So you would like another pet, but you already have a warm fuzzy friend—maybe a cat, dog, or even a gerbil or rabbit. Or perhaps you just prefer cold-blooded critters. How about a reptile? Reptiles breathe air and have backbones. Their skin is made up of scales and bony plates. Reptiles’ bodies don’t generate warmth. They get their temperature from their surroundings. That’s why you will often see reptiles basking in the sun or burrowing into shady dirt. A Texas horned lizard is probably not a good pet choice since so few of them are left. But you can find these reptiles in a lot of stores. Just make sure you keep them warm!
Water dragon
Size: 2-3 feet
Price: $40
Enclosure: Large enclosure (50 gallon tank), screen top, water bowl to climb into
Years: 15
Food: Small insects like crickets and mealworms
Temperature: 100 to 75 degrees
Level: Intermediate
Note: Handle often to become familiar. Then they will be less likely to whip their tails at you.
Corn snake
Size: 4-6 feet
Price: $70
Enclosure: Medium tank, mesh top, water dish to slither into, and a hiding place (rock or branch)
Years: 20
Food: Feed mice two or three times a week.
Temperature: 80 to 75 degrees
Level: Intermediate
Note: Rarely bites, but don’t pester it when it is eating!
Leopard gecko
Size: 6-10 inches
Price: $40
Enclosure: Small enclosure (10-20 gallon tank), include hiding areas
Years: 10
Food: Small insects like crickets and mealworms
Temperature: 88 to 78 degrees
Level: Beginner
Note: Catching by tail can cause tail to come off (it will grow back).
Veiled chameleon
Size: 18-24 inches
Price: $80
Enclosure: Large aquarium with screened top or large screened cage
Years: 5
Food: Small insects like crickets and mealworms
Temperature: 100 to 70 degrees
Level: Intermediate
Note: Keep one per cage since they will fight.
Red-eared slider turtle
Size: 5-12 inches
Price: $20
Enclosure: Medium aquarium with both water for swimming and rocks to crawl up on
Years: 20
Food: Insects, worms, tiny fish, veggies, and plants
Temperature: 88-82 degrees in air, 84-76 in water
Level: Beginner
Note: Don’t handle too much.
