What is the easiest reptile to take care of?

Question

I really wanted a pet snake and when i saw a boa in an advertisment, I saw that you need to feed it frozen rodents. I want one that isnt boring like a turtle. I want to hold it and it must be able to be purchased at a pet store and no freezing rodents.(eww!)

Answer 1

No reptile is going to be easy to take care of. You'll need to meet its needs for housing, light, heat and humidity as well as any other especifications that they may have.

Reptiles that come from petstores are often Wild Caught, loaded with parasites, unhealthy, dehydrated and aggresive because they haven't been bred in the optimun conditions under human care and attention. If you want a pet reptile darling, you go to a breeder. All petshops carry a 50/50 if not higher chance that your new pet WILL be unhealthy.

Some reptiles do take well to handling, but you want to remember that they aren't like a dog, and can't be taught to play fetch or razzle. This is also a compromise. When you say you want a pet that isn't 'boring' it makes me think that you want something to play with and may not be ready for the resposabilty of a snake. Have you thought of a friendly lizard instead?

On the issue of feeding rodents: Frozen/Thawed is always best. They can be kept refrigerated so you don't have to fumble around trying to find a store that has the right size when you need it. Though, if you insist on non-frozen, you will have to buy the mice and Kill them. Feeding live, for a first time owner is not something I recommend. If the mouse decides to attack your snake, will you be fast enough to grab hold of the tail and avoid being bitten? Can you close the muzzle with a pair of forceps quick enough without damaging your snake? Can you sit and monitor the feeding until the rodent is dead?

Moving on to the species, Boas are not particulary good for begginers. You want a hardy snake that is able to forgive the mistakes in husbandry that you WILL make as a first time owner. Some of them are:

Cornsnake

California Kingsnake

Ball Python

Children's Python

MilkSnake

Garter snake

If you insist on the boa, a Rosy Boa is a nice choice. Boas are prone to be large animals, but a rosy, being one of the smallest will grow an average of 2-3 feet in lenght. (Saves you the bigger rats of other boas, like a Red Tail.)

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I still would recomend a lizard, for the simple fact that they are more active and you can actually play with them. Have you ever seen a Bearded dragon pushing a tennis ball? (I have)

Bearded Dragon

Blue Tongue Skink

Leopard Gecko

I suggest you research caresheets and think on this descition long a nd hard. Perhaps you're looking more for a play-mate-pet than an actual reptile?

Answer 2

leopard geckos are pretty easy but u need to know that no reptile is easy to care for they require certain tempreture humidities and equipment some of which can be very expensive. also gecko need live bugs (crickets mealworms etc) which guessing by your reponse to frozen foods your not going to like

i would heavily research general reptile care then the species u decided to get before u even think of buying one

Answer 3

You can get a snake that eats feeder fish check into that.

                     Debbie O

Answer 4

get a lizard. i think all they do is eat and sleep. they are also very friendly once they recognize a master.