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Reptiles & Amphibians

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Reptiles for Sale

Reptiles are attractive as pets because they are unique and exotic-looking. Some pet owners appreciate a hands-off approach. Others desire animal contact but not necessarily the warm and cuddly type. While many people are unsure of how to care for reptiles, others look forward to the challenge. Reptiles may not be as emotional as a dog or a bird and certainly do not seek our company. However, acquiring a reptile for sale provides an appeal and satisfaction not often experienced.

Popular Types of Reptiles for Sale

When you think to yourself, “I found reptiles for sale near me,” you must also be considering what type you might like to care for. The three major groups of reptiles from which you can choose are snakes, lizards, and turtles. Snakes, while descended from lizards, have developed into a separate branch. They are not legless lizards because they lack eyelids and external ears. However, a few snakes like boas have vestigial hind claws or spurs. Snakes or serpents have an extended thorax and short tail and neck. Lizards have flexible skulls like snakes, but they do not have the serpent’s degree of jaw mobility. There are legless species, but most lizards have four powerful limbs. Turtles have a hard or leathery shell that encloses and protects their vital organs. This carapace is a modification of the ribs and part of the pelvis. Tortoises are a subgroup of turtles characterized by a terrestrial habitat, elephantine hind legs, and a vegetarian diet. All reptiles have similar care requirements with differing diets.

Snakes

Find Snakes for Sale

Ball Pythons and their Morphs
  • Appearance – Varies, morphs add a huge variety of colors
  • Lifespan – 20 to 40 years
  • Size – 3 to 6 feet
  • Diet – Rodents, live or frozen and thawed
  • Environment – 40 to 60% humidity; 78 degrees Fahrenheit at cool end, 95 degrees for warm side of tank; Moss or mulch; 8 to 12 hour lighting, provide nocturnal conditions (a break from white light)
  • Character – Docile, shy as babies, will engage as adults
Corn Snake
  • Appearance – Variable colors possible; Orange to brownish yellow with red splotches
  • Lifespan – 25 years
  • Size – 2 to 6 feet
  • Diet
  • Environment – 20-gallon tank or larger; 85 degrees Fahrenheit hot side, 75 degrees Fahrenheit cool side; normal not direct light, heat source; “Hides” on cool and warm sides
  • Character – Gentle, easy to handle
California King Snake
  • Appearance – Similar to a corn snake but banded instead of marbled; come in various colors including black and white as well as black, yellow, and black
  • Lifespan – 20 years or more
  • Size – 3 to 4 feet
  • Environment – 20-gallon tank, water bowl, heat source (cold end in the 70s and hot end in the 80s ideal), lighting but does not need to be special
  • Character – Docile, may be slightly more aggressive than corn snake

Lizards

Find Lizards for sale

Leopard Gecko
  • Appearance – Yellowish and white all with dark spots; more exotic colors with spots also possible
  • Lifespan – 10 to 20 years
  • Size – 7 to 8 inches
  • Environment – 12 hr lighting, 2 to 7% UVB; 30 to 40% humidity
  • Diet – Crickets, waxworms, other insects; Need to be coated with calcium/vitamin D3
  • Character – Active, perky, nocturnal
Green Iguana
  • Appearance – Green, greenish brown, or dark olive; large
  • Lifespan – 12 to 20 plus years, directly correlates with quality of care
  • Size – 5 to 7 feet, 7 to 20 pounds; males much heavier than females
  • Diet – Commercial pelleted feed, green leafy vegetables, and small amount of fruits; Calcium supplement
  • Environment – 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, 85 degrees to digest food; 12ft x 8 ft x 6ft; clean visible waste daily; branches and other climbing items, this species lives in trees; 70% humidity, misting can help; pool of water
  • Character – Aggressive and powerful; need socialization to be manageable but can be resistant to handling
Bearded Dragon
  • Appearance – Yellowish or brownish lizard with flattened look and frills or tiny horns about the head and throat; Can flare out skin on throat when threatened
  • Size – 16 to 14 inches, 0.8 to 1.1 pounds
  • Environment – Things to climb on like rocks and branches; These lizards like hammocks; 75 to 125-gallon tank; Shallow water dish; UVB lighting, need some hours of darkness; Substrate or flooring – Reptile carpet or slate tile; Basking place; 35 to 40% humidity; 90 to 110 degrees during the day with a cool spot 75 to 85 degrees; 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit at night
  • Diet – Crickets or Dubia roaches, greens, fruits, and supplements; Good to offer food in several shallow dishes; Can use tweezers for live insects
  • Character – Calm, passive, some will engage with you; Territorial; solitude is best even for juveniles

