An Introduction to Tropical Pets

Keeping tropical pets can be a very rewarding hobby. They are both beautiful and fascinating, and people rarely stop at just one.

Amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates are some of the most common classes of animal that people keep, and in this article we look at some of the things you should consider before taking the plunge and getting a delightful new companion.

The first thing you should make sure of is that you are in compliance with the law, as the trade in some animals is illegal, and by breaking trade regulations you could be threatening their existence. The safest route to go is to buy an animal bred in captivity. As well as being in the spirit of the conservation movement, captive-bred specimens tend to be tamer and quicker to adapt to life as pets. If you are determined to go for something really exotic then the best thing to do is check on the regulations with the local wildlife agency or herpetology club.

You will want to have your pet’s housing up and running before you bring it home as exotic pets tend to be very sensitive to temperature and humidity, and if an aquatic set-up is involved then you have to let the water age for a minimum of one week.

The best place to start would be at your local herpetological club. Not only will you meet genuine breeders, but you will also get some great advice on just how to care for your animal from fellow enthusiasts. Your local pet store is less likely to have the expertise needed to ensure the pets it is selling are healthy so if you are going to take this route you need to make sure that your pet store is experienced in exotics.

General tips when choosing any exotic pet are to select the alert looking specimen with bright eyes, and make sure that it eats well. You don’t want to end up with the runt of a litter however cute it may seem. If an animal has a dirty vent, a fatty tail, or has an unusual walk then it should be avoided.  

If you want a cuddly little pet then you should probably stick with lap dogs. Many exotic pets such as red-eyed tree frogs and scorpions are best admired in a terrarium rather than handled. Some amphibians have toxic skin so certainly shouldn’t be handled, especially if you have cuts on your hand. Lizards make far better pets for handling, although some of them have delicate skin that tears easily so you need to take care. If you do handle your pet ensure that all exits are sealed so that it cannot escape.

Vivariums can be set up as features in themselves that recreate tropical habitats in miniature. They can be made of glass, wood or plastic. Glass offers good visibility, but the most attractive designs can be expensive, and they cannot be stacked on top of one another if you have multiple pets. Wood vivariums can be made pretty easily, and they are good as long as you don’t need to recreate a very humid environment. Finally there is plastic, which is a good flexible option, but you can’t safely use heat pads so you would only want this option if you have your pet in a room that is regulated at a suitable temperature.

Artificial heat and light are important tools in keeping your pet happy. Herptiles thermoregulate which means that they maintain their body temperature by moving between different temperature zones so you need to provide areas of different temperature. A heat pad and thermostat are essential pieces of equipment. Lamps can also be used to provide heat.

The lighting that you provide will vary from species to species. Some animals will require a strict division between night and day, whereas for others a constant low level of light works well. If you have an animal that need natural sunlight in order to develop properly then you can use ultra violet lighting to supplement natural sunlight.

Once you get a tropical pet you should identify a vet nearby that is familiar with exotic pet health needs. If you take a bearded dragon along to a vet who services nothing other than cats, dogs and hamsters he is unlikely to provide the level of care your pet deserves. You should also research the common health issues that your pet may face so that you are able to identify them at an early stage:

• Abscesses: These can be surgically removed when they appear under the scales of your snake or lizard
• Sloughing issues: if you do not have the right humidity you will find that your pet may not shed its skin properly. A humidity chamber should be provided if your pet is not sloughing cleanly
• Dehydration: this can be avoided by providing sufficient clean water that can be easily accessed
• Blisters: In vivariums with an overly wet substrate snakes can be subject to blisters
• External parasites: Keep an eye out for mites on reptiles and if you find them use special pet-friendly disinfectant to clean your pet and its vivarium
• Bacterial infections: This is most common in amphibians and a regular supply of clean water can go along way in preventing this
• Obesity: Just like humans a tropical pet can become obese if it has too many fatty foods. You should take care to provide a balanced meal.
• Metabolic bone disease: Metabolic bone disease can be mitigated by encouraging the natural production of vitamin D3 by using a UVB light, and dusting food with a D3 vitamin supplement.

Tropical pets are herbivores, carnivores omnivores or insectivores. For all of these a balance of fat, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins should be provided.

For herbivores you must be careful that all the vegetables and fruit are free from pesticides. The types of vegetables and fruit that go down well include blackberries, apple, lettuce, carrot, spinach, roots and tomato.

Insectivores can be fed with live food such as locusts or crickets. Other popular insect food includes waxworms and fruit flies. These foods are available from specialist suppliers. An alternative is to collect your own, but there is always the risk that these insects may have been exposed to pesticides that would be dangerous to your pet.

Feeding carnivores should be done humanely by giving them defrosted animals that have already been killed. You may need to twirl dead rodents using long chopsticks to encourage snakes to accept dead food. Mice and rats are the most commonly used food, and they come in various sizes from baby pinkies to big rats. You should chose the size suitable for your pet.

Supplements are increasing common and some lizards will need to have their food dusted in calcium prior to giving it to them in order for them to develop a solid bone structure. If you find that your pet is not eating it may be because they are sloughing or in some way unhappy or distressed in their environment. If you are concerned you should take them to the vet.