Interested in having a reptile as a pet? Exotic animal care is often more involved than owning a cat or dog—especially because you will need to find a veterinarian skilled in caring for these animals. And yet, despite the challenges, these fascinating creatures can make wonderful companions. The guide below explores some of the easier reptiles for a child or a beginner to care for.

What Reptiles Have Less Challenging Exotic Animal Care Needs?

1. Geckos

There are several different kinds of geckos that make good pets and display animals. If you don’t care to handle your pet much, choose a crested or gold-dust day gecko. For something that's tame and can be picked up easily, opt for an African fat-tailed gecko or a leopard gecko instead.

Leopard geckos are the most popular because they come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, can be affectionate with owners who treat them well, and have minimal requirements in terms of lighting, heat, food, and cleanup.

2. Bearded Dragons

If you want a larger pet with more personality, bearded dragons are the obvious choice. Their spiky appearance and intelligence make them fascinating to keep. They’re also friendly and easy to handle. Because they're larger than geckos and from a hot climate, they need a large enclosure of at least 75 gallons that includes a hot basking area, but their varied diet makes them easy to feed.

3. Corn Snake

If you’ve always wanted a pet snake, this breed is the best choice for beginners since they’re easy to care for and only grow to about 5 feet. These calm creatures are nonvenomous and love to burrow underground. Place them in a 20-gallon tank and tightly secure the lid—the corn snake will have no problem trying to push open the lid to escape. Keep the tank between 70 and 85 degrees, and feed young snakes a few times a week. Older snakes, however, only need to be fed about once a week. 

If you're looking for a veterinarian who offers exotic animal care, choose A-4 Animal Hospital in Lincoln, NE. With 55 years of history in the Lancaster County community, they offer house calls as well as boarding services. Call (402) 475-2282 to schedule an appointment or read more about their capabilities online.