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Stuff Every Reptile Owner Should Know

Reptile care basics: lifespan, cost, heat and UVB, handling, salmonella safety, laws and vet care.

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  1. Which two lizards does a Texas A&M vet tech call good beginner lizards?
    Show the answer

    Bearded dragons and leopard geckos. A Texas A&M veterinary technician names bearded dragons and leopard geckos as beginner lizards. Beginner does not mean maintenance-free, so research the habitat, diet, and adult care each species needs.

  2. Which snake does a Texas A&M vet tech call docile, curious, and a good pet for teenagers?
    Show the answer

    Corn snake. Corn snakes stay a moderate size, are usually calm, and eat well. A Texas A&M vet tech calls them a good pet for teenagers. Reticulated pythons and anacondas are giant snakes, not beginner pets.

  3. Why are ball pythons often suggested as a beginner snake?
    Show the answer

    They are typically docile. A Texas A&M veterinary technician places ball pythons in the beginner group and calls them typically docile. They still need species-appropriate heat, food, housing, and veterinary care.

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  1. Which two lizards does a Texas A&M vet tech call good beginner lizards?
  2. Which snake does a Texas A&M vet tech call docile, curious, and a good pet for teenagers?
  3. Why are ball pythons often suggested as a beginner snake?
  4. Who are Argentine tegus and savannah monitors best suited for?
  5. What does a Texas A&M vet tech call the worst reason to buy a lizard?
  6. Per the Merck Veterinary Manual, reptiles are pets best suited to whom?
  7. Compared with a dog or a bird, how much commitment does a pet reptile take?
  8. Which pet reptile is more likely to be stressed when touched or picked up?
  9. Does a pet reptile usually need a buddy of its own kind?
  10. Before getting a pet snake, what food should you be ready to handle?
  11. If you buy a tiny hatchling reptile, what size home should you plan space for?
  12. How long can a pet leopard gecko live, per the Merck Veterinary Manual?
  13. About how long does a pet ball python live, per the Merck Veterinary Manual?
  14. About how long does a pet corn snake live, per the Merck Veterinary Manual?
  15. How long can a pet eastern box turtle live, per the Merck Veterinary Manual?
  16. Which pet reptile on Merck's lifespan table can live 50 years or more?
  17. How long can a pet red-eared slider live in captivity, per California wildlife officials?
  18. Which of these pet reptiles has the shortest typical lifespan on Merck's table?
  19. How long can an adult male green iguana grow, including its tail?
  20. Why do so many pet green iguanas end up given away or released?
  21. About how long is an adult ball python, per UF/IFAS?
  22. About how long is a typical adult corn snake?
  23. How long can a reticulated python grow?
  24. About how big does an adult red-eared slider get?
  25. If you keep a pet turtle in a small tank, will it stay small?
  26. How much can a male sulcata tortoise weigh, per Illinois veterinarians?
  27. Per US Fish and Wildlife, why do many pet boa constrictors escape or get released?
  28. Do pet reptiles need yearly vaccines like dogs do?
  29. When should a newly bought reptile first see a vet?
  30. Why should you find a reptile vet before you bring a reptile home?
  31. Why are captive-bred reptiles usually better pets than wild-caught ones?
  32. Should you catch a wild turtle, snake, or lizard to keep as a pet?
  33. Since 1975, US law bans selling pet turtles with shells shorter than what?
  34. Can a seller legally sell you a baby turtle under 4 inches if it is 'certified Salmonella-free'?
  35. Under which federal law did the US list the reticulated python as 'injurious' in 2015?
  36. In which US state is it illegal to possess a pet snake?
  37. Can you legally keep a ball python as a pet in New York City?
  38. Since 2021, what is the rule for getting a new pet green iguana or tegu in Florida?
  39. Before bringing a reptile home to an apartment or rental, what should you check?
  40. Is it OK to release a pet reptile outdoors if its species is native to your area?
  41. How did Burmese pythons become established in Everglades National Park?
  42. In California, released pet red-eared sliders compete with which native animal?
