Reptiles
Box Turtles
Profile/Photography: Cindy
Size and Appearance: About six inches. For appearance, see photos at right.
General Requirements: We
keep Myrtle in a tank in the house during the winter for hibernation, and at
night for safety. Hand washing is required after
every time that you touch a turtle or anything in its pen. For this
reason, it might not be a good choice for a very young child, who still
tends to put fingers in the mouth without thinking. All reptiles can carry
salmonella. Our box turtle can do very well without live food, but she
does enjoy her earthworms and crickets.
Lifespan: 40-100 years.
Responsiveness to Caretaker: Box turtles can be very interactive and friendly.
Ours comes and "begs" when she is hungry. She also gets
very excited when we give her "live" food, and almost dances.
Quantity: One
Notes of Interest:
* We also like to let her wander around the yard, and
had heard a
good way to keep an eye on her was to tape a helium balloon to her shell with packing
tape. This is actually quite effective.
* Good for kids who want a hands-on pet
(unlike fish).
* The box turtle is a protected species in many areas. Be sure to
check with your town if you want to own one, and do not acquire it from the wild.
Lizards
Profile/Photography: Cindy
Size and Appearance: Over a foot to a few feet long, depending on the species.
(This lizard is a species of uromastyx.)
General Requirements: A very large tank. Check for information on the specific
species' space requirements.
We have several heat lamps, plus an under-tank heater going most of the
time. This is not always convenient, so it's an important thing to consider.
There is also the salmonella risk, so wash-wash-wash after handling. We did a lot of
research before
buying. It is important when considering a reptile that you find out how
large they are going to get (some are huge), what their temperaments are
like (some are skittish, and some downright nasty), and what they eat. Many
people are grossed out by feeding live prey to a pet, but not all reptiles
eat live prey. The initial investment for a reptile is
usually $100-$200 before purchasing the animal, but typically they are
inexpensive afterwards, as they do not need frequent vet check-ups.
Lifespan: 10 years or more.
Responsiveness to Caretaker: He is very friendly.
Quantity: One
Notes of Interest:
* They can be taught to walk on a leash.
* There are
over a dozen different species of uromastyx.
* Only your allergist can determine what is truly
allergen-free for you and/or your child. The animals in the above profiles are fur-
and feather-free, but that doesn't mean they will necessarily be allergen-free for all
individuals. This website and participants in this article are not responsible for
reactions that take place as a result of owning any pet.
Would you like to help by providing a profile of your favorite pet(s)? Only profiles
including a personally-taken photo(s) will be accepted. Send an e-mail from this
webpage, including all of the following information: your name as you would like
to be credited, size and appearance of the animal, general housing requirements,
lifespan, responsiveness to humans, quantity, and any fun notes. Thank you for taking
the time to share about your pet(s)! E-mails about broken links are also
appreciated--just use the link above.
Allergen-Free* Pets Database
2006
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