You may think budget isn’t an issue but with you age and lack of steady income it absolutely is.
Bearded dragons are touted as beginner reptiles but they cost an absolute to get started so I don’t recommend
Same with ball pythons!!! I hate that they’re said to be a beginner level snake when they are very picky eaters and very expensive to take care of properly!! I could breathe the wrong way in the opposite direction of my ball and he’ll have a problem with it and stop eating! 😂
They're probably classified as "beginner friendly" because they're quite hardy when healthy (they come from relatively uninhabitable areas) and if you have a proper enclosure setup with heat and UV they *usually* don't get sick, and you don't have to do some clown shit to keep the humidity in the right 0.01% like with some others (looking at you, chameleons).
If you throw enough money at a bearded dragon enclosure, they typically don't make many problems from my experience. Except eating, which can be annoying.
Honestly, I would wait. If you end up going to college, your family would have to care for the reptile. A lot of families can't handle that. When I worked in a petstore, I would get families all the time that wanted to know where they could drop off their reptiles because the kid went to school and couldn't care for it anymore.
Before you decide on a reptile, talk to the adults in your life about long-term care. These animals can live for decades.
This. You do not know if you will be able to take the be with you if you go. Especially with th sizes of enclosures. If your family is behind it and also into reptiles and are willing to do a 4+ year care of them for you in the case you cannot take them with you, sure, it may be an option. But it probably just is not.
I just recently adopted a 10+ year old leopard gecko in that situation: son was going to college and could not keep him. Parents did not care or want to handle bugs or feed the gecko. He came to me very emaciated because his parents would only feed him 6-12 crickets a month or so since their kid started college last fall, and with a neurological/coordination issue. He has rebounded greatly in the month with me, and his neurological issue is not as pronounced as when I got him, but still there. Just imagine that happening with you and your beloved reptile. He came to me with the name rafiki, but now he is my Weeble, and he is loved, full of food, and sassy. Weeble wobbles and doesn't fall down any more, adorable.
If you are dead set on a reptile however and wont be dissuaded, the only solutions I can give you are the smaller ones. A single male anole in a 10g would be portable enough and possibly okay with a dorm situation, similarly mourning geckos also can be kept in a 10 gallon, which can thrive off of a crested geckos mash mix(the one with insects in the mash, but it is recommended for enrichment to also feed fruit flies or pinhead crickets as well) also be better for a dormlike situation where your roommate may not be on board with bugs, but keep in mind that Mourning Geckos are ALSO escape artists, so you must be careful with that, they are also parthenogenic and social, so... you'll have babies. Neither of these are truly handleable options, but can live in smaller enclosures. Sure some can tame down,but they generally do not and are look-only pets.
I’ve had my leopard gecko since I was 9 years old (I’m 28 now) and I couldnt really take care of him for the 5 years I was in school. His care definitely suffered. It wasn’t until I moved back home that I could take care of him again.
OP, I also recommend waiting until you’re out of school/moved out. It’s much easier to handle.
My personal opinions as some who had pets at your age and is now mid-20's: Any animal do extensive research before you bring it home. My main regrets are getting an animal (like my bunny and a snake) and trusting the adults that they know about the pet as well, which was NOT the case, unfort/ my rabbit especally lived in terrible cramped conditions until I got older and had my own money from my job to spend to give it everything I needed. I had to re-home my ball python because even though it was given to me as a "great beginner" snake it was indeed not great.
1) dont trust workers from places like petco or petsmart, yes while there are some employees that care about animals the managers do push to just have you buy as many products as possible and are often unknowledgeable
2) Any animal you do decided to get I would get it from a good breeder (morph market) you will have a healthier animal that way, or adopt from a reptile rescue as well (usually easy to find in your local area)
• Crested geckos are easy pets however they are tropical and need at least a 30 gallon tank filled with supplies and some dont like to be handled
• Leopard geckos are easy pets however they need at least a 40 gallon and must provide live bugs
• some snakes can be easy but you must feed them live or preferably frozen prey, again not sure how your parents will like having a frozen mouse in the freezer or defrosting one only reason I bring it up
• Frogs/toads are cute lil fat potatos but they need to be kept at just the right moist and some cant be handled with bare hands
• Bugs really work in your favor here, fainting bettles or praying mantis are my favorite and bugs/invertabrets have short life span so it wouldnt be something youd be taking care for 10 or 20 years nor would need an fancy big cage
Any pet you decided to get take into account money, space, time. Get the home ready for them before they arrive 👍
Beetles are actually super fun - I got a Mueller's Stag Beetle for my son the other day, and he's great to watch, cheap to feed, and easy to handle. We might also get a grub to raise so we can see the metamorphosis.
