The Top Three Vegetarian Pet Reptiles
Reptiles make great pets because they are unique and fun to bring into a home. Many people enjoy having reptiles as pets for this reason, especially because they make great conversation starters. However, some people get squeamish when it comes to feeding their pet reptiles since most require live animals, such as mice or crickets. This is why you might want to consider vegetarian pet reptiles. Here are the top three contenders:
An Iguana:
Iguanas make for really great vegetarian pets and only require a diet full of vegetables and fruit, although vegetables are the main food since fruits are more of a treat for these creatures. The best part is that, if you have the space, you can grow all of your iguana's food in your own backyard, which would be foods such as lettuce, kale, and other leafy vegetables. This makes feeding your iguana relatively cheap. However, even with this small diet, iguanas can become quite large, so it's important that you have the space for them when they become bigger.
A Tortoise:
Tortoises are great vegetarian pets because all they need in their diet is grass and leaves, which means they can simply eat whatever is growing in your backyard. Of course, you need a backyard that is large enough for them to roam since they can grow to be huge, at least 100 pounds. You just want to be sure that you don't have any plants in your yard that are considered poisonous to tortoises, such as Bird of Paradise, which is a common plant to have in one's yard.
A Spiny Tailed Lizard:
A spiny tailed lizard is another great vegetarian pet, especially because, unlike the previous two, they stay relatively small in size, so you can keep them in an enclosed cage in your home without having to worry that they will outgrow it. These lizards eat desert vegetation, though that you will probably have to purchase speciality at a reptile or general pet store. However, they also enjoy seeds, such as lentil seeds that you can purchase from your local grocery store. Overall, they are easy to take care of, but may be a bit more expensive over time versus the previous two.
Having a reptile as a pet doesn't always have to mean that you need to feed them live meals, which is difficult for many people to cope with. The three pets mentioned in this article make great pets and tend to be cheaper than the carnivorous reptiles.
