Learn its full name.
Learn its proper care requirements, including:
- Cage size/type requirements
- Internal cage design requirements: Some herps require a desert terrarium, some an
arboreal plant-filled terrarium, and some an aquarium. Some need only a small water bowl;
others a large soaking pan. True chameleons do best in screen cages, whereas most other
herps will do ok with more solid sides. All need some sort of hideaway area, and many need
a localized moist area within an otherwise dry vivarium.
- Temperature requirements and how to meet them: Many reptiles require supplemental heat
during the winter; others require hibernation then. Many salamanders will require
supplemental cooling in the summer. Hot rocks are good for many ground dwelling herps, but
not for turtles and tortoises who do better with under tank heat ads or lights and not for
arboreal herps who need lights or a room heater.
- Humidity requirements: Some herps must be kept very dry; others must be misted several
times a day.
- Light requirements: Many diurnal lizards and most turtles and tortoises do best under
wide spectrum lighting, such as Vita-liteR or natural sunlight.
- Food requirements: Learn what to feed them, how to vitamin/mineral supplement and where
to acquire specialized foods.
- Socialization requirements: Some species do best in groups; other species tend to fight,
especially males with males.
- Learn what to expect when it grows up: Burmese, reticulated and African rock pythons,
anacondas, boa constrictors, African spur-thighed tortoises, and many monitor species will
all rapidly grow from cute little juveniles into huge adults with special management
problems. Are you truly ready for a 15 foot snake that should never be handled alone or a
80 pound tortoise that has to be carried in every night or might like to ram people?
- Learn the typical behaviors of the species: Some species tend to be very docile; others
quite nasty. Some species are very hardy and easily cared for; others are extremely
delicate and will need a lot of attentive care to keep them healthy.
- Calculate in the cost of accessories and maintenance into the purchase price of the
animal. Be sure to include the cost of veterinary care should it become sick.
DO NOT ACQUIRE A LIVE ANIMAL UNLESS YOU CAN MEET ALL OF ITS CARE REQUIREMENTS
IMMEDIATELY AND IN THE FUTURE.
DO NOT IMPULSE BUY.
Prepared by San Diego Herpetological Society
PO Box 4036
San Diego, CA 92164
