Reptile Sale Checklist for the New Pet Buyer

 

1. How will we house it when we get home?
2. How large will it get?    
   How will we house it when it is 15 feet long?
3. What will we feed it?    
   Are we really, really, really willing to feed it _____________? (Fill in name of cute furry mammal.)   
   Will we still like it if it eats the Yorkie?
4. How long will it live?    1 year?    3 years?    5 years?     7 years?    10 years?    25 years?   
   Turtle owners only:   30 years?    40 years?    50 years?    75 years?   
   What will happen to it when we die?
5. What will we do with it when Junior/Missy discovers girls/guys and loses interest?    
   Will we still want it when Junior/Missy goes to college and can't keep it in the dorm?
6. How warm must it be kept?   
   Are we willing to turn the spare bedroom into a tropical rainforest?    
   Can we afford the utility bill?
7. Will Aunt Martha sleep with it when she comes to visit next spring?
8. What will we do if it gets ill?   
   Are we really willing to pay a veterinarian that much for healing a sick___________? (Fill in species name.)
9. Who will feed it when we're on vacation?   
   Will they really, really, really feed it ________? (See Question 3 above.)
10. What will we do when (not if) it gets out of its cage/room?
11. Will it bring in the newspaper?

Source: Dale Belcher, ZOOSCAPE, the Rio Grande Zoo

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See also:

Salmonella & Reptiles

Reptile Care Information - CARESHEETS provided by this website.

Herp Care - CARESHEETS provided by Melissa Kaplan - lots of info