Other lizards common as pets are tegus, skinks, other geckos, the Savannah monitor, the green basilisk, and the Caiman lizard.

Turtles

Red Eared Slider
  • Appearance – Dark brown or olive-green shell, yellow, cream, and brown stripes on body and head, red or maroon stripe behind each eye; In activity can be in more numerous colors such as albino
  • Lifespan – 20 years or more
  • Size – 8 to 16 inches; Females larger than males
  • Diet – Pellets, minnows, guppies, freeze-dried shrimp, insects, leafy greens
  • Environment – 55 gallon plus tank for adults, 10 gallons per inch of body length, water depth of at least length of turtle; Can use an indoor or outdoor pond also with appropriate landing areas; Basking platforms, basking area needs to be 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit; Water temp should be 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit; Need UVB and UVA lighting
  • Character – can be aggressive around food and territorial; Shy initially, eventually will engage with you, especially during feeding
Russian Tortoise
  • Appearance – Broad round dark-colored shell
  • Lifespan – 40 years or more
  • Size – 5 to 8 inches
  • Diet – Vegetarian, prefer broad-leafed greens but also benefit from high-fiber grasses made always available; feed spinach, chard, and similar veggies in very limited amounts; Beneficial greens are dandelion greens, endive, parsley, Romaine lettuce, and spring mix
  • Environment – Ideally outdoor warm enclosure; 5 ft x 5 ft can house 1 or 2 tortoises; Predator proof outdoor enclosures; Rocks in corners and hide boxes underground can help prevent digging out; can extend fencing underground; 40 to 50% humidity; 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during day, 70 to 75 degrees during night but can tolerate to 60 degrees; basking area should be 95 degrees
  • Character – Curious, friendly; active borrowers; one of highest tolerances for temperature extremes among tortoises

Other popular pet turtles are box turtles, painted turtles, the common musk turtle, the Mississippi map turtle, and Reeve’s turtle, as well as tortoises such as the Egyptian, Greek, Sulcata, red-footed, leopard, and marginated. Some species hibernate and others do not. Some do not hibernate but brumate like the red eared slider. During the winter, these turtles become much less active but still eat and swim to the water’s surface for air.

Where to Buy Reptiles for Sale

Reptiles for sale online require research and due diligence. You should buy online reptiles from a reputable person. Regardless of how knowledgeable or careful a vendor might be, however, reptiles can always die or become severely ill during transport.

What to Look for in Reptiles

If you have the option to visit a reptile for sale, look for active animals with bright eyes and healthy-looking scales. Inspect any prospective animals for signs of injury or open sores. Look for irregularities or soft spots on a turtle’s carapace. Also, avoid hatchlings that are too young or extremely small. Likewise, stay away from animals that look too thin.

Wild-Caught vs Captive-Raised Reptiles

Working with reputable individuals and companies will hopefully prevent some of the illegal practices leading to harvesting threatened or endangered species. If you venture into capturing a pet reptile from near where you live, make sure the law permits the practice both for that species and the location. Buying from a reptile breeder often increases your chances of getting a captive-bred animal and a tamer iguana or python, for example.

