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You want to take good care of your pet reptile. A big part of this is making sure his home is correct. You’d never bring a snake home and put it in a fish bowl… because that’s not its ideal habitat, it would be way too small, and he’d probably climb right out! 

There are several factors you need to consider when setting up your reptile’s home. Probably one of the most important is getting the temperature right. You see, reptiles are “cold blooded.” While a person can sweat and a dog can pant, a reptile has no way to adjust their body temperature if the outside air is making them too hot or too cold. They need their environment to be just right. In a situation where they aren’t living in their natural habitat, you need to do this for them.

Here are a few examples:

Snakes

Boa Constrictor– Your boa requires a heat gradient inside its enclosure with a hot side of ~85 degrees, hot spot of ~90 degrees, and a cooler side in the high 70’s. 

Ball Python– They need a hot spot of 90-95 degrees and a cooler side of 80-85 degrees. 

Corn Snake– Your corn snake’s enclosure should have an ambient temperature of ~75 degrees, with a hotspot of 85-90 degrees.

California Kingsnake– Enclosure temperatures should run from the low 70’s on the cool end to 80-85 on the warm end.

Lizards

Bearded Dragon– Their tank requires a hot side at 85-100 degrees and the cool side at 70-85 degrees. The hot side should also have a basking spot that is 100 degrees.

Panther Chameleon– Their needs change as they age, but their tank should never be below 68 degrees or above 95 degrees. 

Leopard Gecko– Tank temperatures should stay around 80 degrees, with a hot spot of 95 degrees.

Tortoises

Redfoot Tortoise– Your Redfoot’s enclosure should have a nice heat gradient ranging from 68 degrees on the cool end to 80 on the warm end, plus a basking spot of ~90 degrees. 

These are a few popular pet options, but not an exhaustive list. You can browse our website for specific information about your reptile. You can also ask us directly! We are located at 157 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180, and you can always come in and speak to us in person. If it’s more convenient, you can also call our store at (781) 729-0135 or email us at JabberwockReptiles@gmail.com.

Making sure your snake, tortoise, or lizard is living in the right temperature is an important way to keep him happy, healthy, and thriving. Jabberwock Reptiles carries a number of reptile species for sale. Our list of available animals is always changing so be sure to visit the store or contact us for current availability. Once you have your new reptile picked out, make sure to put together the perfect home for him!

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Children love animals, which is why they also love pets. If your kids have been begging you for a new pet, you’re certainly not alone. Adopting a family pet is a lot of fun, but it’s also a big commitment. Is your family ready for this? Reptiles make great first pets. If you are debating about whether to get your child a pet, consider all of the great reasons to choose a reptile:

#1 Reptiles are easy to care for. Kids promise they’ll help take care of the new pet, but you already know that probably won’t happen. Dogs need to use the bathroom several times a day. This means taking your dog for a walk every few hours. Buying your family a cat means regularly cleaning out a gross litter box. Both of these options also require brushing, bathing, and much more. You’ll be cleaning up after them constantly so you don’t have hair and smells all over your clothes and furniture. If your kids get a pet they can actually care for on their own, it’ll be one less thing for you to worry about. With a reptile pet, children of all ages can help out. Lizards don’t stink or need to be let outside to go potty!

#2 They’re hypoallergenic. Many young kids have allergies. For these kids, a pet doesn’t have to mean itchy eyes and a runny nose. Reptiles are allergy friendly. Reptiles are fantastic for a kid who dreams of an animal companion but is allergic to fur and hair. Their snake, lizard, or tortoise won’t make them sneeze.

#3 Pets teach kids responsibility. Taking care of an animal teaches your children about responsibility. Because, as stated above, reptiles are easy to care for, they can do this all on their own. Even young kids can fill a bowl of food or water. As your kid grows more capable in the care of their pet, they can slowly gain more responsibilities. In a year or so, they may be able to change the substrate on their own.

#4 A new pet is a new friend! Having a pet gives kids someone else to talk to. You may be surprised just how much your kid has to say to someone with willing ears. Many children enjoy talking to their pets. Animals are non-judgmental listeners who will gladly pay attention to the same story multiple times. Their imagination will run wild!