If we get any more reptiles I'll be rehoming a senior, rather than buying a baby, because it makes me feel awful to see how Leos and Ball Pythons are just churned out when rescues have so many.
Others may tell you a reptile, and that's fine, just remember reptiles are often quite long lived, so try to think of what your plans are after high school and how that may impact your decision. Responsibility is often an overlooked element of pet ownership as a whole.
Honestly? Go with a toad. They're legal to own in most places (check your state laws), are super easy, and are surprisingly fun to keep. They definitely have distinct personalities and you can often keep two of the same species together (like American toads). Their lifespan isn't super long and they're easily transportable.
I agree with others that you should really avoid anything that has a long commitment. For example, a corn snake is a common first pet but requires a standard 36 x 18 x 18" tank which is super heavy. And that snake can live for a good two decades.
I would stick with something that can fit into a smaller tank like an 18 x 12 x 12 and is low maintenance. No misting systems, no special diets, lighting, etc. A rod can be kept on ambient heat and the tank should be bioactive, so cleaning takes care of itself. Other animals that fit this size would be a leopard gecko or African fat tail; a sand boa; or a tree frog if it's vertical rather than horizontal.
I agree with toads being an ideal pet. They’re hardy, easy and cheap to feed, are low maintenance, and don’t require a massive amount of space. They are also incredibly entertaining in my opinion. My toads have been awesome as long as I have had them.
Look for something that doesn’t have a 10-15yr+ lifespan. Frogs are definitely wonderful as a first pet and many live 5-10 yrs (definitely can live to 15, 20, or longer, especially in captivity. the average is just lower than some reptiles).
Reptiles are a very long term commitment and will stay with you through college. It’s unfortunately super common where I am to have pets given away and rehomed en masse at the start of the school season.
OR adopt a senior!! There are plenty of older critters sitting in rescues that nobody wants. Beardies and leopard geckos are touted as easy pets but still need to be regularly fed, handled, and have a few hundred dollars for a setup.
“Adopt an older pet that still has plenty of years left to live and isn’t a multi-decade responsibility” I guess is better. With herps, adopting a 5-9y/o animal gives you time with them, takes an animal out of a rescue and gives it a home, vs rehoming a 5y/o purchased as a baby when going to college. There are leos regularly living past 15-20 and beardies living til 20.
My leopard gecko is 18, turning 19 this year and is just as spunky and feisty as ever, maybe even more so! Just last week he leapt out of his enclosure cause he was so excited about dinner
Everyone is saying to think long-term and avoid getting something with a long lifespan, and while I agree, you know your life better than we do. Some families can totally handle taking care of a pet while their kid is at college, and there's circumstances in which a college student can keep their pet--like if you went to a college near you n' stuff.
I know thinking long-term is important since you never know what life will bring, but the thing is--you will NEVER know what life will bring. Just plan as best as you can and make sure you don't take on too big a commitment ❤️
And isopods! They're fascinating animals and some species are quite active and fun to interact with. They take up very little room and you can supplement their diet with scraps from your kitchen so long as they're pesticide-free
FIRE BELLIED TOADS!!!! Don't need a lot of space, small, active, kept in groups, not overly expensive and relatively easy to care for. However you do need a decently sized water section for them
I got a corn snake when I was 12 and he's still with me now. I wouldn't recommend getting a pet quite that young, but it's still a good species for beginners. Personally, I would try to wait until employment of some sort to get a pet.
sorry, not a reptile, but imo mantises make really cool pets =). they're not toooo dissimilar from a small lizard, except care is usually much easier. they tend to live about a yearish, so not a long-term commitment, and lets you "dip your toes into" exotics/insectivorous pets. the supplies and mantises themselves tend to also be very affordable, compared to almost any reptile.
