Guest Author - Christina Borders

Written by previous editor: Christina Borders

These are a few brief overviews of some of my favorite, easy to care for, reptiles. Remember these are only quick profiles and not complete descriptions. You should research any animal fully before making a commitment to purchase.

Bearded Dragons-
‘Beardies’, as they are often referred to, make great pets. These guys are native to Australia and can be found in many different habitats. Their easy going nature, relatively simple housing and feeding requirements, as well as their size and active personalities make them ideal for children and adults alike. Bearded dragons eat both insects as well as veggies and will need to be misted frequently. It’s not recommend that you house two males together, as they may fight, but a male and a female together will be fine and will provide you with much comical relief as they interact with one another.

Corn Snakes-
Corn snakes are wonderful for the first time snake owner to even the most experienced snake keeper. Corn snakes come in tons of color morphs and are some of the most beautiful of all snakes in my opinion. They do not grow to be large and overwhelming, as most pythons and boas do, and are for the most part ‘laid back’ animals. Corn snakes eat mice that progress in size as the snake itself grows. Most will eat only once a week, some twice. Their housing needs are rather simple as well: a secure 10 gallon tank to begin (for a baby), some reptile bark or butcher paper for use as a substrate (what covers the bottom of the cage), a hiding place, and adequate temperature. (Extra Tip: NO HEAT ROCKS! This goes for ALL reptiles, not simply snakes. Heat rocks are readily available, but that doesn’t negate the fact that they can cause serious thermal burns to your pet.)

Leopard and Fat-Tail Geckos-
Even though they are mostly active at night (nocturnal), leopard and fat-tailed geckos make beautiful and interesting pets. As with all the other herps in this list, leopards and fats are fairly easy to maintain and are available in many color morphs. They eat insects, don’t require a huge enclosure, and have simple humidity requirements. You can use play or reptile sand (don’t use with juvenile geckos) or reptile bark as a substrate and a small hiding spot is needed as well. Some moist vermiculite will aid in keeping the desired humidity up and you’ll also need to keep a small bowl of clean water in the cage at all times. Geckos are fun to watch as they ‘hunt’ their prey and if you’re paying close attention you can catch them in the midst of licking their own eyes- they don’t blink. (Always a fun fact for little boys!)

Here are a few links describing these profiled reptiles and their care needs. You can also feel free to email me for more suggestions on what herp is right for you!