When you’re looking for a new reptile pet for your kids, come into Jabberwock Reptiles. We have plenty of reptiles to choose from, including snakes, geckos, chameleons, skinks, bearded dragons, and much more. Whichever species you chose, your new pet is sure to bring your kids the benefits listed above. They’ll be thrilled they have a new pet and you’ll be happy you don’t need to spend the next few months potty training a puppy!

You are ready for a new pet. How exciting! Having a pet in your home brings many wonderful benefits to your life. Studies have shown that people with pets are less lonely, healthier, happier, and have a stronger sense of purpose. Plus, it’s just plain fun to have a little critter in your house you can watch whenever you want. 

Many people hear the word “pet” and automatically assume the animals should be a dog or a cat. Those are popular choices here in the United States, but far from the only suitable animals to be pets. We encourage you to look into your reptile pet options! Choosing a reptile is beneficial for a variety of reasons, including:

#1 They’re quiet. Even if you don’t know much about dogs, you know they bark. Depending on the breed, some of them bark very loud and very often. Most reptiles don’t make much noise at all, other than the sounds of crawling or slithering around your tank of course. If you’re a quiet person and want a quiet pet, a reptile is the way to go.

#2 They’re easy to care for. Dogs and cats use the bathroom several times a day. This means either taking your dog for a walk every few hours, regularly cleaning out a gross litter box, or letting an animal poop in your yard constantly. None of those seem like great options. Beyond this situation, both dogs and cats shed hair all over your house. You’ll be cleaning up after them constantly so you don’t have hair and smells all over your clothes and furniture. With a reptile pet, you don’t need to worry about any of this. Snakes don’t stink or need to be let outside to go potty!

#3 They’re hypoallergenic. For those with allergies, the thought of getting a pet comes with the fear of itchy eyes and a runny nose. Good news! Reptiles are fantastic for a person who dreams of an animal companion but is allergic to fur and hair. Reptiles are allergy friendly. Your snake, lizard, or tortoise won’t make you sneeze.

#4 They take up less space.  You need a lot of space for a dog or cat. In an apartment or smaller house, it can feel like they take up the whole place! On the other hand, even large pet reptiles can be kept happy and healthy in a large-enough tank.

#5 They’re inexpensive to feed. Puppies eat a lot, and dog food adds up quickly. Many reptiles don’t eat every day, much less several times a day. Reptiles have slower metabolisms that enable them to eat every few days. A frozen mouse, a head of lettuce, and a bag of crickets together will only cost around $5!

Would you like a gecko? Perhaps a snake is more your style? We have plenty of reptiles to choose from. They will all bring you the benefits listed above!

Reptiles can make wonderful pets. They are very popular and only getting more so. If you want to find the perfect reptile pet of your own, you are certainly not alone. Of course you want this to be a great fit long term which means finding the right pet for you. How do you go about doing something like that? We can help! Simply follow a few steps: 

Step #1 Consider all your options

Reptiles are an extremely diverse group of animals. You wouldn’t look at a Boa Constrictor and a Redfoot Tortoise and think they have much in common at all. Many people consider lizards to be good choices for first-time pet owners. Lizards are very entertaining to watch, they have large personalities, and they tend to live long lives. Of course, snakes are quite fascinating as well. If the thought of feeding a live mouse to a snake makes you squeamish, a turtle or tortoise may be the right pet for you. 

Step #2 Be practical

Now that you’re a bit more familiar with all of your options, it’s time to be practical and narrow it down to animals that would be a good fit for you, your home, your lifestyle, and your family. Decide on an ideal size for your reptile. If you live in a small apartment, a snake that’s going to consistently grow out of its terrarium is probably not the most practical pet for you. Some Green Iguanas and many Bearded Lizards take a strong liking to humans and may enjoy being handled lightly, making them a better choice for families with kids than say a Chameleon who typically does not like to be handled. Think about how much work you’re willing to put into maintenance and upkeep of your reptile, including what type of habitat that reptile will need. Reptiles are generally considered low-maintenance pets. However, some reptiles require more maintenance than others.

