot long snake. This is why educating yourself on the species you wish to purchase is so very important. You have to ask yourself, “Will I have room for this snake?”, “Am I ok feeding it very large rats?, “Do I have time to spend with it so it will grow up tame?”. Many people think that all you need to do is buy the snake, put it in a tank, and throw a mouse in there once a week. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Snakes are cold-blooded and therefore need special care. To properly set-up a healthy, living environment for your snake, you must purchase a tank that will accommodate them when they are at their largest, a 20 gallon long for a 3-foot snake and a custom built 6’x2’ enclosure for a 10-foot snake is a good recommendation. They will also need heating under their tank, a water bowl, substrate (use only those safe for snakes; never use cedar!), a hide to sleep in, and a secure top; snakes can be great escape artists. You can feed them live or frozen mice or rats. However, if you feed live, it is suggested that you use caution because they can bite your snake, which can be dangerous. Now these are only the very basics of snake care. If you are interested in owning one, educate yourself thoroughly before purchasing. Some may say, well, snakes are too complicated, I am going to get a gecko or bearded dragon; they’re easier to care for. Again, not true. The care of a gecko depends upon the type of gecko purchased. You cannot care for a leopard gecko the same as you would a crested gecko. Each have their own special needs. Just like a bearded dragon cannot be cared for the same as a gecko or even a snake. Bearded dragons, which make amusing pets, need a basking area of over 100 degrees. Not something freely known, surely, it would take reading, reading, and more reading before you could run out and by one with confidence. The point of all of this is, please educate yourself before purchasing a reptile or any animal for that matter. It is our responsibility as owners to give them the best care possible and to ensure them a long, healthy life. This is why I am the co-owner of an educational company called, Reptiles Revealed, LLC. It is our job to go to schools and teach children about reptiles. Through this education, we hope to dissipate children’s fears (and the adults as well!), show them how to respect these creatures, and hope to aid them in their wantonness to learn more. If we can all recognize what is expected of us with any given reptile or animal, we can help alleviate some of the abandonment and cruelty that surrounds them when people just don’t understand.
Education is key.http://www.reptilesrevealed.com
Get your copy of the Central Florida Pets Directory TODAY!!!