Keeping Reptiles as PetsIs a Reptile pet right for me?. There are many types of Reptile pet available on the market. The most common types are Tortoises and Bearded Dragons.
Both Tortoises and Dragons make fantastic family pets. They have long lifespans and are very interactive animals. They also tame fairly easily and are usually good choices for children. As they are the most common pet, they are also one of the most rehomed reptile pet in the country. One of the considerations when purchasing your reptile pet is its lifespan. Although they are able to be rehomed, we never advise getting a pet which you do not think you will be able to care for for its life. Although Reptiles do not think and feel like we do, they do get used to routine, smells and their environment and it can be stressful to rehome them.
General Problems & Solutions
Reptiles, like any other pet are prone to some common problems. We recommend that you seek insurance for your reptile pet in the same way you would a dog or cat (note: not all reptiles can be insured, seek insurance provider details online) so that you are covered if your pet needs help.
Common Health Issues:
Snake/Lizard/Tortoise not eating: Reptiles require external heat in order to reach their optimum temperature required to process their food. If reptiles are not warm enough to process their food when they eat, it can cause issues such as regurgitation of the food item or further digestion problems, so they usually know when they are not warm enough. This is a common reason why reptiles stop eating so always check your temperatures. If you are contacting us for advice, we will ask the size and temperature of your enclosure on both the hot and cold sides. Reptiles not feeding can also be related to other things, once your pet is of breeding age, they may stop feeding over winter /spring you can stop this by raising their temperatures (within safe limits for species). If you purchase your reptile pet and enclosure with us, we offer lifetime advice meaning you can always come back to us if you have a problem with your pet and we will give you as much info as we can to help you solve the problem.
Shedding issues: Reptiles grow differently to mammals and when they do they shed their outer skin. Some Reptiles eat their skin during this process such as geckos, anoles and some other lizards. Sometimes Reptiles can have problems shedding their skin if the liquid they produce to lubricate it dries out. If this happens we always recommend trying to add some humidity to your pets enclosure. This can be done by spraying the enclosure (being careful not to spray any bulbs) You can also soak your pet in some luke warm water for 20 mins at a time. There are some products such as Shedding Aid which will help your pet to shed. It is really important that shed is removed from lizards eye, toes and tail ends and snakes eyes and tail ends. If shed is left on toes and tail ends it can restrict the blood flow which can result in loss of tail ends and toes. Reptiles also shed the skin of their eyes and so it is vital that eye caps are removed. Not removing eye caps can cause loss of vision and in some cases loss of the eye itself. At the same time, it is equally important not to pull the shed off if it is stuck and damage the animals skin. If your pet is stuck in shed and you have tried raising the humidity, please contact us for advice if you purchased your animal from us. Please note: This guide is purely for consideration and is not veterinary advice. If you are concerned about the health of your pet or if your pets health has changed dramatically, please contact an experienced reptile vet.
We recommend TVHC in Lytham St Annes: 01253 729309 | 4 Greenways, Lytham Saint Annes FY8 3LY.
If you purchased your animal from us and you are not sure if you need a vet, please contact us for advice.
Mites: Reptiles mites are similar to fleas in that they live on the skin or under the scales of the animal and feed off its blood. As with fleas, mites lay eggs in pourus materials such as wood and substrate and lay eggs which then hatch, and the life cycle continues. If you don’t treat mites properly and interrupt the cycle, then they can come back quite soon after first spotted.
There are many mite treatments available including spray and fogging treatments, natural mite killers and predatory mites (which eat reptile mites). The first thing we recommend you do on discovery of mites on a snake is soak your reptile to offer some relief. This will help to remove some of the mites but it is not a fix for the problem. We always recommend a full clean of the enclosure and removal of any wood and plants so that they can be fully soaked and washed with f10 and boiling water (rinsed off). If you have purchased your animal from us and require assistance on eliminating mites then
We recommend quarantining any new animals you purchase from shops or private sales which you are adding to your existing collection and checking their health over a 2 week period (minimum) before adding to their permanent homes (ensure that required heating and lighting parameters are met).