Step #3 Get everything you need

You’ve narrowed it down and chosen your ideal reptile pet. How exciting! Now it’s time to actually prepare for its homecoming. It’s a better idea to have his new home set up ahead of time. Reptiles get stressed (physically and mentally) from transportation, so it’s imperative that your reptile can begin exploring and adjusting to its new home right from the start. Each species of reptile has different temperature, humidity, habitat, and nutritional requirements. You’ll need a tank, food, water, heat source, and substrate- at a bare minimum.

Step #4 Bring your new reptile pet home

Now the fun can begin! It is time to go and pick out your new pet. Choose a reptile that appears healthy and active. A healthy snake should have a well-rounded body and clear eyes. Select a snake that flicks its tongue a lot, seems aware of its environment, and has enough muscles to gently squeeze you when you pick it up. A healthy turtle or tortoise should have clear eyes, dry skin, no damage on the shell, and no visible parasites. A healthy lizard should not have any visible injuries and it should be active and alert. 

After following this advice, you’ll have a new reptile pet you absolutely adore and this little (or not so little!) guy will be a part of your family for years to come.

A reptile is a wonderful pet. One of the reasons so many people enjoy having them in their home is that they’re very interesting to watch, yet require very little care. You don’t need to take your pet lizard for a walk! That isn’t to say there’s absolutely nothing you need to do for your pet reptile, of course. You need to feed it!

Reptiles are a fascinating group, in part because they’re so diverse. Reptiles are an amazing group of very different animals! This means that they have a large range of requirements when it comes to their diet, too. You wouldn’t feed a gecko and a snake the same dinner. Some, like a Redfoot Tortoise, are vegetarians. This is very different from the sporadic, meat-only dietary pattern of a large Rainbow Boa. It should also be remembered reptile UV light also plays an important role in metabolism, health, and development.

All reptiles need food and all reptiles need light. That is essentially where the similarities end, though. Consider the following: 

Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons are omnivores, meaning that they naturally eat both plants and animals. In this case, “animal” means “bug.” Most bearded dragons are offered insects as a major part of their diet in captivity to meet this need. There are three components to a pet bearded dragon’s diet: meat, vegetables/fruit (non-citrus), and commercially-made Bearded Dragon food. Make sure your little guy is getting the right mix of all three!

Tortoises

These animals are natural grazers. In the wild, tortoises will spend a large proportion of their day eating grass, plants, flowers and roots. Ideally, a pet tortoise should be fed as similarly to their wild counterparts as possible. Think grasses, weeds, flowers, leafy greens, and herbs. Peas, beans, and high sugar fruit should generally be avoided and only given as a very rare treat. Yes, tortoises deserve a treat every now and then too!

Leopard Geckos

Leopard geckos eat solely meat, not fruit or vegetables. This meat diet should be given in the form of live insects. The best options for live insects are mealworms or crickets. Both of these should be ‘gut-loaded,’ which refers to the process of giving insects a highly nutritious meal before they are fed to your pet, thereby increasing the value of the meal. Dusting the insects with a powder of vitamins and minerals is another great way to increase the nutritional value of the live insects you are feeding your Leopard Gecko.

Corn Snake

Being comfortable with feeding your Corn Snake is an important consideration before thinking about buying one as a pet. Corn snakes are meat eaters, and will need to be fed whole meat. One great option is thawed, previously-frozen rodents.

Don’t see your pet reptile listed here? Reach out to us at Jabberwock Reptiles and ask! We’re the reptile experts for a good reason, so we can answer all of your diet-related questions.

Due to the extreme cold weather across much of the country this week (February 17, 2021) our supplies of feeder insects are in short supply. We apologize for this and are working hard to secure live feeders ASAP.

We are not alone in this shortage because we have been getting many phone calls from people that tried another store and they were out as well.

Will try to update the situation if there are any changes. Fingers crossed for warmer weather.

Wednesday Feb 17 – UPDATE – we just got crickets delivered! Still out of just about everything else.

Friday Feb 19 – UPDATE – We have Crickets and Super Worms in stock.