Over recent years, reptile keeping has developed from something of a minority interest among a small number of dedicated fans to represent a large and growing part of the mainstream pet industry.Success with these animals goes hand-in-hand with a good understanding of their general biology and particular needs - which is where this site comes into its own.
Monitors are definitely not for the beginner reptile enthusiast and certainly not recommended as a casual pet. While they are fascinating creatures that are very intelligent, inquisitive, active and beautiful to look at, they do require specialist reptile knowledge and considerable commitment to keep in good health. If you are …
Iguanas are one of the most popular reptiles to be kept as pets. Unfortunately they are also one of the most commonly seen by vets for illnesses due to lack of proper care. Like all reptiles, they have relatively strict feeding and housing requirements and many new owners are not …
Geckos are one of the most popular reptiles to be kept as pets – especially for beginners – and with good reason. They tend to be docile and easy to tame as well as being relatively easy to care for. In particular, the leopard gecko is the number one choice …
First off it must be said: chameleons are not ideal pets. They are certainly not for the beginner and they really dislike being handled so for anyone hoping to have a more interactive experience with their reptile, steer clear of chameleons! They also have very specific requirements and can become …
Despite the common belief that many people easily keep a tortoise at the bottom of the garden, occasionally feeding it lettuce leaves – tortoises are actually a challenging pet and not really recommended for the beginner or casual reptile owner. Not only do they grow to impractical sizes, especially for …
Despite their differences from us, there are several diseases which can be transmitted from reptiles to humans and care must be taken when handling reptiles to prevent infection. Generally, with good sanitation and personal hygiene practices, as well as keeping reptile pets out of food preparation areas, the risks are …
Keeping your reptile healthy is one of the key duties of a reptile owner and it can also be one of the most challenging. Reptile health depends on a wide variety of factors all of which must be satisfied for the reptile to be free from stress and illness. As …
While most people immediately think of reptiles, particularly snakes, when they think of skin-shedding, in actual fact, all animals shed their skin at regular intervals to maintain health. In fact, humans shed 1.5 million skin cells every hour! However, reptiles gain more attention for the process because they often do …
While reptiles can make rewarding pets they do require a high level of commitment and many people embarking on ownership without realising how expensive or difficult they can be to care for properly. Particularly when you are a beginner, the right choice of reptile can make a huge difference between …
The short answer is “No.” While a mixed-species ecosystem is often seen in zoos and other institutions, this is not something that should be attempted by a hobbyist unless they are extremely experienced, with the resources needed to maintain and keep a mix-species terrarium – and certainly something that should …
