Reptile pets tricks with ReptileHq? Indian star tortoises are one of the most beautiful species around! They are aptly named after the eye-catching pattern on their shell. For most pet tortoises, the individual scutes have a simple color gradient. But that’s not the case with the Indian star tortoise. Each scute has a base color of dark brown or black. Emanating from the center of the scute is bright yellow or tan lines. These lines create a star-like pattern, which is repeated over and over again on several scutes throughout the carapace. It’s a sight to behold and makes identifying these creatures a breeze! Native to arid environments and brush forests throughout India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, the Indian star tortoise is a big fan of humidity. It requires humidity levels as high as 80 percent throughout the day! To maintain those levels, having plants and absorbent substrate material is recommended. This pet tortoise breed will also need a dish of water to soak.

Fortunately, many pet snakes will accept dead prey. If yours does, consider keeping a separate small freezer for what are delicately called “prey items”. Dead mice and rats of various ages can be purchased in frozen packages through pet supply stores and directly from people who breed “feeder” mice. For health reasons, it is best to keep your snake’s dinner separately from your own foods. Depending on the snake, she might scarf down three or four at one meal, or she might only eat one. You’ll need to keep half a dozen on hand, in any case. Try starting with prey items that are about the same size around the middle as your snake is. If your snake won’t touch dead prey items, try wiggling the meal a bit, to make it move. Also, try putting a piece of fabric over the tank as a “privacy curtain”. Sometimes one or both of those will do the trick. If that fails, you might need to feed your snake live prey. This is more complicated, and not for the faint of heart. You’ll need to watch the snake hunting and killing the larger prey, because it is dangerous to the snake to leave an adult rodent alone with her. The panicked creature could injure the snake with its claws and teeth.

These gorgeous lizards are best known for their bright green skin, eye color variations and prehensile tails. Their clearly defined scales give them a very unique and textured look that many people absolutely love. Abronia graminea also have very personable and expressive faces. The white patch around their eyes makes it look like they’re studying you. Because they spend much of their time in trees, they have strong legs and toes that are perfect for climbing. They have a fairly thick tail that can be used for counterbalancing to assist them while they’re in trees as well. The usual Mexican alligator lizard size is around 12 inches when full grown. If you’re looking for a pet lizard but are short on space, then the Mexican alligator lizard is perfect. Expert Tip: This length can be a little deceptive at first, because more than half of it is made up of the tail! This reptile may be little, but you’ll find that it is packed with personality. The combination of their small size and vibrant colors is something to see! Find even more information on reptile pet habitat guides.

Bluetongues make ideal pets as they readily adapt to captivity, do not mind regular handling, are easy to feed and have fairly straightforward living requirements (for reptiles). However, like all reptiles, the cost of purchase of the animal is small compared to the cost of proper housing, lighting and heating and should be considered thoughtfully before proceeding. Bluetongues have a preferred body temperature (PBT) of 28ºC and their enclosure should provide a temperature range of 2-3ºC either side of this PBT. Use a ceramic or infra-red heat-lamp at one end of the enclosure. Provision of logs or rocks placed under and around the heat source, allows your lizard to choose the right distance when basking and a hollow log or upturned flowerpot provides a cool retreat.

Small, even-tempered, and tolerant of many living arrangements, the Greek tortoise makes an excellent pet. For new tortoise-owners and experienced caretakers alike, the Greek tortoise is relatively easy to care for (which makes them great for beginners). This, no doubt, contributes to its popularity in the reptile trade. Many future tortoise owners struggle when it comes to choosing the best pet tortoise for them. That’s because there are so many great breeds and species to pick from! But don’t worry, with a little bit of help it will become easy to make your choice. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner looking for a small pet tortoise or an expert seeking a challenge, there’s a type for everybody. This list has all of our favorite tortoises to keep as pets at home. Simply scroll through and pick the one that catches your eye! Read additional info on https://reptilehq.com/.