Reptile Rescue

Another excellent option for obtaining pet reptiles is through adoption. Many reptiles must be rehomed because their owners underestimate their care and space requirements. While such pets may not be as tame as the one you raise yourself, you can provide a second-chance home for a distressed reptile.

Exotic Reptiles for Sale

Exotic refers to animals that originate from foreign soil for use as pets or exhibits. Often, the term exotic also has legal connotations. Exotic reptiles for sale that you may come across include but are not limited to anacondas, Burmese pythons, Chinese water dragons, the ornate box turtle, and even the bearded dragon and the ball python. Most reptiles that you buy should receive ongoing medical care and advice from an exotic pet veterinarian knowledgeable about your particular species.

Basic Reptile Care

  • Enclosure of the appropriate size with species-proper habitat (i.e rocks, branches, burrowing areas); Escape proof lids, especially for snakes
  • Aquarium mandatory for large volumes of water as opposed to terrarium
  • Heat source with thermometers – Hot rocks can burn reptiles
  • Lighting source – Many species require UVB and UVA lighting; Most need 12 to 14-hour cycles
  • Water – Many terrestrial reptiles require water not only for drinking but also for dipping; Must be freshened daily
  • Basking rocks according to species
  • Snakes require hot and cold areas in their enclosures
  • “Hides” – Species-appropriate hiding places
  • Reptiles carry salmonella naturally in their digestive systems – Pathogenic for people, you must wash your hands after handling
  • Most turtles and tortoises become stressed with excessive handling
  • Reptiles that eat insects – Insects must be “gut loaded”(fed a nutritious meal 24 hours before feeding to reptile)
  • Supplements often come as a powder which you commonly “dust” insects with or sprinkle over veggies before feeding to your reptile
  • Humidity is species-specific; Inappropriate humidity can lead to bacterial or fungal infection (too wet) or the inability to shed properly (too arid)

Amphibians for Sale

Amphibians are similar to reptiles but require even more specialized care.

Differences Between Reptiles and Amphibians

It is easiest to think of amphibians as somewhere between fish and reptiles, although they are not the intermediate evolutionary path. Generally, young amphibians breathe via gills like fish and are dependent on an aquatic existence. As adults, they develop lungs and become terrestrial but are still dependent on wet conditions. A list of other differences follows.

  • Reptiles are born from eggs with a shell or leathery protective layer or live, both producing miniature versions of the adults; Amphibians lay jelly-like, transparent eggs, and juveniles do not resemble adults
  • Reptiles have scales, amphibians do not
  • Amphibians can hear well above-ground, underwater, and underground
  • Amphibians can breathe through their skins; reptiles have an impermeable layer that protects them better from environmental pollutants and toxins
  • Vocals are different – Amphibians can chirp, bellow, and sing; reptiles hiss or grunt, a few can roar

Types of Amphibians for Sale

With a few exceptions, most amphibians kept as pets are frogs. The other key point about amphibians is that they should be display pets, meaning you do not handle them. Not only do some of them have fragile bones or cartilage, but the mucoid covering over their surfaces protects them from dehydration and the entrance of infection. You can easily rub a frog or salamander’s mucus away with your hands, leaving them defenseless.

