Featured guide
Care guide · Pogona vitticeps
Bearded dragon care guideEnclosure size, basking and night temperatures, UVB, substrate, diet by age, handling, shedding, brumation and the signs that mean a vet visit.
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Species profiles
Common pet reptiles
Each profile covers the animal’s natural history: size, range, habitat and diet in the wild. Start there to understand what a captive setup needs to imitate.
Ball python
Python regius
West African python that curls into a tight ball when nervous; healthy adults sometimes refuse food for weeks.
Corn snake
Pantherophis guttatus
Native to the southeastern United States and a skilled escape artist, so the enclosure needs a secure, locking lid.
Leopard gecko
Eublepharis macularius
Ground-dwelling insect-eater from dry parts of South Asia; it has no sticky toe pads and is most active at dusk and night.
Crested gecko
Correlophus ciliatus
Tree-dwelling gecko from New Caledonia that needs a tall enclosure; a dropped tail does not grow back.
Common blue-tongued skink
Tiliqua scincoides
Australian ground-dweller that eats both plant and animal foods and needs floor space more than height.
Red-eared slider
Trachemys scripta
Can live up to 40 years in captivity and needs a large, filtered aquatic setup with a dry basking area.
Green iguana
Iguana iguana
Plant-eater that can reach 6 feet (1.8 m) and live 10–15 years, outgrowing most store-bought enclosures.
Argentine black and white tegu
Salvator merianae
Omnivore that can reach nearly 5 feet (1.5 m); escaped and released tegus are now invasive in Florida.
Boa constrictor
Boa constrictor
Heavy-bodied constrictor from Central and South America; adults need a large, secure enclosure for many years.
Australian water dragon
Intellagama lesueurii
Semi-aquatic dragon from eastern Australia that needs a tall enclosure with water deep enough to swim in.
Central bearded dragon
Pogona vitticeps
Arid-country lizard from inland Australia; eats insects when young and mostly greens as an adult.
Dumeril’s boa
Acrantophis dumerili
Slow-moving ground boa from Madagascar; patterned for camouflage in leaf litter.
Before you buy
Four things to settle first
01
Lifespan
Many reptiles live far longer than people expect. Bearded dragons live about 7–12 years with good care (VCA), green iguanas 10–15 years with reports of 25 (VCA), and red-eared sliders up to 40 years in captivity (California Department of Fish and Wildlife).
02
Vet access
Not every veterinary clinic treats reptiles. Find a vet experienced with reptiles before you buy. VCA recommends that a new bearded dragon be examined, including a fecal check for parasites, within 48 hours of purchase.
03
Local rules
Rules on keeping, selling and transporting reptiles differ between states, counties and cities, and between species. Check with your state wildlife agency and local government before you buy. This site does not give legal advice.
04
Hygiene & rehoming
Healthy reptiles can carry Salmonella. The CDC advises washing hands after contact and keeping children under 5 from handling reptiles. Never release a pet: give it to a friend, shelter or reptile rescue instead. Florida’s wildlife agency runs an Exotic Pet Amnesty Program for unwanted nonnative pets.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Bearded dragons: owning
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Iguanas: owning
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife — California’s invaders: red-eared slider
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — Argentine black and white tegu
- CDC — Reptiles and amphibians: Healthy Pets, Healthy People
Data updated October 2026 · How we build these pages · Disclaimer