Understanding Pet Needs

Posted on: 19 December 2017

Prior to bringing your new pet reptile home, you will need to prepare yourself for the responsibility and what to expect from owning this type of pet. Luckily, there are a handful of basic guidelines that will help you to keep your new pet reptile as safe and healthy as possible in its new home.

Appreciate The Need For A Source Of Warmth

Unlike mammals, a reptile will be unable to internally regulate its body temperature. As a result, these animals will require a source of warmth that they can use to periodically raise their temperature. Luckily, there heat rocks and lamps that can be purchased for fairly inexpensive prices. However, you will need to research the heat requirements for the reptile that you are choosing to buy as each species may have slightly different needs and preferences.

Prevent The Cage From Becoming Unsanitary

Reptiles can be fairly clean animals, but their cages can become rather dirty in a short period of time. This makes it important for reptile owners to regularly clean and sanitize their animal's cage if they are to keep their reptile from becoming ill. When these animals are forced to be kept in unsanitary cages, they can develop a number of different infections and diseases. In many instances, these conditions can prove to be fatal to the reptile. To help make cleaning your reptile cage easier, you may want to invest in a secondary cage. This can be used to hold the reptile when it comes time to clean their main cage. When cleaning the interior of the cage, you should only use cleaning agents that are designed for use in reptile enclosures as you may otherwise expose your animal to some potentially harmful chemical substances.

Regular Check The Reptiles Skin For Signs Of Distress Or Disease

Your reptile's skin is likely to be very sensitive, and this can lead to it being at a higher risk of developing rashes, sores and other problems. In addition to being extremely uncomfortable, these issues can pose a grave risk to your reptile as the skin problem can quickly spread to more vital organs. Sadly, many people will rarely handle their reptile, which can make it impossible for them to identify these potential issues before it is too late. In order to keep your reptile safe from these potentially serious health risks, you should inspect its skin on a regular basis. An excellent time to do this can be when you are moving the reptile to clean its cage.