  43. What does the CDC say about keeping venomous reptiles as pets?
  44. What feature is essential on a pet snake enclosure?
  45. What enclosure volume does the BGSU guide list for a corn snake?
  46. What temperature range does BGSU list for a corn snake?
  47. What humidity range does Merck list for ball pythons?
  48. How should corn snake humidity change during shedding?
  49. What prey type is safer for most pet snakes?
  50. What should you never do with live rodent prey?
  51. How should frozen prey be prepared before offering it?
  52. How large should a snake's prey be?
  53. How often may many adult snakes need feeding?
  54. When should you avoid handling a snake?
  55. What do cloudy blue eyes often mean in a snake?
  56. What enclosure item can help a snake shed?
  57. Which wood shavings should reptile keepers avoid?
  58. What does Merck say about special lighting for corn snakes and ball pythons?
  59. How should you hold a nonvenomous snake?
  60. Why are heated rocks unsafe for lizards?
  61. What should control a reptile heat source?
  62. What kind of thermometer does a UC Davis guide say to use in a reptile enclosure?
  63. What enclosure volume does UC Davis list for one adult bearded dragon?
  64. What basking range does UC Davis give bearded dragons?
  65. What nighttime temperature does UC Davis give bearded dragons?
  66. Which special light do bearded dragons require?
  67. How close should the UC Davis UVB bulb be to a dragon's basking site?
  68. What daily light cycle does UC Davis suggest for bearded dragons?
  69. When does the UC Davis guide say to replace a dragon's UVB bulb?
  70. Where do wild bearded dragons come from?
  71. Which substrates does UC Davis say not to use for bearded dragons?
  72. What plant food should a bearded dragon receive daily?
  73. Which description fits a bearded dragon's diet?
  74. What does gut-loading feeder insects mean?
  75. What should be added to bearded dragon insects just before feeding?
  76. How can calm routine handling affect a bearded dragon?
  77. What must a leopard gecko enclosure be large enough to include?
  78. What temperature zone does Merck list for leopard geckos?
  79. What kind of humidity do leopard geckos need?
  80. What kind of eater is a leopard gecko?
  81. How large should feeder insects be for a leopard gecko?
  82. What enclosure feature gives a leopard gecko extra moisture for shedding?
  83. What is the biggest habitat difference between turtles and tortoises?
  84. Aquatic turtles need which two habitat areas?
  85. Why do indoor turtles and tortoises need UVB light?
  86. Why doesn't sunlight through a closed window give a reptile the UV it needs?
  87. Which kind of basking bulb gives a reptile both heat and UV light?
  88. In general, what kind of eater is a pet tortoise?
  89. UC Davis vets suggest what diet mix for omnivorous pet turtles?
  90. Why do pet turtles and tortoises usually get a calcium supplement?
  91. How much fruit should a pet turtle or tortoise get?
  92. Which food do many nutritionists say not to feed pet reptiles?
  93. What water rule applies even to land tortoises?
  94. Which is true about a turtle's or tortoise's shell?
  95. What does Merck say helps reduce shell pyramiding in tortoises?
  96. Which shell sign means a turtle or tortoise should see a vet?
  97. Can a healthy looking turtle carry Salmonella?
  98. When should you wash your hands after touching a turtle or tortoise?
  99. Why should you not kiss or snuggle a turtle or tortoise?
  100. Where should pet reptiles and their gear be kept out of?
  101. Where does the CDC say to clean a turtle tank and supplies, if possible?
  102. Which group does the CDC say should not touch reptiles at all?
  103. After handling your reptile, what does the CDC say to do before holding a baby?
  104. Where does the CDC say to pour dirty turtle tank water?
  105. Which signs point to metabolic bone disease in a reptile?
  106. Which signs may mean a turtle or tortoise has a respiratory infection?
  107. What causes swollen eyelids in many pet turtles fed a poor diet?
  108. How big should gravel in a turtle tank be?
  109. What do mites look like on reptiles?
  110. Which is one of the most common health problems in captive reptiles?
  111. How fast does egg binding usually develop in a reptile?
  112. Reptiles cannot run a true fever. What does a sick reptile do instead?