Reptiles Revisited

I really found it funny that so many people were afraid of the animals that were the least likely to do anything besides sitting there looking cute (in my opinion). Time and time again, I would watch people curiously approach one of the lizards to see what it is and then quickly back away, sometimes also screaming or gasping. I’ve never understood why people had such an aversion to the lizards. I’ve found them to be really enjoyable pets because they are so calm and laid back that not much really bothers them. I’m mostly talking about the blue-tongued skink and the bearded dragon for those qualities. We had to stop taking the geckos because they were really too small to be manhandled regularly by the unafraid people; the geckos would still never bite or scratch to show their displeasure, but they would try to squirm away from someone handling them roughly, usually resulting in the person squeezing them harder.

This cute little guy is a leopard gecko! The image is taken from the National Zoo’s website. Click the picture to go to their fact page.

Leopard Geckos

While you can find these guys in pretty much any pet store, that doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone should have one. In fact, one of the leopard  geckos out at the farm was rescued from neglectful owners. Most reptiles and amphibians require a level of care much, much higher than that for a cat or dog. Before buying any pet, be sure to do your homework about the animal’s needs and lifespan. Seriously consider whether or not you will be able to provide a good life for  your pet. This website is a good place to start for geckos.

If you are willing to dedicate the time, effort, and finances, then these little guys really do make rewarding pets. Geckos seem to really enjoy just sitting on your hand (if they feel safe!) and even being pet gently on their backs. They’re really fun to watch when they’re hunting their cricket prey. It sounds a little gruesome, but it’s fascinating to watch them practice their predatory nature at feeding time. If you can’t handle buying and feeding your pets crickets, mealworms, or pinky mice regularly, then don’t get one. I do have to mention, though, it’s a little bit cute to watch one of our geckos, Lizzie, because she twitches the end of her tail just before she strikes.

This is a Northern Blue-Tongued Skink at the National Zoo. The photo is courtesy of their website. Click the photo to go to the National Zoo’s fact page.

Blue-Tongued Skink

Bella, our blue-tongued skink, is another one of my favorites. They look a lot like snakes with legs, but don’t let that scare you! I do really like snakes, although I’ve never cared for one, but many people see the skink and shrink away as if she’s going to strike. If you’re not put off by the scales, though, she’s one of the most relaxed and calm animals that we have. Skinks are a bit larger than most other lizards, and I find that larger animals tend to be easier to handle because they aren’t scared quite as easily as the little guys. Unfortunately, Bella lost her toes before we got her when her previous owner left a male in her enclosure too long after breeding. It’s very important to research the animal you’re interested in before you decide to get it so that you know whether or not it needs companions or if it should be kept by itself. A good place to look for information on blue-tongued skinks is this website.

Skinks are really interesting to watch because they “taste” the air with their blue tongues much like a snake does to sense their environment. They are really interesting to pet and feel too. Many people think snakes are slimy, and they associate that with other scaled animals as well. However, neither snakes nor skinks are actually “slimy” in that they don’t secrete anything through their skin. They feel incredibly smooth, though, so it’s easy to see why people think they are slimy. I promise you, your hands will stay dry!

This is a bearded dragon basking under the heat lamp. Those claws don’t look too bad, do they? Photo from beardeddragon.org. Click the picture to check them out!

Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons make for really fun pets if you’re ready for the commitment of owning a lizard. They look really scary and spiky, and they feel like rough sandpaper, but they are very unlikely to actually try to hurt you. Some younger kids or elderly people might be too sensitive for their rather sharp claws, but I’m not hurt by them, and most people are okay to hold them. They really don’t try to scratch or anything, but they use their claws to hold on, so if you’re not fully supporting their bodies and feet, they are going to try to grip on so they don’t fall. The spikes on their bodies aren’t really sharp; those are more for decoration to make these lizards look unappealing to predators. In general, if you’re holding one correctly and calmly, they are happy to just sit in your hands forever.

These guys eat crickets and meal worms with dark greens and some veggies available in their dish. With a lizard cage, one end should be the “warm” end where the heat lamp is, and the other side should be much cooler so that your lizard can regulate it’s temperature by adjusting it’s position in the enclosure. All cold-blooded animals (which means they do not produce their own heat) need this outside source of heat to move, eat, and digest their food. When bearded dragons are adequately warmed, they can be very active and fun to watch. That being said, they are also very laid back and a little lazy, so if your pet is just sitting there, it might not be a heat issue, but it could be a sign that their enclose is too small. Click on the picture or here to go to a good website on bearded dragon care.

This is a sulcata tortoise at the Oakland Zoo that is slightly smaller than Sahara. Click on the picture to go to the Oakland Zoo’s fact page.

Sulcata (African Spurred) Tortoise

I saved the best for last. We also have a sulcata tortoise named Sahara. She’s only 12 years old, but she’s already over 35 pounds and about a foot across (almost a foot and a half long!). I say only 12 years old because these guys can live to be over a hundred years old and grow to over a hundred pounds. This is not an animal for someone who’s not prepared to accommodate the massive size of an older tortoise or include them in his/her will. Read more about their care here.

If you are ready for such a massive commitment, however, they are fun to have around. Sahara has free range in the fenced-in yard by the house (during the summer), so she moves around almost constantly during the day after she warms up in the sun. I would have never imagined how fast she could move or how much ground she could cover. We’re starting to have trouble picking her up because she’s so heavy and quite big, but she manages to move herself all over. I really like sitting outside and watching her munch on the grass or push rocks, chairs, food bowls, really whatever’s in her way. She’s like a little bulldozer. Her shell is really fun to feel too, because it’s got an interesting texture. It’s ridged and a little bumpy. The spikes on her shell and legs make her look really interesting too. I just really enjoy having her around. It’s really fun when everyone gasps in amazement or runs to tell their friends about her when we bring her out.

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