What Should You Be Feeding Reptiles?

Plenty of us love nothing more than welcoming all kinds of pets into our lives. While reptiles might be some of the more unusual additions, there are still millions of people around the world who love them just like they’re a part of the family. That’s why it’s so important to learn about everything they need to thrive.

Depending on the species of reptile you have, there are all kinds of things they require. So, what should you be feeding your reptile? That might not be such a straightforward question to answer, but there are several things that reptiles love to eat more than almost anything.

Snakes mostly eat meat or insects

Each snake is different, but most breeds - especially those kept as pets - thrive on a diet consisting of only meat. Other reptiles, insects, rodents, mammals, birds, and even some eggs can be on the list for snakes, with each needing research to find what’s the best diet for them. Of course, many non-venomous snakes don’t eat as much as other pets, ranging from one or twice a month to just a few times a year. There are also a lot of choices when it comes to how you feed your snake, depending on the laws in your country. Frozen rodents or small animals like chicks or rabbits are popular options as they are usually readily available. Just be sure to remove anything that’s not been eaten after 10 or 15 minutes and only feed completely thawed meals to your snake.

Turtles and tortoises typically eat flowers and plants

It’s rare to find a tortoise that can handle meat, with some needing even more specialist diets than others. Some breeds can eat fruit and vegetables, while others can only tolerate wildflowers and certain veggies. Whatever the case, leafy greens are usually the most common part of their diet. Still, some turtles are known to eat insects or fish, meaning they might need a more varied diet than others. Thankfully, plenty of things these reptiles do eat can be found in our yard or at the grocery store. Just be sure to wash everything thoroughly to ensure there are no pesticides left.

Lizards vary, with most eating plants or meat

Lizards cover a huge variety of pets, with some being completely vegetarian and others preferring a mixture of meat and vegetables to stay healthy. While some are natural predators, these lizards aren’t typically kept as pets. Instead, ding out what your lizard needs and take it from there. Many like the thrill of the hunt, with things like beetles, crickets, and mealworms making good options for these lizards. Then there are the ones that need a mixture of vegetables to bulk up their diets. Plenty of pet stores offer a variety of insects, making them some of the easiest things to feed your pet lizard.

Plenty of reptiles need a supplement to be healthy

Of course, living in our homes means our reptile pets will have a less varied diet than if they lived in the wild. This can often mean they suffer from deficiencies if we don’t offer a supplement or two to keep them healthy. The signs of something wrong are different from species to species - such as tortoises suffering from pyramiding - meaning we need to keep a close eye on our pets. Plenty of supplements, such as calcium or nutrients, can be found in powder form from reptile stores and merely need to be sprinkled on food before it’s offered. Whatever the case, always be sure to offer fresh water to your pet.

What should you be feeding reptiles? That all depends on the pet we have at home, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Instead, it’s all about learning all about our new addition to ensure they have the diet they need to thrive.