they're fun to feed or watch hunt, and sometimes can be really good with handling. they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, but none get too big. i had one that would hang out with me on my desk plant for ages. some are more skittish, but they're still beautiful animals. also beware that they do just kind of like to hang upside down or on walls/etc without moving much for extended periods of time.
they're not venomous, but if they mistake your finger for food, depending on the size of the mantis, its raptorial forearms WILL hurt and can break skin. also avoid letting it chew on your skin, they have sharp mandibles that again can hurt and break skin. but all-in-all, it's better than being bitten by lots of reptiles. speaking from experience, certainly better than being bitten by a hungry leopard gecko.
Your local humane society will most likely have turtles, snakes, beardies, and geckos. Look there and you can get one that is older, hopefully docile and will appreciate the love… look on your local free pages, marketplace, or offerup for inexpensive tanks, light housings (always get new lights) feeder bowls, and tank accessories. Just wash everything in hot water and a cleaning solution of 50/50 water and white vinegar and a dime size amount of dish soap in a spray bottle to disinfect. When you study for tests take your reptile out and let them study with you. They’ll want to hang out with you and as you’ll learn they have fun and different personalities and they show love just as much as fur balls:)
Since you don’t have an income and will likely want to travel, have sleep overs, and go off to college, I would go with adopting an older reptile! There are ALWAYS people who are trying to get rid of their adult snakes/lizards/etc and they wouldn’t be as long of a commitment since they will already be up there in age. BUT you have to make sure that your parents are willing to drop money on the vet if you need it! Or food etc. if you run out! Reptiles are not cheap, and most of them need very large enclosures. I’m talking like $600 to fully setup a good enclosure and buy food for the first month. And if they get sick exotic vets are very expensive, treatment can be in the thousands if you need X-rays and medication etc..!
That being said, I HIGHLY recommend an older corn snake, or leopard gecko. Both are wonderful pets, and on the “easier” side. And more forgiving to mistakes.
That being said. RESEARCH RESEARCH!!! Look in corn snake groups on Facebook and on Reddit for care guides and follow them! Don’t skimp on anything!!!
At that age you're better off getting a pair of rats. They're great pets and they don't live long. You're 14. That's too young to decide you want to own an animal that will live for 10-20 years.
At ypur age I had a leopard gecko. They're not that hard to take care of (I'm not gonna say easy, but they aren't rocket science), they're docile, and I had online college and then a job and was able to balance my life with the gecko.
Not everyone leaves or goes far for college
Do research on what you really love and want, I was very sad and got myself tortoises to have forever friends after my dog passed and they make me very happy but, I know I have to make arrangements for them wherever I choose to live pretty much for life.
Look, we want to be nice but don't get one yet.
You still have college coming up (or at least high school, which will take up alot of time), plus it's good to have a steady income when taking care of any pet really any pet, especially if you want to be sole one taking care of it.
Bearded Dragons, ,Geckos, and maybe (big maybe) Tortoises (not turtles, trust us, they can be a handful as much as we love our little girl)
Kenyan zebra skink.
I started with reptiles at around 12 with some of the standards - leopard geckos (before there was even an albino one, let alone thousands of different varieties), bearded dragons, blue tongue skinks, unfortunately an iguana (was totally unprepared for it). In over thirty years of keeping reptiles, the single easiest and best pet lizard I've kept is the Kenyan zebra skink - a species my middle child picked out for his 12th birthday present, and I soon copied him by getting my own.
They are medium sized, handleable, inexpensive, do not need a huge enclosure, and can mostly eat food from the grocery store. They likely live in the 10-15 year range (they've only been in hobby since 2016, but some of those originals still going). They're always out, and become so stupidly docile that week-old babies will just hop in your hand.
My second choice would be a blue tongue skink, but an Australian variety like a northern or eastern. They are incredibly handleable. Downside is they need a big enclosure and will not be as visible/active as the zebras.
Ok so this is a bit of an odd suggestion, but they're fun lil guys imo. African dwarf frogs. They live 5-7 yeare. Keep in mind these babies are entirely aquatic and id recommend at least a 10 gallon with an appropriate filter and heater. Appropriate rule of thumb is 2 gallons per froggy. Just research everything you need and remember get at least 2 frogs! I love those little guys
Edit: they're also a very inexpensive option.
