Choosing the Right Reptile for Your Child

At some point in time most little boys start to want a pet that is more exotic than a dog or cat. Most parents gasp at the thought of it. Some parents are great with it. Other parents just plain get confused about how to handle the situation.

For starters if you are not a reptile person that has a bunch of supplies for a new pet lying around this could be a little bit of an investment for you. Reptiles do require more than just a ten gallon tank with a sturdy lid. Before you head out to the local shop, plan on spending a little bit of money.

Another piece of advice that I have always found helpful is to make sure that the reptile shop you decide to shop from has a good reputation. Unfortunately, there are some places out there that don't take good care of their reptiles and you may end up with a vet bill along with your new friend.

There is no set age as to when you should indulge your child with a reptile as a pet. I wouldn't recommend going out and getting your two year old a snake just because they like them on TV. Take into account your own child's level of responsibility when considering a reptile as a pet. Also, remember that some of the care taking of the critter will always fall back on Mommy and Daddy no matter what we do.

The type of reptile you will be looking for really depends on your child. Of course they are going to want the biggest or most expensive animal they can find. The cooler it looks the more they will want it. My advice is to take into account what kind of reptiles your child is more drawn to as a whole and decide from there.

If your child tends to be drawn more to lizards there are a few I would recommend as a good starter pet. The best of the best for a starter lizard, in my opinion, is the Bearded Dragon. Bearded Dragons are very calm and easy going. They eat insects but also eat veggies and fruit so depending on whatever you have on hand for them will make them happy.

Bearded Dragons do require UV and heat together during the day and like to be kept a bit warm because they originate from Australia. The upsides to these lizards are really how happy go lucky they are. You can have five of them together and watch them interact as a little city and unless they are starving they won't argue with each other. Bearded Dragons can truly be an exciting learning process for your child.

My second choice for lizards is the Euromastics. These lizards can be a bit more difficult to find than a Bearded Dragon however they do have good personalities as well. They do grow to a bigger size than the Bearded Dragon so, they will need more room. Euromastics will still require UV and heat as well. Euromastics are strictly vegetarian which may be more accommodating to some.

Euromastics are fairly new to the reptile lover community compared to other animals. This will make them harder to find and more expensive to purchase. If you are a first time reptile owner I wouldn't worry as much about the color phases. These features that people rave over can double the price of the animal.

If you discover that your child leans more towards the snake species don't worry, not all snakes grow to the size of an anaconda and eat small children or your pet poodle. Now, I wouldn't suggest diving in head first and buying your child a little baby that needs a ton of attention and possibly force feeding. Babies are always cheaper to buy but they can end up being harder to raise.

My advice for the first timer is to get a snake that won't grow over about four feet in length. This is so that your pet will never become too hard for your child to handle. When snakes get to be over the four foot mark they can become harder to handle, especially for children.

An excellent starter snake is the Ball Python. Ball Pythons only grow to about three or four feet in length but get pretty fat. They are very mellow when handled which is great for kids, and don't take elaborate substrates or humidity levels. Ball Pythons are also pretty inexpensive as a whole. They usually never get bigger than large mouse or small rat eating size.

I would again recommend getting one that is already about half grown and eating well. Baby Ball Pythons can be found in abundance during the summer time as babies but a lot of them have not had one meal which can turn into a real mess for you.

If you would like something a little more exotic looking you can also look into a Blood Python. These snakes are a relative of the Ball Python but have a different color pattern to them and do require more humidity in their enclosure. Blood Pythons are still known to have great temperaments just as the Ball Python does.

Another good starter species of snake would be the Corn Snake. There are many different colors and varieties to choose from. Corn Snakes will be good for your child and are quite affordable. Corn Snakes will never get as fat as a Ball Python but do get a bit longer.

The last snake I would recommend is the King Snake. King Snakes can also be found in many colors and patterns. They too will not get as fat as a Ball Python but will get up to about 4 feet in length.

Make sure when you go into a reptile store to pick out your pet that they allow you to hold the animal before purchasing. I have run into some stores that will keep their animals cooler than normal so that they do not seem aggressive. A simple way to find out if this is the case is to pay attention when you are holding them. Reptiles should not feel hot but shouldn't feel cold either. Also, pay attention to their weight. If the animal feels underweight chances are they are not being fed often enough.

Most of the time you can buy your insects and mice from the store you purchase your pet at. Lizards need to be fed every other day at the minimum. I would recommend every day to keep them really happy. Also with lizards make sure that you are giving them some calcium and vitamin powder on their food to keep them strong.

Most snakes should eat about once a week if they are still growing. If they are full grown I would recommend every week and a half. Also, be a little leery of constant handling when your snake is getting ready to shed. They don't see so good when preparing to shed so they can be a little bit more ill tempered.

If you are wise overall, when buying a new pet for your child it will make the whole experience happier and safer. The more accustomed to these kinds of animals your child gets, the more experimenting you can do. Owning reptiles becomes a way of life not just a hobby. It should never be gone into lightly. Take caution with your child and make sure you aren't asking more of them than they can handle. They will for quite a while need help and guidance from you to make sure their new pet stays happy and healthy.