Tiger Salamander
  • Appearance – Dark grey or greenish with yellow bars
  • Lifespan – 10 to 15 years
  • Size – 6 to 8 inches
  • Diet – Larvae: Insects, small fish, brine shrimp; Adults: Feeder insects, pinkie mice
  • Environment – Amphibious, humidity 70%, temp 50 to 72 (Ideally 65 to 70) degrees Fahrenheit; Substrate to burrow
Poison Dart Frog
  • Appearance – Bright colors such as black and yellow, red with black spots, blue with black spots, or green and black
  • Lifespan – 4 to 8 years, rarely up to 20 years
  • Size – 1.5 to 2.5 inches
  • Diet – Small insects, recommend live fruit flies or crickets; Need vitamin and mineral supplements
  • Environment – 90 to 99% humidity, 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, plants for oxygen; low or no ventilation; Babies do better in small sweater box, adults: 1 to 2 frogs per 10 gallons
  • Notable characteristic – Not poisonous in captivity; Some species do well in small groups, others not
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
  • Appearance – Lime green with red feet and red eyes; White belly and white and blue markings on sides; Shade of green can vary based on mood
  • Lifespan – 5 years
  • Size – 1.6 to 2.9 inches
  • Diet – Live insects, need vitamin and mineral supplements
  • Environment – 60 to 70% humidity, temp 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit; terranium capacity about 25 inches long by 30 inches tall; Need climbing perches; Orchid bark substrate; UV light 5 to 6%; Shallow water bowl with water
  • Notable characteristics – Not good swimmers; arboreal
Pacman Frog
  • Appearance – Large and round with big mouths; Combination of yellow, green, red, and brown with blotches; 8 species;
  • Lifespan – 6 years
  • Size – 6 inches
  • Diet – Prey item insects, guppies, pinkie and adult mice, guppies depending on how big your frog is
  • Environment – Solitary housing is best; 20-gallon tank; 50 to 70% humidity; Shallow bowl with water; Moss and leaves to use for hiding; 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit; 12-hour lighting
  • Notable characteristics – Not very active, voracious appetite and may try to eat another frog, poor swimmers
Axolotyl
  • Appearance – Plump body and rounded head with external gills that look like feathery fingerlike fringes around the head; flattened tail
  • Lifespan – 10 to 15 years
  • Size – 8 to 12 inches; to 18 inches less common
  • Diet – Earthworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, commercial fish pellets, strips of beef, or frozen fish food; Variety is key
  • Environment – Solitary housing is safest; 15- to 20-gallon tank away from direct sunlight; Decorations should provide at least 1 spot to hide; coarse gravel for footing not small enough to ingest; 57 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit; No filtration or filter that produces low currents only; No distilled water; 20% water changes only
  • Notable characteristics – Related to salamanders but keep tail as adults and are strictly aquatic; cannibalistic as juveniles but can also be as adults
Budgett’s Frog
  • Appearance _ Olive green with gray, yellow, or reddish mottling; Large bodies and big mouths with eyes set on top of the head
  • Lifespan – 5 years
  • Size – 4 to 5.5 inches
  • Diet – Babies: Nightcrawler pieces, small crickets; Adults: Crickets, nightcrawlers, or dubia roaches; vitamin and mineral supplement
  • Environement – 18x18x12 inches for enclosure or 20-gallon tank; 60 to 70% humidity; Need ventilation; Require amphibious conditions with 2 to 3 inches of water available; Temp near 75 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Notable characteristics – Agressive, eat other frogs and will bite when threatened
Amazon Milk Frog (Brazilian Milk Frog)
  • Appearance – Gray with brown bands
  • Lifespan – 5 to 10 years
  • Size – 4 inches
  • Diet – Crickets, meal worms, horn worms, and pinky mouse combo
  • Environment – Can keep 2 to 4 in 30 gallon tank; Floor can be water or moist substrate; Juveniles need substrate of moss or wet paper towels; need vines or branches to climb and perch on; temp 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit; 50 to 70% humidity (70 to 80% for juveniles)
  • Notable characters – Live peacefully in groups; Large and bold, can be handled occasionally

Health of Amphibians

Keeping your amphibian’s enclosure clean is of utmost importance. Diseases secondary to bacterial and fungal infections are common in amphibians from unsanitary conditions or poor water quality. Red leg disease is particularly common in animals that suffer from bacterial invasion. Other concerns are maintaining the appropriate temperature and humidity. Metabolic bone disease can occur in amphibians that suffer nutritional or lighting deficiencies. Finally, most amphibians have voracious appetites, and obesity can be a real concern.

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