Which Reptiles Make the Best Pets?

The idea of having a reptile for a pet is an attractive notion, but once some people purchase a snake or another reptile they realize it takes a lot of work. Since they are cold-blooded, reptiles require you keep their cages well-heated. Also some reptiles feed on mice and fish, a difficult idea for some squeamish owners. However, some reptiles make better pets than others.

  1. Bearded Dragon

    • One reptile that makes a great pet is the bearded dragon. According to the Bearded Dragon website, bearded dragons are better pets than other reptiles because they are active during the day, can eat a variety of different foods and don't grow too big. Their gentle disposition also make them easy to handle and good if you have children. Also, unlike some snakes, bearded dragons are relatively inexpensive. Bearded dragons are omnivorous, but do very well on a diet that is primarily vegetarian. Bearded dragons also enjoy eating crickets and mealworms and you can avoid feeding them mice without any serious health consequences.

    Leopard Gecko

    • Leopard geckos not only make good pets, but they are the best starter for people without experience owning reptiles, according to the Gecko Ranch website. Like the bearded dragon, leopard geckos require less care than most other reptiles and have a gentle demeanor. Adult leopard geckos grow to about 6 inches in length, making them easy to handle and not needing a very large terrarium. Leopard geckos do not eat mice, eating crickets and mealworms instead. However, you can only keep one male leopard gecko in the same enclosure and make sure you keep only leopard geckos of a similar size together. Otherwise they may attack one another.

    Blue-Tongued Skink

    • Another candidate for good reptile pet is the blue-tongued skink, according to the Planet-Pets website. Much like the bearded dragon, the blue-tongued skink is very tame, has a gentle nature and can thrive on a variety of different foods. The skink can grow much larger than the leopard gecko if you want a larger reptile, up to 20 inches. Skinks can eat crickets, lettuce, cottage cheese and dog food. They will learn to eat from your hand and even come out to see you when you approach their tank. However, blue-tongued skinks can be quite expensive because you will have to get one from a breeder.