| Reptiles are now more popular than dogs as pets, a | | | | around 10-15 years, but can live as old as 23 years in |
| fact that appeared as a result of a survey carried | | | | captivity. Like all rat snakes, corn snakes are |
| out in early 2008. guess the most popular reptiles | | | | non-venomous. |
| reptile pets. Like many things pet related, you need | | | | They have a diet mostly consisting of rodents, |
| to make the right choice, and just as choosing a | | | | mostly mice and rats, which they kill via constriction. |
| badly suited breed of dog can cause problems, the | | | | They are proficient climbers and may climb trees in |
| same is true of reptiles. | | | | search of birds and bats. Pet Corn Snakes are usually |
| The easiest to care for tend to be the most popular | | | | fed by their owners on a diet of easily available |
| also, and as such are great first reptiles, so here they | | | | rodents, mostly mice, while younger and smaller |
| are:- | | | | animals may eat live or dead rat or mouse pups of |
| Bearded Dragon | | | | various sizes. Frozen mice are ideal, as live prey can |
| Bearded Dragon is the name used for any agamid | | | | have the potential to carry disease or injure the |
| lizard in the genus Pogona. They are native to | | | | snake if it has not been raised on live prey. |
| Australia, and are sometimes the first reptile people | | | | The Corn Snake was one of the first snakes to be |
| get as pets. | | | | kept as pets by people, and is still one of the most |
| Bearded Dragons are popular pets, notably the | | | | popular. Large numbers are bred yearly to ensure |
| species Inland or Central Bearded Dragon. These | | | | that there is a large enough supply base, lowering the |
| reptiles are also affectionately called "Beardies" by | | | | need to collect specimens from the wild. keeping in |
| those who breed or raise them. They are a ideally | | | | groups is inadvisable in captivity, as these are |
| suited to children, because of their friendly and calm | | | | naturally solitary animals.breeders of Corn Snakes |
| nature, along with the low amount of work they | | | | have stressed the need for a housing with no chance |
| need to be cared for. | | | | of escape. Corn Snakes are top drawerescapees and |
| They have broad triangular heads and flatish bodies, | | | | will often find a way to escape from any place that |
| the adults can grow to approximately 18 to 24 inches | | | | is not properly suitable. More newbies lose their |
| from head to tail with males and females being of | | | | snakes to escapes than death. They are good at |
| comparable size, although males usually sport a bigger | | | | climbing, squeezing out of the smallest of holes, and |
| head and a thicker tail base than the females. | | | | can also use their bodies to force the screen top off |
| They have a distinctive set of spines running | | | | of a poorly-fitted aquarium. |
| horizontally from the head to the base of the tail. | | | | Royal or Ball Python |
| They range in colour from light tan to dark brown, | | | | The Royal Python or Python Regius is a |
| depending on their native soil, often with highlights of | | | | non-poisonous python species native to Africa. This is |
| black, brilliant red, or gold, and can change greatly | | | | the smallest of the African pythons and is popular in |
| depending upon their internal condition, mood or | | | | the pet trade. Adults normally do not grow to more |
| temperature darkening when cool. Some spefically | | | | than 90-120 cm in length, although some specimens |
| hand reared have been selectively bred for more | | | | have reached 152 cm and even 182 cm, around 6ft, |
| brilliant colorations. | | | | but this is very rare. The build is thinck while the head |
| They are omnivorous, capable of living on a wide | | | | is relatively small and the scales are smooth. |
| variety of food sources, including both insects and | | | | The colour pattern is typically black with light |
| vegetable food. A typical diet for captive beardies | | | | brown-green side and spinal blotches. The stomach is |
| includes leafy greens and vegetables, and regular | | | | a white or cream that may or may not include |
| meals of feeder insects. | | | | scattered black markings. However, pet industry |
| All species are from Australia, but they have been | | | | breeders have, through selective breeding, developed |
| exported the world over and bred successfully in | | | | many mutations with altered colours and patterns. |
| captivity. They live about 8?15 years with proper | | | | The name ball python is gained from the animal's |
| care in captivity, though some can live up to 20 | | | | tendency to curl into a ball when stressed or |
| years old | | | | frightened. The name royal python is believed to be |
| Corn Snake | | | | from the story that Cleopatra allegedly wore the |
| The corn snake, or red rat snake, is a North | | | | snake around her wrist. |
| American species of rat snake that subdue their small | | | | In the wild, the diet consists mostly of small rats |
| prey with constriction. The name "corn snake" comes | | | | mice and shrews. Younger animals have also been |
| from the fact that they have markings on their | | | | known to feed on birds. Pets usually do well on |
| underside that looks like corn. They are found | | | | domestic rats and mice, either live, pre-killed, or |
| throughout the south-eastern and central United | | | | frozen-thawed |
| States. Their placid nature, reluctance to bite, | | | | There are of course many more reptile breeds kept |
| moderate adult size 1.2 to 1.8 metres, attractive | | | | as pets, and no doubt popularity will change, but any |
| markings, and comparatively simple care make them | | | | of the three named above will make great pets, and |
| popular pet snakes. In the wild, they usually live | | | | a great introduction to keeping reptiles. |