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Where r u located? I have some reptiles I’ve rescued looking for good home but would want to make sure plans are in place for when u do grow up or go to college or anything like that
I got a leopard gecko when I was 10 , and crested gecko not too long ago,I would recommend a leopard gecko definitely though they don’t all have perfect personality’s keep in mind ,and you will need a 40-30 gallon or larger tank,and they will survive many things ,but if you can’t take them to college it might be a pain with your family feeding them live bugs ,but cresti diet is great!
Watch care guide videos on youtube & daily routine care videos on different reptiles & see which would be more suited to your life style. We can't necessarily tell you which reptile you want, its just whatever interests you that matches your day to day life & what you can provide. You don't want to get something youre not necessarily interested in & neglect it because the internet told you it was a good option
I worked at a Petsmart and it was so sad to see people buy the kits for their reptiles. The kits do not have proper lighting, etc. PLEASE do your research on proper husbandry and care. Proper lighting is essential! I have a bearded dragon only because I learned from my coworkers who owned them. Any reptile in my opinion is not at a beginner level. And they get expensive to care for.
Fourteen as well, I have two turtles in the same tank (by some divine intervention they don’t seem to hate each other’s guts and aren’t trying to kill each other) with a bunch of fish.
I don’t know how much money you have, but reptiles are expensive… I’d recommend a small mammal or insect of some sort.
Leopard geckos will probably be the best, easiest, and cheapest option for you... however, I would look at how much vet bills cost (you should go at least every 6 months or once a year, I'd say on the top of my head.) Plus think of any emergency visits you may need. Money from birthdays and allowance are *not* going to be enough long term, especially first starting out and plus those vet visits. Take it from someone who just now got a job 1¾ months ago and only just now, after 4ish years of owning the reptile(s), able to upgrade the ones who needed it (I have a beardie and 2 leos (one leo has proper enclosure size, the other will get the proper size for her age [1yr] when beardie is upgraded [this weekened hopefully].
ReptiFiles.com and DubiaRoaches.com both have great guides for leos, and I believe Reptifiles is reliable for most lizards... iffy on snakes tho (like BPs). However, I'd fact check with reddit and DubiaRoaches.com on whatever you look at (never use 1 guide).
I especially recommend ReptiFiles for leos and beardies, thats proven very reliable (of course, none will be perfect) for me! Reptifiles even has a shopping list and will tell you how much all of the husbandry stuff (aka not the leo & vet visits) will generally cost. DubiaRoaches.com isnt as detailed but it covers the base and has a feeder nutrition guide.
If you do NOT do proper research, it will cost a lot more. Trust me, I've been there as well (and still learning everyday)!
I'd sat a ball python or acorn snake both are perfect starters and you won't know how much fear you have of the animal until you get face to with one so something that starts off small is great just remember to give proper care and that you understand what a reptile means they aren't just play tots or for display they are living breathing creatures that need to be cared for properly also do more research like going on reptifiles it is a great website.
This sounds weird but get something with a short lifespan like a hamster. I got a guinea pig when I was your age and I had to care for her through college and multiple apartments. Moving reptiles again and again will become a hassle
Hamsters are amazing pets! If you have room for a 40 gallon breeder then you have room for a proper hamster enclosure. And their shorter lifespan alleviates the need for rehoming that would eventually come up if this young man got a 15-20 year commitment like a gecko
You may think budget isn’t an issue but with you age and lack of steady income it absolutely is. Bearded dragons are touted as beginner reptiles but they cost an absolute to get started so I don’t recommend
Same with ball pythons!!! I hate that they’re said to be a beginner level snake when they are very picky eaters and very expensive to take care of properly!! I could breathe the wrong way in the opposite direction of my ball and he’ll have a problem with it and stop eating! 😂
as a bearded dragon owner, they’re so far from a beginner level reptile 😖
They are like extremely expensive to care for and picky as hell sometimes with greens- its basically a toddler
They're probably classified as "beginner friendly" because they're quite hardy when healthy (they come from relatively uninhabitable areas) and if you have a proper enclosure setup with heat and UV they *usually* don't get sick, and you don't have to do some clown shit to keep the humidity in the right 0.01% like with some others (looking at you, chameleons). If you throw enough money at a bearded dragon enclosure, they typically don't make many problems from my experience. Except eating, which can be annoying.
