Things to Consider Before Buying Your Child a Pet Reptile

Because I lived with someone who bred and kept a variety of snakes and lizards for a number of years, often people come to me with questions related to herpetology. Many of the questions come as the result of a child asking a parent for a pet python or a lizard they thought looked "cool" in the pet store. Generally speaking, I wouldn't advise a parent to give a young child a snake or lizard, especially this is to be the child's first pet. Here are some of the reasons why.

Keeping exotic pets like lizards and snakes can be rewarding in many ways, for example there are very few animals who are more beautiful than a green tree boa. However, once people have purchased an exotic pet and start having to deal with the careful feeding regimen, cleaning, costs, and other issues that often arise with reptile ownership, they realize that they are way in over their heads. As a result, many reptiles end up in shelters, die from improper care, or are abandoned. No animal should have to go through such a fate and this isn't really the best way to teach a child about responsible pet ownership.

Reptiles have specific environmental needs with regards to light and heat because they're cold-blooded. You can't just purchase a lizard and a tank and expect the animal to be happy and healthy. While requirements vary among species and breeds, most will need some sort of UVA/UVB light source in the tank as well as controlled humidity. In addition to a light, some reptiles also need a heat rock in order to thrive, but you don't want the environment to be so hot that it harms the animal.

You should be prepared to deal with some "icky" feeding situations. Again, this will vary depending on the animal. Some snakes only need to eat once or twice a week and some lizards will need to eat daily. Do your research, no matter what reptile you decide to purchase. You could end up with an animal who needs to eat mice or crickets. Are you willing to purchase and handle feeder mice or frozen feeder mice? How about handling crickets? For example, we used to breed bearded dragons, one of the more popular and docile lizards. They ate a combination of crickets and fresh vegetables. One of the most prevalent problems with bearded dragons is that they are prone to calcium deficiencies. Because of this, the crickets needed to be dusted with a special calcium supplement, which could be costly, but was something that they needed. Ball pythons have a reputation for being picky eaters in captivity, which is something else an owner will have to address, possibly by discussing the issue with a vet or researching creative ways to assist the snake with eating.

Other considerations when deciding upon giving a child a reptile are the size of the animal, the life span, and its temperament. Many people don't realize that a baby ball python that easily fits into the hand can grow to 3-5 feet. An adult iguana can grow to 3-6 feet in length. Iguanas, while one of the most popular pet reptiles, can be quite aggressive and strong, particularly in the breeding season. Many reptiles also have a long life span, such as the ball python which can live for up to 30 years. This is quite a commitment. Are you and/or your child ready to handle it?

Don't get me wrong, reptiles are beautiful and can make wonderful pets for enthusiasts. However, I've heard too many horror stories involving people who didn't know what they were signing onto when they purchased a reptile from the pet store resulting in neglected or abandoned animals. The high costs associated with feeding and veterinarian care are often too much for some owners. Children who wanted a snake sometimes get "grossed out" by feeding them mice, leaving the responsibility on the parents. Reptiles require a great deal of commitment from their owners, something a parent should think about before taking the plunge. The most important thing to do is research the animal you are thinking of buying, taking into consideration its diet, environmental requirement, temperament, and life span. If you decide you and your child are ready for reptile ownership, select the one that best suited to your family.

Sources:
Heat and Light for Pet Reptiles, About.com