Reptile Information

Commonly Asked Questions About Reptiles

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Q: What do reptiles eat?

A: The food that reptiles eat is as individual as the reptiles themselves. Many reptiles are strictly vegetarian, but many more eat insects and small prey animals. Some even eat a mixture of both!

 

Q: Is it really possible to hand-tame a reptile?

A: Absolutely! It may take time and effort, especially with some of the breeds that are traditionally more aggressive. But with work and patience, there’s no real reason any reptile cannot be hand-tamed.

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Q: I was told that my reptile lives natively in the desert, so I don't need to offer it water. Is this true?

A: Absolutely not! Many pet stores claim that certain reptiles live in the desert even when they don't (bearded dragons are a perfect example--they do NOT live in the deserts of Australia, but in the rocky midlands between the desert and rainforest). But even reptiles that do live in deserts, such as uromastyx, must still be provided with fresh water daily. It is possible to maintain an arid (low humidity) environment even with a bowl of water in the corner of its habitat. EVERY animal needs water, and assuming they're getting enough moisture from their daily handful of greens can lead to severe dehydration and a very painful death.

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If you have a question you’d like answered, please let us know!  We will continue adding more questions and answers about reptiles to this page over time.