How to Choose Healthy Reptiles

When you shop for a new reptile, you want to look for the healthiest potential pet possible. Sick reptiles can spread disease to other pets and can also end up costing you a lot of money in vet bills. Check over each reptile closely to look for signs of illness.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Examine the eyes of a reptile. If a reptile is sick, you can usually tell by looking in its eyes. Check to see if the eyes are leaky or appear clouded.

2. See if the reptile has any drainage from its nose. This along with difficulty breathing can indicate an infection is present.

3. Watch the reptile in its natural environment. You should observe some type of movement to know that the reptile is not sickly.

4. Feel the body of the reptile. You want a reptile with a strong body with no signs of illness on its skin. If you can hold the reptile, you should feel if they have a heft and strength to them. You don't want a reptile with bones protruding from its body.

5. Ask for the reptile's vet history. Certain pet stores can provide you with the medical history of your potential reptile. Look for past diseases and infections.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to consider the conditions that the reptile was kept in as well. If the terrarium was dirty, then the animal may suffer from poor health.
• You should ask the seller where the reptile was born and bred. If it was caught in the wild, it is more likely to suffer health issues.