October 21st is Reptile Awareness Day! Reptiles may never be as popular as dogs and cats, but they do have some great qualities that make them perfect animal companions for many people. A local Greater Cincinnati veterinarian lists a few things that reptiles have going for them in this article.
Dogs are great, but they need quite a bit of training. Cats, well, they usually train us. Reptiles should be handled enough to keep them tame and friendly, but they don’t need any formal education.
Reptiles are also good pets in that they don’t make noise. Your neighbors won’t be complaining that your snake was yowling all day while you were at work!
You’ve heard the saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Reptiles can be very pretty: they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and many of them sport very vibrant and striking colors and patterns. A properly-decorated cage can also be an eye-catching decoration, particularly if it incorporates plants and rocks.
Reptiles need close monitoring, but they are quite easy to care for. Some don’t even eat every day. There may be many times that your only daily task is providing fresh water and removing any waste. Of course, care needs vary widely from reptile to reptile. An iguana needs daily ‘salads’ and several supervised soaking sessions a week. A corn snake, however, may only need to eat once every 7 to 10 days.
One benefit of the fact that reptiles don’t eat very often? Less mess. And, as long as you keep their habitat clean, you likely won’t have any foul smells to contend with. Your pet snake also isn’t going to scratch your sofa or eat your shoes.
Reptiles may not be as charismatic as dogs or cats, but they do have personalities. Some seem to enjoy being handled and held, while others prefer to be admired from a distance.
Reptiles are great, but they are not the right choice for everyone. One of the downsides of owning a reptile is feeding. They eat things many people think of as creepy-crawlies. This can be a dealbreaker for some. Just be sure to do plenty of research before adopting one.
Do you have questions about reptile care? Contact us, your Greater Cincinnati animal clinic, today!
