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Best Reptile Pets for Children
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Considering getting your child a pet reptile? Reptiles make great pets for kids that are interested in them, need a pet that takes up less space or are learning the responsibility that goes into taking care of an animal.
What are the Benefits of Giving Your Child a Pet Reptile?
Kids love pets, so they are a great opportunity to introduce a source of pure joy to your child, giving them memories that stick with them for the rest of their lives. Some of the benefits of giving your kid a pet to care for include:
- Responsibility - Pets involve a lot of work, responsibility and commitment. Giving a child this large of a task (with your help, of course) is a great way to teach them responsibility. It can develop routines for children who need more structure while giving them a living, breathing thing that they are responsible for.
- Built-in Best Friend - Companionship is an amazing thing to have at any age. Pet reptiles can be your child’s built-in best friend.
- Lower Maintenance Pet - While not all reptiles are low-maintenance pets, some can be lower maintenance than other pets like dogs. They are still a lot of responsibility but might involve more manageable care tasks rather than going on walks or taking them to potty outside. Instead, the child is responsible for cleaning out their habitat and making sure their reptile’s home is in tip-top shape, which may be more manageable for some families.
- Great for Small Spaces - If you really want to give your child a pet but do not have the space for one, a reptile can be a great option. Some reptiles are great for apartments or other close living situations where a pet doesn't have a lot of room to run around.
Easiest Reptiles for Kids to Take Care Of
- Leopard Geckos - Leopard geckos make great beginner pets for children. They grow up to 10” and live for 15-20 years. They are small, don’t require too many reptile supplies and are relatively easy to care for. Their 20-gallon (75 liters) habitats do not take up too much space, are relatively easy to set up, and only need to be cleaned out once a week. Their terrarium temperatures and humidity levels need to be maintained, but that is easy when you have a reptile habitat thermometer and hygrometer. They eat things like crickets, hornworms, mealworms and other worms and are overall a great starter reptile pet for anyone. Not to mention they have the cutest spots!
- Corn Snakes - While snakes are not everyone’s cup of tea, there are some snakes that are harmless and make great reptile pets for kids. The corn snake is a great beginner pet that grows up to 48-60” and lives for 18-23 years. They are a long commitment, but they aren’t hard to care for. Their habitat should be at least 2/3 the size of their bodies with a secure lid because they are master escape artists. Their habitats only need to be cleaned every other week and, just like other reptiles, can have their tank’s temperature and humidity monitored by thermometers and hygrometers. UVB bulbs timers can help simulate daytime and nighttime hours. Their habitats are really fun to decorate with different hiding spots and terrarium decor. Corn snakes eat a reptile food diet of frozen mice or rats that have been thawed, so they might be better for someone with a stronger stomach!
- Russian Tortoise - A Russian tortoise is another easy reptile for kids to take care of. These pets take up a bit more space than the others, growing up to 10” and living up to 50 years. They need at least a 50-gallon (190 liters) tank with a screened lid, UV bulb, light fixture and timer to create a 12 hour day and night cycle, a heated basking spot to soak up the warmth, reptile-safe substrate, places to hide, a food dish and a place to cool off. Their habitat temperature and humidity can also be measured using a thermometer and a hygrometer. Russian tortoises rely on a diet of power greens, pellet tortoise food and fruits.
There are a lot more details that go into creating the perfect habitats for these pets, along with giving them the best life ever. With that in mind, any one of these pet reptiles would be easy for a kid to take care of (with the supervision of an adult). Consider a reptile starter kit to get all of the beginner essentials and bring your new pet home.
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