You want the very best for your pet reptile, and sometimes keeping them confined for long periods doesn’t seem fair. The question is whether your snake or lizard needs to free roam. Providing pet reptiles with time outside of their enclosure is considered a form of enrichment and allows you to bond with them. However, many risks in the home could lead to injuries or life-threatening situations. This guide looks at the pros and cons of free-roaming sessions and how to provide your reptiles with exercise and enrichment.
Free-Roaming Sessions Benefit Some Reptiles
Free-roaming sessions for reptiles allow them time to move about the house or in the garden for a few hours. This reptile activity is meant to provide a form of enrichment for snakes and lizards as they get to explore the world. Giving them freedom outside of their tanks gives every cold-blooded creature much-needed exercise, but is it necessary?
Free roaming is beneficial for large reptiles such as bearded dragons and iguanas that are easy to monitor and handle. It is not recommended for smaller snakes and lizards (like leopard geckos) because of the risks involved. Small lizards can easily crawl into vents, under furniture, and areas where they could become injured or lost. While free roaming is a good idea for lizards, it should only be performed under close monitoring. This activity is only beneficial for short periods, and the pet must be returned to the safety of their enclosure. Remember that reptiles must be exposed to the right basking conditions and temperatures throughout the day to remain healthy and happy. So, if your home is too cold, this could actually hurt them!
The Benefits of Free Roaming for Reptiles
Reptiles spend most of their lives in enclosures, but some keepers feel the need to free them for exercise, enrichment, and bonding purposes. Free roaming for reptiles is only beneficial when these animals have a secure area or large enclosure allowing them to climb, run, and jump without injuring themselves. Many reptile owners have built spacious indoor and outdoor cages, allowing their bearded dragons or tortoises to move in and out of the house.
Free roaming can be beneficial for reptiles as long as they’re supervised and have access to food and water. They should be placed in an area where they can bask, whether in natural sunlight or in their tanks, for a few hours each day. Providing time outside of their cages can help you build a relationship with your cold-blooded companions, whether relaxing on the sofa or in the garden.
The Limitations of Free-Roaming Sessions
If you allow a reptile to free roam, you must be present to monitor them. Unfortunately, there are many household hazards for reptiles that could expose them to harm. Leaving these animals to free roam without supervision increases the risk of exposing them to chemicals, and consuming small objects that may cause suffocation.
Your cold-blooded reptiles can escape from your home if you don’t watch them closely. Tiny lizards and snakes will easily stow away in cupboards and furniture or move through vents and crevices and disappear. You’ll also have to clean up after free-roaming reptiles unless they’re potty trained. These creatures will soil floors, carpets, and furniture when given free rein throughout the property.
Reptiles require up to 12 hours of heat and light per day to support healthy circadian rhythms and the regulation of body temperature. UV light is a source of vitamin D3, helping with calcium absorption and the prevention of metabolic bone disease. Leaving them to roam around the house without access to heat and light sources will cause illness and distress.
Keeping Your Reptile Safe While Free Roaming
The best way to keep your reptile safe during free-roaming sessions is to supervise them. Close monitoring can prevent unnecessary injuries, exposure to toxic chemicals, and the possibility of escape or getting trapped. It is simply not worth the risk to leave reptiles to their own devices when they’re freed from their enclosures. It could lead to a costly visit to a reptile-specific veterinarian that is best avoided by providing a secure free-roam area.
Which Reptiles Benefit From Free Roaming?
Tortoises and medium-to-large-sized lizards can benefit from free roaming. In most instances, this means moving about in a secure space that may include a fenced-in yard or time spent inside the house.
Snakes, whether reticulated pythons or hognose snakes, should not be allowed to free roam. Reptile keepers are encouraged to interact with their snakes by taking them out of their enclosures for one-on-one time and carefully handling them. Snakes should be closely monitored and never left in the yard where they will disappear. Cages or terrariums that are large enough to accommodate the size of the snake with the correct lighting and heating are sufficient to maintain their happiness. They simply don’t have complex emotional needs like cats and dogs.
You want the best for your pet reptile, but keeping them out of their enclosures without supervising them is not a good idea. Smaller species of snakes and lizards benefit from spacious tanks or enclosures with access to branches and rocks for enrichment. While reptiles can make great pets, always consider their safety before deciding to let them free roam.
