Picking out a new reptile can be tough. There are so many different colors, shapes and sizes. Some reptiles have legs, like lizards and frogs, while snakes slither. Before picking out the type of reptile you will want, you must decide on the space you are willing to devote to this animal, and the amount of money you have to put towards it.

Size
There are many different sizes of reptiles and enclosures. Before picking what type of reptile you want, you must decide what size enclosure you can have. If the largest you can go is a 10 gallon, then you will be limited to what you can buy. However, if you have no limit to what size, then you can house pretty much any animal legal to have in your state. Once you decide on the cage size, you can then start thinking about what animals can live in this.

Besides the size of the enclosure, think about how large a reptile gets. Some reptiles only grow a few inches, while others grow many feet. Take this into account when deciding on a reptile, especially for younger children. You do not want them trying to handle a 15 foot long snake, but giving them a reptile under 2 feet is ideal, preferably even smaller.

Cost
Figure out how much money you are willing to spend. Reptiles cost a lot to own. First you must have a cage, the heating and lighting elements, substrate, constant supply of food, and tank decorations. These items get pricy.

Here’s an example of how much a typical person can look to spend on a single Leopard Gecko:

• 10 gallon aquarium - $10 (without a top), with a top $20-$30.
• Heat Mat – Around $15 for a 10 gallon
• 2 Thermometers – $7 each (digital ones), sometimes more, let’s say $15
• 2 Housing areas - $15 (usually about $7-$10 each, depending on what you want it to look like)
• Water dish - $5
• Calcium dish - $3
• Substrate – Depends, Paper Towel - $1, or Repti-Carpet $5 or so.

This setup will run you $100+ including the gecko itself. Depending on if you want a juvenile of a normal morph, or something more interesting, the price can go up. You also have to account for the crickets and worms you will be buying over the years you will have this pet.

Food Type
Some people cannot stand crickets, while others hate worms. You have to decide if you can handle feeding live prey, or if you would rather deal with vegetables and fruit. Certain lizards (Iguana’s) will eat just fruit and vegetables, whereas Leopard Gecko’s need live food, and snakes, they eat either live mice, or frozen mice (sometimes rats, guinea pigs, rabbits depending on size).

Can you handle feeding these types of prey? If not, you are again limited to what reptiles you can have. Iguanas grow large, and require a lot more care then people presume, so they are not the best choice for beginners.