Caring For Reptiles

Feeding your herptile is really easy. They can even miss a feed once in a whole, causing them no ham at all. Herptiles can be broken down into three main feeding groups. These are herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.

Herbivores

Herbivores are those, which do not eat meat. Herbivores need a large, varied diet. Readily made foods are available for tortoises, turtles and iguanas. Other animals should be provided a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Carnivores

Carnivores live off proteins, such as, rodents, insects, invertebrates, eggs and in some cases, other herptiles. These can be fed live or dead. They can be bought frozen from good pet shops, although must be completely defrosted before feeding. 

Omnivores

Omnivores are those herptiles, which eat both plant substances and meat. They enjoy a mixture of the two above diets. 

Whichever diet your herptile follows, it is important to ensure the diets are enriched with vitamins and minerals. These supplements are found naturally in a variety of foods, or can be bought pre-added to foods from good pet food suppliers. In the wild, herptiles do not eat constantly, and giving them this lifestyle in captivity can cause obesity and illness. 

We here at Elms Pets, believe you will love your new life with your herptile. Here are a few handy hints for you to remember:

• Never handle your herptile with dry hands, this may damage their skin.
• Always keep the temperature of the enclosure stable and warm enough.
• Do not let the herptile out the cage unless it is completely safe and cannot escape.