| s are now more popular than dogs as pets, a fact that | | | | are non-venomous. |
| appeared as a result of a survey carried out in early | | | | They have a diet mainly consisting of rodents, mostly |
| 2008. guess the most popular reptiles reptile pets. Like | | | | mice and rats, which they kill via crushing. They are |
| many things pet related, you need to make the right | | | | accomplished climbers and may climb trees in search |
| choice, and just as choosing a badly suited breed of | | | | of birds and bats. Pet Corn Snakes are usually fed by |
| dog can cause problems, the same is true of reptiles. | | | | their keepers on a diet of commercially available |
| The easiest to care for tend to be the most popular | | | | rodents, predominantly mice, while younger and smaller |
| also, and as such are great first reptiles, so here they | | | | snakes may eat live or dead rat or mouse pups of |
| are:- | | | | various sizes. Frozen mice are preferable, as live prey |
| Bearded Dragon | | | | can possibly carry disease or injure the snake if it has |
| Bearded Dragon is the name used for any agamid | | | | not been raised on live prey. |
| lizard in the genus Pogona. They are native to | | | | The Corn Snake was one of the first snakes to be |
| Australia, and are sometimes the first reptile people | | | | kept in captivity by people, and remains one of the |
| get as pets. | | | | most popular. Large volumes are bred annually to |
| Bearded Dragons are popular pets, notably the | | | | ensure that there is a constant supply, lowering the |
| species Inland or Central Bearded Dragon. These | | | | need to collect specimens from the wild. keeping more |
| animals are also affectionately called "Beardies" by | | | | than one together is inadvisable in captivity, as these |
| those who breed or raise them. They are a ideally | | | | are naturally solitary animals. |
| suited to children, because of their friendly and calm | | | | Owners of Corn Snakes have emphasised a cage |
| nature, along with the low amount of work they need | | | | with no chance of escape. Corn Snakes are excellent |
| to be cared for. | | | | escape artists and will often get out of any home that |
| Beardies have broad triangular heads and flattened | | | | is not properly secured. More first timers lose their |
| bodies, the adults growto approximately 18 to 24 | | | | snakes to escapes than death. They are good at |
| inches from head to tail with males and females being | | | | climbing, squeezing out of tiny holes, and can also use |
| of comparable size, although males usually sport a | | | | their bodies to push the lid off of a poorly-fitted |
| larger head and a thicker tail base than the females. | | | | aquarium. |
| Beardies have a distinctive set of spines running | | | | Royal or Ball Python |
| horizontally from the head to the base of the tail. They | | | | The Royal Python or Python Regius is a |
| range in colour from light tan to dark brown, depending | | | | non-venomous python species found in Africa. This is |
| on their native soil, often with highlights of black, brilliant | | | | the smallest of the African pythons and is popular as a |
| red, or gold, and can change greatly depending upon | | | | pet snake. Adults generally do not grow to more than |
| their internal condition, mood or temperature darkening | | | | 90-120 cm in length, although some examples have |
| when cool. Some spefically hand reared have been | | | | reached 152 cm and even 182 cm, around 6ft, but this |
| selectively bred for more brilliant colorations. | | | | is very rare. The build is stocky while the head is |
| Beardies are omnivorous, capable of subsisting on a | | | | relatively small and the scales are smooth. |
| wide variety of food sources, including both insects | | | | The colour marking is typically black with light |
| and vegetable food. A typical diet for captive beardies | | | | brown-green side and dorsal blotches. The underside is |
| includes leafy greens and vegetables, and regular | | | | a white or cream that sometimes can include |
| meals of feeder insects. | | | | scattered black markings. However, owners and |
| 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 different colours and patterns. |
| captivity. Beardies live about 8—15 years with | | | | The name ball python comes from the snakes |
| proper care in captivity, though some can live up to 20 | | | | tendency to curl into a ball when worried or scared. |
| years old | | | | The name royal python is rumoured to have come |
| Corn Snake | | | | from the story that Cleopatra allegedly wore the |
| The corn snake, or red rat snake, is a North American | | | | snake around her wrist. |
| species of rat snake that subdue their small prey with | | | | Ordinarily when wild, the diet consists mostly of small |
| constriction. The name "corn snake" comes from the | | | | mammals, such as African soft-furred rats, shrews |
| fact that they have markings on their underside that | | | | and striped mice. Younger snakes have also been |
| looks like corn. They are found throughout the | | | | known to feed on birds. Captive pets usually do well |
| south-eastern and central United States. Their placid | | | | on domestic rats and mice, either live, pre-killed, or |
| nature, reluctance to bite, moderate adult size 1.2 to 1.8 | | | | frozen-thawed |
| metres, attractive markings, and comparatively simple | | | | There are obviously many more reptile types kept as |
| care make them popular pet snakes. In the wild, they | | | | pets, and no doubt the favourites will change, but any |
| usually live around 10-15 years, but can live as old as | | | | of the three named above will make great pets, and a |
| 23 years in captivity. Like all rat snakes, corn snakes | | | | great introduction to keeping reptiles. |