Choosing Your First Reptile or Amphibian

There is no greater thrill then finally deciding to take the plunge and purchase your first reptile of amphibian. Hopefully you will not take this task lightly since the species of reptile or amphibian you choose and the specific animal you pick out from the pet store can greatly affect your first experience. We'll try to walk you through the steps for choosing your first pet reptile or amphibian by recommending some great species to begin with and also tell you what to look for when selecting your new pet.

Be Sure to Choose the Right Kind of Pet

When you first enter a well stocked pet store, you can easily become overwhelmed with the vast variety of animals that are available. Beware that not all of these animals are suitable for the beginner reptile keeper though. For example, some lizards such as monitors and iguanas are best left to very experienced keepers as they require very specific setups and handling.

Snakes

Many snakes make excellent first pets! I would recommend almost any member of the colubrid family for the beginner reptile keeper. I would specifically recommend either a corn snake or a milk snake. Both snakes come in a variety of color morphs both have a good temperament and can be handled often. Another snake with a great temperament that can make a great pet is the ball python. While we generally don't recommend many boas or pythons for the beginning reptile keeper, the ball python stays relatively small (usually around four feet or less) and has a great temperament. While something like a boa constrictor or burmese python can look tempting, they do get quite large and require a large amount of space and adult boa constrictors or burmese pythons should only be handled by experienced keepers.

Lizards

Too many people think that an anole or an iguana would be a great first reptile pet because of their inexpensive price tag and small size. What most people don't realize that the green anole will require the same expensive setup as many other larger lizards. In the case of the iguana, not only does it require a relatively expensive setup, they will also reach up to six feet in length and can become aggressive as adults.

If you are in the market for a small lizard, then the leopard gecko is an ideal lizard to start with. Leopard geckos have a great personality and because they are nocturnal, you do not have to worry about setting up specialized lighting for their enclosure. They tolerate being handled very well and there are now many different color morphs of leopard geckos available.

If you would prefer a slightly larger lizard, then consider the bearded dragon. They don't get as large as an iguana and tend to have much better temperaments. The setup is a bit more advanced than for a leopard gecko, but I would not consider it overly difficult.

Turtles

Many people are fascinated with turtles and tortoises. The problem is that many species of aquatic turtles are a bit more difficult to care for because on top of everything else you also need to worry about the water quality as well. Also many aquatic turtles require more space then most people realize.

Tortoises are great because you do not need to worry about an aquatic habitat. The problem is that many tortoises like the sulcata can get quite large. A great tortoise to start with is the Russian tortoise. They stay a reasonable size at less than a foot in length and have a great personality. If your up for the challenge of owning a tortoise, then these guys are a perfect choice to start with.

Amphibians

Many people are fascinated with amphibians. These make for great display animals, but most amphibians are not able to be held or touched. For people who are looking for a pet that they can handle, choosing one of the reptile species listed above is probably a better idea.

One of the easiest species of frog to take care of is the horned frog or pac man frog. They are easy to maintain and the pac man frog is an eating machine and can be great fun to watch. They are also easy to find in many pet shops.

If you have had experience with tropical fish tanks, then making a jump to newts like fire belly newt or the rough skinned newt can make for an easy transition to keeping amphibians. These newts do very well at room temperature and as long as you have setup proper filtration in your aquarium, they will thrive for you. Many people have as much fun setting up the aquarium for a naturalistic habitat as they do watching the newts. With a little practice you can set up beautiful habitats for your newts that you'll love to show off to your friends and family.

No matter what species you decide to get for your first reptile or amphibian pet, please do as much research about it before you bring it home. You should know how big it will get, what it eats, and what kind of enclosure you need for your new reptile or amphibian pet before it ever comes home with you. The most common reason that pet reptiles or amphibians die prematurely is because that the owners do not understand how to properly take care of their pet. Many other pet reptiles and amphibians are given up for adoption or surrendered to animal shelters because people did not realize what they were getting themselves into. By doing your research first, you can avoid choosing a pet reptile or amphibian that does not fir your lifestyle.