Picking a pet for your kids can be a difficult choice. You will want to start with a pet that needs little attention, while still teaching them responsibility. Lizards are a great option and can be found at many reptile stores.
Here are the reasons that a lizard is a good pet for kids:
Compelling Reasons to get a Lizard for Young Kids
-Beginner Friendly
Lizards have few care requirements, they love bonding with humans, and they are considered fairly affordable. Your kids will have an easy time taming the pet. You will need to find out more about your lizards’ habitat requirements so they can feel safe in their new home. You can do some easy research before going to the reptile store.
-No Fur or Pet Dander
If specific allergens easily trigger your kids, you want to avoid anything that might expose them to fur or pet dander. Pet allergies lead to symptoms like eye irritation, body itch, and a runny nose. With lizards as pets, you don’t have to worry about that as they don’t shed anything that can trigger allergies. Lizards are a great hypo-allergenic option for families with pet allergen issues.
-Calm Temperament
You should consider the safety of your kids when buying a pet. You’ll want a pet that remains calm around them. Lizards have a calm temperament in nature, so your kids can bond with them without the fear of getting hurt. Make sure you teach your kids to safely handle them.
Due to their calm nature, lizards are not noisy, unlike other common household pets. If you live in an apartment or have close neighbors, you don’t have to worry about your pet causing loud noises during quiet times.
Pick the Right Lizard Species from Reptile Stores
There are over 4,000 lizard species worldwide, but not all of them are ideal pets for your kids. Here are some of the friendly lizards you might consider getting from lizard stores:
-Bearded Dragon
The bearded dragon is high on the list of lizard species ideal as pets. Bearded dragons are low maintenance. They need a basking site and a large enclosure with full UVB lighting. They are very hardy feeders and mostly eat insects and plant material. These lizards are available in various colors, so your kids can pick their favorite color.
-Leopard Gecko
The Leopard gecko is known as the easiest lizard species to tame. You won’t require any special lighting, and their feeding requirements are pretty simple. A medium-sized aquarium would be enough for a male and female or two females. To avoid impaction when feeding, you need to add reptile carpet as a substrate. You have a wide range of morphs and colorations to choose from for leopard geckos.
-Blue-Tongue Skink
The blue-tongue skink is large but is relatively easy to handle. The species which originate in Australia appreciate being scratched on top of the head and under the chin. Your kids will have a good time playing with them. Being a terrestrial species, your blue-tongue skink will need plenty of floor space.
-Crested Gecko
A crested gecko is not only a great pet for your kids and a fascinating display animal. You have to be careful when handling it. When it feels that it is in danger, it will drop its tail, which does not grow back. Crested geckos are mainly nectar eaters and you can find several commercially prepared feeds.
Preparing Your Home
Before getting a lizard pet for your kids from reptile stores, you should prepare your home. The more prepared you are, the smoother the experience will be for you, the kids, and the lizard. You will need to research your lizard’s needs, its habits, and food. Teach your kids basic pet-handling practices, such as washing their hands after handling their pet. A lizard can be a great addition to your home and help your kids learn responsibility and caring for other animals.