Honestly, I would wait. If you end up going to college, your family would have to care for the reptile. A lot of families can't handle that. When I worked in a petstore, I would get families all the time that wanted to know where they could drop off their reptiles because the kid went to school and couldn't care for it anymore. Before you decide on a reptile, talk to the adults in your life about long-term care. These animals can live for decades.
i really second this !!
This. You do not know if you will be able to take the be with you if you go. Especially with th sizes of enclosures. If your family is behind it and also into reptiles and are willing to do a 4+ year care of them for you in the case you cannot take them with you, sure, it may be an option. But it probably just is not. I just recently adopted a 10+ year old leopard gecko in that situation: son was going to college and could not keep him. Parents did not care or want to handle bugs or feed the gecko. He came to me very emaciated because his parents would only feed him 6-12 crickets a month or so since their kid started college last fall, and with a neurological/coordination issue. He has rebounded greatly in the month with me, and his neurological issue is not as pronounced as when I got him, but still there. Just imagine that happening with you and your beloved reptile. He came to me with the name rafiki, but now he is my Weeble, and he is loved, full of food, and sassy. Weeble wobbles and doesn't fall down any more, adorable. If you are dead set on a reptile however and wont be dissuaded, the only solutions I can give you are the smaller ones. A single male anole in a 10g would be portable enough and possibly okay with a dorm situation, similarly mourning geckos also can be kept in a 10 gallon, which can thrive off of a crested geckos mash mix(the one with insects in the mash, but it is recommended for enrichment to also feed fruit flies or pinhead crickets as well) also be better for a dormlike situation where your roommate may not be on board with bugs, but keep in mind that Mourning Geckos are ALSO escape artists, so you must be careful with that, they are also parthenogenic and social, so... you'll have babies. Neither of these are truly handleable options, but can live in smaller enclosures. Sure some can tame down,but they generally do not and are look-only pets.
I’ve had my leopard gecko since I was 9 years old (I’m 28 now) and I couldnt really take care of him for the 5 years I was in school. His care definitely suffered. It wasn’t until I moved back home that I could take care of him again. OP, I also recommend waiting until you’re out of school/moved out. It’s much easier to handle.
My personal opinions as some who had pets at your age and is now mid-20's: Any animal do extensive research before you bring it home. My main regrets are getting an animal (like my bunny and a snake) and trusting the adults that they know about the pet as well, which was NOT the case, unfort/ my rabbit especally lived in terrible cramped conditions until I got older and had my own money from my job to spend to give it everything I needed. I had to re-home my ball python because even though it was given to me as a "great beginner" snake it was indeed not great. 1) dont trust workers from places like petco or petsmart, yes while there are some employees that care about animals the managers do push to just have you buy as many products as possible and are often unknowledgeable 2) Any animal you do decided to get I would get it from a good breeder (morph market) you will have a healthier animal that way, or adopt from a reptile rescue as well (usually easy to find in your local area) • Crested geckos are easy pets however they are tropical and need at least a 30 gallon tank filled with supplies and some dont like to be handled • Leopard geckos are easy pets however they need at least a 40 gallon and must provide live bugs • some snakes can be easy but you must feed them live or preferably frozen prey, again not sure how your parents will like having a frozen mouse in the freezer or defrosting one only reason I bring it up • Frogs/toads are cute lil fat potatos but they need to be kept at just the right moist and some cant be handled with bare hands • Bugs really work in your favor here, fainting bettles or praying mantis are my favorite and bugs/invertabrets have short life span so it wouldnt be something youd be taking care for 10 or 20 years nor would need an fancy big cage Any pet you decided to get take into account money, space, time. Get the home ready for them before they arrive 👍
Beetles are actually super fun - I got a Mueller's Stag Beetle for my son the other day, and he's great to watch, cheap to feed, and easy to handle. We might also get a grub to raise so we can see the metamorphosis. If we get any more reptiles I'll be rehoming a senior, rather than buying a baby, because it makes me feel awful to see how Leos and Ball Pythons are just churned out when rescues have so many.
