As a reptile lover, you’re well-versed in caring for cold-blooded creatures, but some species have more complex needs than others. From large lizards to finicky snakes, many reptiles are suited to more seasoned keepers if you’re up for a challenge. Tegus, chameleons, and caiman lizards require large enclosures and specific humidity and temperature requirements. To help you choose stunning reptiles suited to your personality and lifestyle, this guide looks at six pet reptiles for experienced owners.
1. Tegus Require Spacious Enclosures
The tegu is a large South American lizard deemed one of the best lizards for more experienced keepers. Their combination of dark and white speckled skin gives these lizards a rather unique appearance, but their true beauty lies in their personalities. These dinosaur-looking pets are described as affectionate, relaxed, and quite intelligent, and with careful handling, they make great cuddle buddies. These lizards can reach a whopping 20-year lifespan.
When it comes to mealtime, you should feed a tegu a diet close to their natural environment. These reptiles consume a fair amount of plant matter and should be provided a balance of protein and vegetation. Tegus enjoy fruit such as grapes, bananas, and figs, but they also eat meat like ground turkey, worms, and tinned cat food.
If you’re interested in owning a tegu, they need a large enclosure and plenty of handling. If you don’t interact with these big lizards, they will become hostile and bite. A bite from a tegu isn’t pleasant and can cause major injuries. These lizards shouldn’t be left alone with small animals such as hamsters because they will become dinner!
2. Caiman Lizards Require Careful Handling
Caiman lizards are incredible creatures, but they’re certainly not for the faint of heart. Hailing from the South American rainforest, caiman lizards are easily identified by their multi-tone colors of orange and green. Growing up to four feet, the caiman lizard requires a spacious cage with the right temperature of up to 85℉ and humidity of around 60%. These creatures are true baskers and are happiest when they get to spend most of their time in sunlight or UV light.
Caimans need consistent and gentle handling to remain friendly, but you must be patient. These reptiles can take some time to warm up to you, but if they refuse to show their friendly side, it’s best to leave them alone. The caiman lizard is not suitable for beginner reptile keepers because they tend to become easily stressed and aggressive. They may refuse to eat when they’re unhappy, and this can frustrate owners who are unfamiliar with handling reptiles.
3. Chameleons Get Easily Stressed by Handling
The chameleon is a beautiful exotic pet, but they aren’t as active or cuddly as a bearded dragon or leopard gecko. These slow-moving creatures are intriguing to many reptile owners, but they need consistency. Everything from their equipment to their enclosures is costly, but if you want to raise a happy and healthy chameleon, you must invest in the proper setup. These solitary animals should be provided a tall enclosure with plenty of branches and foliage to make them feel content and secure.
Chameleons should not be frequently handled, and they’re more of a pet that you admire on the other side of the glass. Some reptile keepers have had success taming their veiled and other types of chameleons, but it takes time and a lot of patience. Allowing them to crawl over your hand a few times a week is enough stimulation for a chameleon.
Chameleons benefit from a diet of insects such as mealworms, waxworms, and crickets. You can supplement their meals with calcium to ensure they’re receiving the right joint and bone nutrition.
4. Savannah Monitors Can Prove Temperamental
The Savannah monitor is one of the most popular lizards among seasoned reptile owners. These large lizards need enclosures of up to eight feet because they grow up to four feet in length. These monitors like to burrow in the sand, so always include a fair amount of substrate at least 25 inches deep. Savannah monitors are considered docile, but if they haven’t been bred in captivity or handled with care, they will become temperamental. They tend to bite, scratch, and whip their tails in defense. Only with experience can you determine when your monitor is getting agitated, which is the reason they don’t make good beginner pets.
Savannah monitors prefer temperatures between 95℉ and 100℉ that can be maintained with a heat mat or lamp. They’re quite sensitive to changes in humidity so keep tabs on moisture levels in the tank. Because keepers must maintain strict environmental conditions for them, they are not recommended for beginners. These powerful monitors eat a fair amount of food, and they’re known to accidentally consume their substrate while picking up bits and pieces. To avoid issues such as impactions, use substrates such as reptile carpeting they cannot ingest and always offer a fiber-rich diet to prevent constipation.
5. Large Constrictors Need Experienced Handlers
When it comes to snakes, experienced reptile owners are spoiled for choice. Some of the most demanding slithering companions include the constrictor family, but more specifically, large constrictors. The boa constrictor is the most common species of pet snake among knowledgeable keepers. These sizeable reptiles can be tricky to handle if you aren’t experienced in maintaining constrictors.
A boa constrictor will suffocate its prey by wrapping around it and slowly constricting it. Unfortunately, these strong snakes can wrap around the arms of their keepers and bite, causing immense damage. You must know how to handle these snakes that can grow larger than 10 feet and reach a weight of 100 lbs. They are costly to house but can be fed a diet of rodents. Some keepers feed live mice and rats, but this runs the risk of the snake being attacked and injured by the rodent.
6. Tokay Geckos Aren’t Naturally Friendly
The tokay gecko is brilliantly colored and an absolute beauty for the terrarium, but these cheeky geckos can pack a punch! The tokay is not a friendly reptile, and they become stressed very quickly, which leads to aggression. They won’t hesitate to leave a painful bite if they feel threatened.
These small reptiles require high humidity levels in their tanks and enjoy a woody habitat. This includes a tall enclosure allowing them to climb upwards across branches and leafy areas for coverage. The tokay gecko doesn’t like to be handled, but over time and with care, they tolerate human interaction.
Any of the above-mentioned reptiles will benefit from time and attention and, of course, will make extraordinary companions that can live for many years.
