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Pet choice most often is very personal and depends on a person's lifestyle, living conditions, and personal preference. Whereas cats and dogs rule in this area, reptiles are fast gaining as much popularity among enthusiasts. This is not a new fad really but, for an increasing number of reasons, reptiles are just the superior pet. From their limited maintenance needs to their unique sense of wonderment, reptiles offer something quite different from any other pet. This blog will venture into why reptiles make great pets and the top 10 reptiles that one can keep, weighing their positive aspects against the negatives.

Why Reptiles Make the Perfect Pets?

One of the most prominent reasons reptiles are taking precedence over other animals as pets is due to their low-maintenance care. Compared to dogs, which have to be walked day and night, and cats, which require frequent attention, reptiles have low energy. They don't need any exercise each day, and many species can survive on a once-weekly or twice-weekly feed. This makes them especially suited to busy people who simply don't have the time or energy to spend on a high-maintenance pet.

1. Pet Size

Another positive of reptiles in lieu of pets is size. Many of the types of animals, like geckos and small snakes, take up a fraction of the space a dog or a cat would in a household. This makes them great for apartment livers or those with a smaller home. Most of their enclosures can be modified to mimic their habitats, making them look interesting in your living area.

2. Health Factors

Health factors also render the reptile a good interest animal. Reptiles have no fur and dander, thus being hypoallergenic. This is good for people who want to keep pets but suffer from allergies. They make for organisms quite unspeaking, unlike dogs that bark or cats that spell in the weirdest hours; the reptile sets about its business in the quietest way, providing peace and quiet to your home.

Top 10 Best Reptiles to Keep as Pets

1. Bearded Dragon

Arguably the most popular pet reptile, bearded dragons are so due to their mild nature and ease of care. They are very social and really enjoy company; bearded dragons are also omnivorous, which allows some flexibility in their diet.

2. Leopard Gecko

Leopard Geckos arise to be the first most recommended reptile species for beginner reptile keepers. Generally speaking, these small, robust reptiles have maximally prolonged lifespans exceeding 20 years with a good quality of care provided. Compared to other facts about Leopard Geckos, the interesting thing is that they can still save fat in their tails, which allows them to live for a long time without food.

3. Corn Snake

Corn snakes are the best variety of snakes to keep. They are economical enough to maintain and certainly not venomous, so grip and hold them in your hands. They come in such great patterns and colors; from bright oranges to deep reds, many are colorful.

4. Ball Python

Another favorite with snake enthusiasts, ball pythons have a very calm temperament. Besides, less prone to biting, they are easy to handle. Ball pythons adapt quite well, and they can live over 30 years in captivity.

5. Crested Gecko

Among the many favorite reptiles to keep in a home, they are unique in appearance because they have crests of skin that run from their eyes to their tail. They are easy to care for and do not have stinky excrement. They are also easily fed commercial food meant for geckos.

6. Russian Tortoise

Tortoises can be extremely rewarding pets, and maybe the Russian tortoise is one of the most manageable. They remain small, are hardy, and live long lives of up to 50 years. Being herbivores, they require a diet that is high in leafy greens.

7. Chameleon

Among reptiles, chameleons are quite impressive due to their color-changing capabilities. They need a bit more out of the way in terms of special care, like very spotty humidity and temperature conditions; however, the beauty of such reptiles, combined with a lot of time often making unusual behaviors is certainly worth the effort.

8. Blue-Tongued Skink

This reptile is known for its big size and blue tongue, which became a sign of their friendly behavior. Blue-tongued skinks are viewed as relatively big lizards, though said to be affable and manageable. They are omnivores viewing a diet full of fruits, vegetables, and insects.

9. Red-Eared Slider

This is much common among those willing to keep a turtle. It is semi-aquatic and hence needs both a source of water and a basking area to bask in. The active nature it has now makes them so appealing.

10. Green Anole

Green anoles are small, active lizards. They stand relatively simple in care. Known for their special ability to change colour from green to brown, and for being active in behaviour, really makes them an amusing kind of pets.

Advantages of Having Reptiles as Pets

Among the first benefits in the list of keeping reptiles as pets is that they are of low maintenance. 

1. Reptiles do not, at most, need feeding and cleaning, as this would require mammals, for example, which might be a bit demanding, always wanting grooming or attention. This makes them a perfect choice for one probably short on free time but looking still for a companion in a pet.
2. Another important advantage is that reptiles are hypoallergenic. They don't shed fur or produce dander, so they are safe to keep for people with allergies. It allows such people to switch their world as a pet owner, although constrained by not keeping another commonly kept pet such as a cat or dog.
3. Others are, therefore, relatively long-lived, maybe compared to other pets. Most reptiles turtles and tortoises, to be exact others can last more than several decades, establishing a long-lasting companionship. In connection with this factor, due to the little maintenance that they require, reptiles live a long time, meaning they represent a good investment.
4. Reptiles can also be very educational. Owning a reptile can be very informing in a large range about biology to ecology and behavior of animals that is exactly what makes families with children special because every child will be able to draw from it his curiosity and respect for nature.
5. Reptiles are quiet pets. As opposed to dogs that bark or cats that meow, reptiles are always discreet while going about their business. This makes them ideal for people who live in apartments and those who have close neighbors, as there is no risk of them being a disturbance.

Disadvantages of Reptiles as Pets

Reptiles, despite their many benefits, have their fair share of drawbacks as pets. 

1. One big bummer is the need for a specialized environment since most reptiles need precise temperatures, humidity, and lighting to thrive. This means their enclosures have to be kept just right, which can be quite time-consuming and reasonably expensive. 
2. Another downside that lies ahead is not being able to interact with reptiles to the fullest, compared with other common pets. 
3. A few reptile species are ept to handling, like the bearded dragon. Still, the majority of them are solitary in nature. Reptiles do not recognize or try to communicate with humans as dogs or cats automatically do, so it sometimes is a disappointment for its owners in an attempt to experience a higher human-pet interactive experience. 
4. Their unique dietary requirements also make reptiles very difficult to look after. Most of them require live food, such as insects or small rodents, and this may not be very palatable to some people. 
5. More time, effort, and expertise may eventually be involved in the process of getting these reptiles to feed.
6. Health issues with reptiles may also be a cause for concern. Because they are classed as exotic pets, finding the right vet society with reptile care may be more of a hassle. 
7. Reptiles also carry, in most case scenarios, salmonella, the kind of dangerous bacteria that can make some mostly children, the aged, and those who are just immune compromised very ill.

Lastly, some of these reptiles have a long life span, for the owner's advantage and disadvantage. Certainly, this is generally an advantage, but for some, owning a pet that will need care for a couple of decades is something with which they must be at ease.

Conclusion 

Reptiles make great, unique, exciting, and highly rewarding pets due to the fact that they are very low maintenance. Truly, their various appearances and behaviors present inexhaustible prospects for observation and learning, making them a fervent pastime to inquisitive minds. But then on the other hand, potential pet reptile owners should be aware beforehand with the kind of care that these animals should receive so that commitment will never be neglected but always handled with great deal.

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