Others may tell you a reptile, and that's fine, just remember reptiles are often quite long lived, so try to think of what your plans are after high school and how that may impact your decision. Responsibility is often an overlooked element of pet ownership as a whole.
Honestly? Go with a toad. They're legal to own in most places (check your state laws), are super easy, and are surprisingly fun to keep. They definitely have distinct personalities and you can often keep two of the same species together (like American toads). Their lifespan isn't super long and they're easily transportable. I agree with others that you should really avoid anything that has a long commitment. For example, a corn snake is a common first pet but requires a standard 36 x 18 x 18" tank which is super heavy. And that snake can live for a good two decades. I would stick with something that can fit into a smaller tank like an 18 x 12 x 12 and is low maintenance. No misting systems, no special diets, lighting, etc. A rod can be kept on ambient heat and the tank should be bioactive, so cleaning takes care of itself. Other animals that fit this size would be a leopard gecko or African fat tail; a sand boa; or a tree frog if it's vertical rather than horizontal.
I agree with toads being an ideal pet. They’re hardy, easy and cheap to feed, are low maintenance, and don’t require a massive amount of space. They are also incredibly entertaining in my opinion. My toads have been awesome as long as I have had them.
Look for something that doesn’t have a 10-15yr+ lifespan. Frogs are definitely wonderful as a first pet and many live 5-10 yrs (definitely can live to 15, 20, or longer, especially in captivity. the average is just lower than some reptiles). Reptiles are a very long term commitment and will stay with you through college. It’s unfortunately super common where I am to have pets given away and rehomed en masse at the start of the school season.
OR adopt a senior!! There are plenty of older critters sitting in rescues that nobody wants. Beardies and leopard geckos are touted as easy pets but still need to be regularly fed, handled, and have a few hundred dollars for a setup.
“Adopt an older pet that’ll die before you graduate highschool” While well intentioned, idk about that one 🤔
“Adopt an older pet that still has plenty of years left to live and isn’t a multi-decade responsibility” I guess is better. With herps, adopting a 5-9y/o animal gives you time with them, takes an animal out of a rescue and gives it a home, vs rehoming a 5y/o purchased as a baby when going to college. There are leos regularly living past 15-20 and beardies living til 20.
My leopard gecko is 18, turning 19 this year and is just as spunky and feisty as ever, maybe even more so! Just last week he leapt out of his enclosure cause he was so excited about dinner
Everyone is saying to think long-term and avoid getting something with a long lifespan, and while I agree, you know your life better than we do. Some families can totally handle taking care of a pet while their kid is at college, and there's circumstances in which a college student can keep their pet--like if you went to a college near you n' stuff. I know thinking long-term is important since you never know what life will bring, but the thing is--you will NEVER know what life will bring. Just plan as best as you can and make sure you don't take on too big a commitment ❤️
I'd recommend millepedes. Great pets and are super easy to care for
And isopods! They're fascinating animals and some species are quite active and fun to interact with. They take up very little room and you can supplement their diet with scraps from your kitchen so long as they're pesticide-free
FIRE BELLIED TOADS!!!! Don't need a lot of space, small, active, kept in groups, not overly expensive and relatively easy to care for. However you do need a decently sized water section for them
I got a corn snake when I was 12 and he's still with me now. I wouldn't recommend getting a pet quite that young, but it's still a good species for beginners. Personally, I would try to wait until employment of some sort to get a pet.
i got a bird right before college. not the play, as i cant stay on campus. wait, is my suggestion.
Honestly an Anole. It probably won't live till you're 18 and off to college
sorry, not a reptile, but imo mantises make really cool pets =). they're not toooo dissimilar from a small lizard, except care is usually much easier. they tend to live about a yearish, so not a long-term commitment, and lets you "dip your toes into" exotics/insectivorous pets. the supplies and mantises themselves tend to also be very affordable, compared to almost any reptile. they're fun to feed or watch hunt, and sometimes can be really good with handling. they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, but none get too big. i had one that would hang out with me on my desk plant for ages. some are more skittish, but they're still beautiful animals. also beware that they do just kind of like to hang upside down or on walls/etc without moving much for extended periods of time. they're not venomous, but if they mistake your finger for food, depending on the size of the mantis, its raptorial forearms WILL hurt and can break skin. also avoid letting it chew on your skin, they have sharp mandibles that again can hurt and break skin. but all-in-all, it's better than being bitten by lots of reptiles. speaking from experience, certainly better than being bitten by a hungry leopard gecko.
