What is a Reptile?
Reptiles are among the oldest groups of animals on Earth: Dinosaurs were reptiles, and Dinosaurs are also some of the earliest creatures ever seen on Earth. Reptiles have been around much longer than humans, so it's not always fair that people think they have a right to go around killing snakes and lizards: after all, technically, you are in THEIR territory.
Who is a Reptile?
There are four basic groups of Reptiles:
-Snakes
-Lizards
-Turtles and Tortoises
-Crocodilians (Caiman, Gharial, Crocodiles and Alligators)
What makes a Reptile a Reptile?
Reptiles have a few main characteristics:
-Cold-blooded, which means they cannot make their own body heat like mammals can.
-They are covered in dry scales (unless, of course, they are aquatic, but the scales themselves are not slimy, they are just wet)
-Normally long lived
Can a Reptile be a pet?
Many people make the decisions to keep Reptiles as pets, and the truth is that this is perfectly acceptable! Reptiles can make good--even great--pets that the whole family can enjoy. They are often beautiful, docile to handle and easy.
The most reccomended Reptiles are pets are:
-Corn snakes
-King snakes
-Milk snakes
-Ball pythons
-Leopard geckos
-Bearded dragons
-Anoles
However, there are some Reptiles that DO NOT make good pets, and they are Crocodilians. Crocodilians are big, aggressive and strong. They can smash watermelons with the sheer muscle of their jaws, and cannot be tamed. The very smallest ones get 5 feet long. That being said, Crocodilians are NOT pets and should NOT be kept in captivity.
Turtles can be kept as pets but usually require tons of work, so are generally not for beginners.
Are Reptiles expensive to buy?
This depends mostly on the Reptile: some can cost thousands, others $20. But this doesn't count their care: altogether a "cheap" reptile to, everything included, would be around $80 or more. So, if you wish to keep a Reptile as a pet, make sure you have the money for it.
What will you cover in this blog?
Care of various Reptiles, updates of my own reptiles, pictures, information, tips to raising feeders and more! If you are considering keeping a Reptile as a pet, stick around!
-Natalie-
