Reptile Care Guide

Reptile Care guide for your pet Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates

Handling

The safest way to handle a snake is to hold it behind the head with one hand whilst the other hand supports the body. Snake hooks and grab sticks are fundamental tools for handling large or dangerous snakes. Larger lizards should be picked up by one hand held behind their head whilst the other hand secures the base of the tail and hind legs. Smaller lizards can be caught just wearing protective gloves or just pin them with a soft cloth before picking them up. Most tarantulas are too dangerous to be handled due to their hairs which when shed can sometimes cause skin irritation to humans. Despite this, they are still very popular as pets.

Housing

Containers to house lizards and snakes in are known as vivariums and are usually constructed from glass with a metal panel to allow adequate ventilation. The type, size and number to be housed together will differ depending on the breed of snake or lizard. Tarantulas are housed in containers called terrariums and these too are made from glass. Again the number that can be safely housed together will depend on the breed. Whether a vivarium or a terrarium, they will need to be; Secure and escape proof, Easy access for cleaning, Adequate size to allow for growth and movement, Heating and lighting must be adequate and maintained, Humidity and ventilation must be adequate and maintained.

Feeding

Most snakes will need a diet of rodents and these need to be purchased in frozen form. Lizards need a mixed diet of insects such as crickets or locusts which they usually prefer alive, so they can catch and eat them. Some lizards also like fruit and vegetables added to their diet. It is important to dust a calcium supplement onto the food, to ensure that they receive the correct nutritional balance in their diet. Tarantulas have a diet of insects or insects such as crickets, locusts, moths and caterpillars. Some of the larger spiders also eat mice too!

Accessories

Snakes, Lizards and tarantulas all require specialised equipment in their containers in order to remain in good health. These include a suitable floor covering (substrate), lighting equipment with the correct type of spot bulb and heating equipment set to the correct temperature. Some species of tarantula will also require specialist equipment to keep their environment humid.

Common illnesses

Some snakes will shed their skin once or twice a year and once this has happened the discarded skin should be removed from the vivarium straight away. Poor diet or bad living conditions such as too high humidity or the wrong temperature can lead to respiratory and/ or skin infections.Common illnesses in lizards is dehydration and stress through incorrect handling are the main concerns to be aware of, however poor diet or bad living conditions can lead to respiratory or skin infections. Tarantulas shed their skin once or twice a year and during this time they can become quite aggressive. This process can take anything up to a week to complete and their dietary requirements will change during this time. Once shedding is complete the discarded skin must be removed from the terrarium.

Suggested shopping list for your pet reptile

• Suitable sized vivarium or terrarium
• Lighting equipment
• Heating Equipment
• Substrate
• Decor
• Water Bowl
• Food Bowl
• Fresh supply of water and correct food

The information contained in this reptile care guide to keeping reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates is intended to provide basic guidance only and is no substitute for a good book. There are many recommended titles available from Prestwood Petzone to provide you with useful information and guides on a range of species. We have a large selection of books, Please contact us if you would like further information regarding any of the books or products that we stock. You can contact us by phone, e-mail or letter. You can find all of our contact details by clicking Contact Us.

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