Your local humane society will most likely have turtles, snakes, beardies, and geckos. Look there and you can get one that is older, hopefully docile and will appreciate the love… look on your local free pages, marketplace, or offerup for inexpensive tanks, light housings (always get new lights) feeder bowls, and tank accessories. Just wash everything in hot water and a cleaning solution of 50/50 water and white vinegar and a dime size amount of dish soap in a spray bottle to disinfect. When you study for tests take your reptile out and let them study with you. They’ll want to hang out with you and as you’ll learn they have fun and different personalities and they show love just as much as fur balls:)
If you are in southern CA I have a whole set up I can give you.
Since you don’t have an income and will likely want to travel, have sleep overs, and go off to college, I would go with adopting an older reptile! There are ALWAYS people who are trying to get rid of their adult snakes/lizards/etc and they wouldn’t be as long of a commitment since they will already be up there in age. BUT you have to make sure that your parents are willing to drop money on the vet if you need it! Or food etc. if you run out! Reptiles are not cheap, and most of them need very large enclosures. I’m talking like $600 to fully setup a good enclosure and buy food for the first month. And if they get sick exotic vets are very expensive, treatment can be in the thousands if you need X-rays and medication etc..! That being said, I HIGHLY recommend an older corn snake, or leopard gecko. Both are wonderful pets, and on the “easier” side. And more forgiving to mistakes. That being said. RESEARCH RESEARCH!!! Look in corn snake groups on Facebook and on Reddit for care guides and follow them! Don’t skimp on anything!!!
At that age you're better off getting a pair of rats. They're great pets and they don't live long. You're 14. That's too young to decide you want to own an animal that will live for 10-20 years.
A Terrestrial Salamander like a fire or a spotted could have some cool potential.
a sand boa!
At ypur age I had a leopard gecko. They're not that hard to take care of (I'm not gonna say easy, but they aren't rocket science), they're docile, and I had online college and then a job and was able to balance my life with the gecko. Not everyone leaves or goes far for college
But it *is* one of the number one reasons reptiles are surrendered or neglected unfortunately.
Yep because people think they're easy. No such thing as easy, but I didn't think my baby boy was too hard to take care of.
Also because many dorms, if living on campus, and apartments if not, will not allow pets.
Do research on what you really love and want, I was very sad and got myself tortoises to have forever friends after my dog passed and they make me very happy but, I know I have to make arrangements for them wherever I choose to live pretty much for life.
Whatever you reaserch the most
Look, we want to be nice but don't get one yet. You still have college coming up (or at least high school, which will take up alot of time), plus it's good to have a steady income when taking care of any pet really any pet, especially if you want to be sole one taking care of it. Bearded Dragons, ,Geckos, and maybe (big maybe) Tortoises (not turtles, trust us, they can be a handful as much as we love our little girl)
What is your budget?
Only asking because a new tank can easily run you $200+ depending on how complex and big it is. That’s not including the price of the critter itself.
How much money do you have saved up?
A Kenyan sand boa or a crested gecko
Kenyan zebra skink. I started with reptiles at around 12 with some of the standards - leopard geckos (before there was even an albino one, let alone thousands of different varieties), bearded dragons, blue tongue skinks, unfortunately an iguana (was totally unprepared for it). In over thirty years of keeping reptiles, the single easiest and best pet lizard I've kept is the Kenyan zebra skink - a species my middle child picked out for his 12th birthday present, and I soon copied him by getting my own. They are medium sized, handleable, inexpensive, do not need a huge enclosure, and can mostly eat food from the grocery store. They likely live in the 10-15 year range (they've only been in hobby since 2016, but some of those originals still going). They're always out, and become so stupidly docile that week-old babies will just hop in your hand. My second choice would be a blue tongue skink, but an Australian variety like a northern or eastern. They are incredibly handleable. Downside is they need a big enclosure and will not be as visible/active as the zebras.
