Your Cart is Empty
Reptiles as pets are a stunning addition to any family. Read on as Family Pet Centre compiles our top reptile pets and their qualities.
If you would like to obtain a neat overview of owning a reptile as a pet, have a look at the Youtube video below:
What’s cuter than a tiny leopard print lizard? We can’t think of much. Leopard Geckos are very popular little lizards and are widely kept as pets. These quirky guys fall under the beginner care level category, so taking care of them is super easy. Leopard Geckos are also highly family-friendly, and they’re comfortable to be handled. Did you know that they can clean their eyeballs with their tongues? Interesting, right? Hatchlings are about five to ten centimetres long. Adults can grow up to 20 to 25 centimetres, so generally, Leopard Geckos stay small well into their adult life.
Due to their small size and quiet docile nature, these pets are quite popular. Future owners should know that these little lizards are carnivorous, and mainly eat mealworms, crickets, and waxworms. We have a great range of bowls and feeders for your little guy when it's dinnertime!
Like most lizards, leopard geckos have fantastic hearing and come in various patterns and colours. It is also relatively easy to keep the leopard gecko safe as a pet by keeping them in specialised cages.
Compared to other reptiles, Leopard Geckos are long-lived. This means that you need to prepare for a long commitment, with an average lifespan of ten to twenty years.
FPC Care Tip: Look at our blog on the benefits of feeding your Leopard Gecko Superworms here.
The Bearded Dragon is an all-around loved and widely popular pet. Just the fact that they are tiny dragons already gives them a whole lot of points in our books. Their average lifespan is about eight to twelve years. They are alert, but also very tame pets. Most Bearded Dragon owners easily grow very fond of their pet lizards.
Another interesting element that adds to the Bearded Dragon’s popularity is the interesting quirks that this lizard has. Did you know that they have a very small projection underneath their chins, which can become larger to resemble a beard? Or that they can change their body colour from light to dark? These stunning pets even have a parietal eye on top of their heads which assists them in detecting predators.
Bearded Dragons are also super entertaining. Many owners love watching their bearded besties when they are active. Did you know that Bearded Dragons are also known for ‘arm waving’? This happens when a female Bearded Dragon lifts their front leg as a submissive gesture. It quite clearly mimics a wave-like movement.
FPC Care Tip: Young hatchlings do not drink from a water bowl and should be given a waterdrop onto their face to imitate morning dew. They should be fed insects and fresh vegetables every day, for ideal growth. It is also recommended that you use a reptile cage disinfectant to clean your Dragon’s cage. Take a look at our blog for more on the habitat requirements of your Bearded Dragon here.
We all know that snakes generally do not have a good reputation. Not only is this unfair, but it does have the potential to deter people from wanting to own reptiles as pets, especially snakes.
The beautiful corn snake is named after the interesting corn-like pattern on its skin. The range of colours is endless, from black, brown, and even grey. One of the appeals of the Corn Snake is its docile nature, and how easy it is to care for. This species is quite active and feeds on other reptiles, birds, and rodents. As a pet, you may feed your Corn Snake a diet of frozen-thawed rodents.
Now, if you are considering adopting a pet snake, a Corn Snake is the way to go for a first-time pet owner. Corn Snakes make for great pets because of their perfect sizing. They are big and hardy enough for regular handling – yet not so big that it seems intimidating. With proper care, Corn Snakes can live up to twenty years, so make sure you are in it for the long run.
Interesting fact: The Corn Snake has a sensory organ called the Jacobson’s organ, which is capable of detecting chemical signals in the environment.
FPC Care Tip: Be sure only to house one Corn Snake in a cage. Snakes aren’t generally social animals – so a cage mate might cause some unnecessary anxiety. Consider shopping for a few accessories for your Corn Snake, as they are known for their climbing abilities.
Also known as the eyelash gecko, these lizards have become very popular amongst pet owners across the world. Did you know that no Crested Gecko looks alike? Their colours and patterns make every single one unique – which is why we love these guys.
The unique appearance of the Crested Gecko is part of its appeal. They have a fringed crest that runs from their head to their tail. They come in various colours, from green, orange, and even red. Most notably, it is their eyes that capture the most attention. They are large and have vertical pupils.
When kept in captivity, the Crested Gecko can live up to twelve to twenty years. There was a time when the Crested Gecko was seen as a rare and extremely sought-after pet. Now, they are a standard option for animal lovers. Crested Geckos also make great pets due to their slow-moving nature, making them easy to handle.
Crested Geckos also love climbing, especially on vertical surfaces, so be sure to keep their cages secluded from their spiderman skillset. Find a range of cages for your gecko here.
FPC Care Tip: Be sure not to tug on their tails too hard, they might fall off!
Interesting fact: These geckos have an incredible manner of communicating with one another. Expect everything from clicking, and chirping, down to barking from these little guys!
The King Snake has gained huge popularity among pet owners for their colours, patterns and ease of care. They also easily adapt to life in captivity, allowing you to provide them with a happy and healthy life.
This species is non-venomous, and have a smooth, shiny appearance. They are also easy to spot due to the striping patterns on their bodies. This snake is unique in its ability to eat other venomous snakes, which is owed to its immunity to their venom. The King Snake also consumes other rodents, birds and lizards.
When it comes to King Snake cages – bigger is always better, allowing them to move around their home happily. These snakes also make great first-time pets, as they do not require any artificial lighting in their habitat. Just make sure their cage is in a room with plenty of natural light. Have a look at available cages for your snake here.
If you are considering adopting a King Snake as a pet, please feel free to talk to the FPC Team about everything you need to know about properly caring for your pet. Please contact us here.
FPC TIP: Be sure not to put your King Snake’s enclosure close to a window with a lot of sunlight as this could overheat the cage, which might be fatal.
It’s also important to remember that every family is unique, so before adopting a pet reptile, make sure they fit into your specific lifestyle. If you have any questions, feel free to speak to the Family Pet Centre team about which reptile will best suit your family – we’d love to chat! Until then, take a look at our blog for more interesting facts.
Reptile pet owners have agreed that the Leopard Gecko is the best reptile to keep as a pet, especially for beginners.
There is a lizard known as the Anole, which has a unique neck pouch and makes a great pet for reptile enthusiasts.
Most definitely the Bearded Dragon. They are known to build a close bond with their owners and will climb on your shoulders and even your body after a while.
Family Pet Centre have several stores around the country. Locate us here and pay us a visit!
Comments will be approved before showing up.
