A Diverse Group

Reptiles are one of the most diverse groups of animals. Snakes can inhabit land, sea, freshwater environments and trees. Tortoises and turtles can be temperate or tropical land dwellers, or live in freshwater or marine environments. Lizards can be found in almost all climate regions of the world—from arctic temperatures to the heat extremes of the Sahara Desert.

Some reptiles eat only meat (carnivorous), while others eat only vegetation (herbivorous) and some eat both (omnivorous). Some reptiles are diurnal or active in the day, while others come out only at night (nocturnal reptiles).

General Needs: Heating & Lighting

Despite differences in species and appearance, many reptiles kept in captivity have similar requirements. All reptiles are ectotherms, needing heat from an outside source to survive and digest food properly. All diurnal reptiles kept in captivity, including virtually all lizards, some snakes, and most tortoises and turtles, also need ultraviolet B (UVB) to replace the sunlight they get in the wild and help them utilize calcium. Both heat and light must be monitored carefully at your store and by customers who keep reptiles as pets.

Learning Objectives

This module will give you a better understanding of turtles and tortoises, lizards and snakes, and increase your confidence when selling reptiles and related products.

After completing this module, you should be able to:

• Examine reptiles and identify possible health problems.
• Care for the reptiles in your store.
• Communicate basic needs for each species to customers.
• Explain characteristics of reptile groups and species.
• Recommend equipment and add-on sales items for reptiles.

Click on the blue module navigation menu at the top of the page to access a category within the Reptiles chapter.