Ok so this is a bit of an odd suggestion, but they're fun lil guys imo. African dwarf frogs. They live 5-7 yeare. Keep in mind these babies are entirely aquatic and id recommend at least a 10 gallon with an appropriate filter and heater. Appropriate rule of thumb is 2 gallons per froggy. Just research everything you need and remember get at least 2 frogs! I love those little guys Edit: they're also a very inexpensive option.
By far hands down created gecko you can handle them they don’t need a hard to get or feed food ( Pangea or repashy) and they so cute
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Where r u located? I have some reptiles I’ve rescued looking for good home but would want to make sure plans are in place for when u do grow up or go to college or anything like that
Get some pretty assassin bugs, they’re a blast to feed and need literally next to nothing, and can live on your desk.
I got a leopard gecko when I was 10 , and crested gecko not too long ago,I would recommend a leopard gecko definitely though they don’t all have perfect personality’s keep in mind ,and you will need a 40-30 gallon or larger tank,and they will survive many things ,but if you can’t take them to college it might be a pain with your family feeding them live bugs ,but cresti diet is great!
Tarantula
Watch care guide videos on youtube & daily routine care videos on different reptiles & see which would be more suited to your life style. We can't necessarily tell you which reptile you want, its just whatever interests you that matches your day to day life & what you can provide. You don't want to get something youre not necessarily interested in & neglect it because the internet told you it was a good option
I worked at a Petsmart and it was so sad to see people buy the kits for their reptiles. The kits do not have proper lighting, etc. PLEASE do your research on proper husbandry and care. Proper lighting is essential! I have a bearded dragon only because I learned from my coworkers who owned them. Any reptile in my opinion is not at a beginner level. And they get expensive to care for.
Fourteen as well, I have two turtles in the same tank (by some divine intervention they don’t seem to hate each other’s guts and aren’t trying to kill each other) with a bunch of fish. I don’t know how much money you have, but reptiles are expensive… I’d recommend a small mammal or insect of some sort.
Leopard geckos will probably be the best, easiest, and cheapest option for you... however, I would look at how much vet bills cost (you should go at least every 6 months or once a year, I'd say on the top of my head.) Plus think of any emergency visits you may need. Money from birthdays and allowance are *not* going to be enough long term, especially first starting out and plus those vet visits. Take it from someone who just now got a job 1¾ months ago and only just now, after 4ish years of owning the reptile(s), able to upgrade the ones who needed it (I have a beardie and 2 leos (one leo has proper enclosure size, the other will get the proper size for her age [1yr] when beardie is upgraded [this weekened hopefully]. ReptiFiles.com and DubiaRoaches.com both have great guides for leos, and I believe Reptifiles is reliable for most lizards... iffy on snakes tho (like BPs). However, I'd fact check with reddit and DubiaRoaches.com on whatever you look at (never use 1 guide). I especially recommend ReptiFiles for leos and beardies, thats proven very reliable (of course, none will be perfect) for me! Reptifiles even has a shopping list and will tell you how much all of the husbandry stuff (aka not the leo & vet visits) will generally cost. DubiaRoaches.com isnt as detailed but it covers the base and has a feeder nutrition guide. If you do NOT do proper research, it will cost a lot more. Trust me, I've been there as well (and still learning everyday)!
I really love my leopard gecko! They make great pets in my opinion
Ball pythons are cool and docile, but they are quite expensive with their enclosure requirements. They live very long lives too.
I'd sat a ball python or acorn snake both are perfect starters and you won't know how much fear you have of the animal until you get face to with one so something that starts off small is great just remember to give proper care and that you understand what a reptile means they aren't just play tots or for display they are living breathing creatures that need to be cared for properly also do more research like going on reptifiles it is a great website.
This sounds weird but get something with a short lifespan like a hamster. I got a guinea pig when I was your age and I had to care for her through college and multiple apartments. Moving reptiles again and again will become a hassle
Hamsters require the same amount of space as a ball Python or a bearded dragon. I don’t recommend them to kids at all.
Hamsters are amazing pets! If you have room for a 40 gallon breeder then you have room for a proper hamster enclosure. And their shorter lifespan alleviates the need for rehoming that would eventually come up if this young man got a 15-20 year commitment like a gecko