Australian Reptile Park employee thinks reptiles make perfect pets
AUSTRALIAN Reptile Park’s Renee Gomez thinks reptiles, like Enzie the green tree python, can be a great pet.
Central Sydney
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REPTILES are not cuddly; they’re above all that fluffy stuff, Australian Reptile Park’s Renee Gomez says.
Gomez thinks reptiles, like Enzie the green tree python, can be a great pet.
“Snakes don’t bark, they don’t lose hair, you only have to feed them once a week and they only do a poo once a week,” the reptile keeper says.
“They take some training and time but they are really are great animals.”
But before you open your home to a pet of the cold-blooded variety there are a few things you should know.
“Reptiles have very different requirements to those of most traditional pets, so you will need to consider a range of issues before jumping in,” Gomez says.
“Without an appropriate level of preparation and commitment the novelty factor will soon wear off.”
Before you even start your reptile journey you will need to apply for a special licence that costs about $50.
Gomez suggests doing some research on the type of reptile you want whether that be a native snake, lizard, gecko or turtle.
Although reptiles are relatively simple to keep, they do have specific requirements to stay happy and healthy.
Because reptiles cannot produce their own body heat and instead rely on outside sources to warm or cool them, providing the proper temperature range in their habitats is important.
Some reptiles may also need ladders to climb, decorative rocks to hide behind and tree branches to explore, Gomez says.
In the case of snakes one of the other things you need to consider is there are no vegetarian snakes so if you are a bit squeamish about feeding your pet whole animals, whether that be alive or frozen, this might not be the ideal fit for you.
If you love the idea of a cold-blooded pet but are not in the position to offer one a home you can adopt a reptile, like the Fijian banded iguana, a Galapagos tortoise or even a freshwater crocodile, at the Australian Reptile Park.
You can help care for your adopted pet and even meet them at the adoption day barbecues.
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