Environment
A suitable living environment
Diet
A suitable diet
Behaviour
To be able to behave normally
Companionship
To have appropriate companionship
Health
To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
1
Environment
A suitable living environment
2
Diet
A suitable diet
3
Behaviour
To be able to behave normally
4
Companionship
To have appropriate companionship
5
Health
To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Check before you buy
Research before you buy
Be sure you fully understand and appreciate the needs of the animals you are interested in, and will be able to afford to meet them for its lifetime. This includes costs such as electricity to constantly run equipment such as lights and heaters.
Consider contacting your local animal rescue/rehoming centre, such as the National Centre for Reptile Welfare at Hadlow College
Seek advice from reputable pet shops, breeders, books and websites
There might also be local interest groups that could help and your local veterinary practice may also be able to recommend suitable breeders.
Ensure you know what equipment you’ll need to control temperature, humidity, light quality, etc to make your pet feel at home in its vivarium
Ensure you buy from someone who specialises in the animal you are interested in
Visit the animal you are intending to buy
If you are buying an accommodation set-up with your new pet check that it is clean, supplied with the appropriate food and water receptacles, and that any special equipment (e.g. heat lamps or UV lights, etc) for maintaining the animal’s environment is working properly
Ensure that all relevant paperwork is available for inspection when you visit
This could include any necessary permits such as CITES registration documents or other documentation such as microchipping if you are buying an adult tortoise.
If any paperwork is unavailable and has to be sent on, obtain a written commitment as to when it will be delivered
Ensure that the animal you are buying is healthy and free from signs of injury or disease
Reptiles can sometimes require specialist care from a veterinary surgeon and may require referral to a specialist which can be expensive
Reptiles cost calculator
When you are getting a pet, it is really important that you consider whether you can afford to keep that pet for its entire life. For reptiles this can mean purchasing suitable accommodation, ensuring that you can keep them warm and being able to afford any vet bills. Using the available figures, we have put together estimates of how much it could cost to keep popular species in the table below.
Cost to buy - £50
Accommodation - £225
Heating equipment - £53
Monthly feeding costs - £12
Monthly bedding/accommodation/enrichment costs - £14
Monthly energy cost - £3
Average annual insurance cost - £128
Average lifespan - 15 years
Total lifetime cost: £7,465
Cost to buy - £50
Accommodation - £125
Heating equipment - £53
Monthly feeding costs - £12
Monthly bedding/accommodation/enrichment costs - £27
Monthly energy cost - £8
Average annual insurance cost - £128
Average lifespan - 10 years
Total lifetime cost: £7,146
Cost to buy - £100
Accommodation - £130
Thermostat - £70
Tortoise run - £125
Monthly feeding costs - £28
Monthly bedding/accommodation/enrichment costs - £10
Monthly energy cost - £8
Average annual insurance cost - £127
Average lifespan - 100 years
Total lifetime cost: £68,296
Cost to buy - £20
Accommodation - £150
Heating equipment - £52
Monthly feeding costs - £3
Monthly bedding/accommodation/enrichment costs - £7
Monthly energy cost - £4
Average annual insurance cost - £128
Average lifespan - 7 years
Total lifetime cost: £2,293
Cost to buy - £100
Accommodation - £310
Heating equipment - £115
Monthly feeding costs - £5
Monthly bedding/accommodation/enrichment costs - £7
Monthly energy cost - £6
Average annual insurance cost - £128
Average lifespan - 10 years
Total lifetime cost: £3,964
Cost to buy - £100
Accommodation - £380
Heating equipment - £115
Monthly feeding costs - £10
Monthly bedding/accommodation/enrichment costs - £16
Monthly energy cost - £20
Average annual insurance cost - £128
Average lifespan - 35 years
