Top 10 Reptile Pets For Beginners

These are the Top 10 Reptile Pets for Beginners. For people who want to get started with reptiles, it can be very confusing which reptile to buy and what type of tank to get. There are many kinds of reptiles like snakes, geckos, lizards, and turtles. Some reptiles like bearded dragons and chameleons can be kept in a glass aquarium, while others like African boas and pythons need a large terrarium or large glass aquarium to be kept.

The list below outlines some of the best reptile pets for beginners available, and provides an insight into their behavior, size, temperature requirements, and other important points to consider. We cover the most popular reptile pets for beginners, so you can find the perfect pet for you and your family.

Leopard Gecko

Leopard Geckos are considered among the best reptile pets for beginners because they are small and easy to care for. They don’t need a big enclosure and are not demanding. Leopard Geckos live only up to 10 years and don’t need a lifetime commitment from their owners. They are friendly and receptive to handling, making them a great reptile for beginners.

Corn Snakes

Corn Snakes are often called Red Rat Snakes and are considered one of the best reptile pets for beginners. They are popular because of their docile temperament and because they can adapt well to many conditions. Caring for them does not take much effort as they don’t have complex dietary requirements. 

They are non-venomous and that makes them a safe pet for families. Setting up their tank is easy and these things make them a great first pet reptile for beginners. If you get a Corn Snake, remember to always keep their cage secured. They are docile but if they find an opportunity, they will escape.

Bearded Dragon

Bearded Dragons are social and receptive to human handling. They make a great reptile pets for beginners who have never owned a reptile before. They tend to enjoy outside cage playtime with their owners and may fall asleep in your arms. They are non-aggressive and generally don’t attack anything but their food. 

Bearded Dragons get their name because of the skin they have around their neck. The skin can flare out when they feel scared, making it look like a beard. They are most active during the day and are easy to look after. With them being active during the day, you don’t have to wait until dawn or dusk to care for them.

Ball Python

Ball Pythons are good beginner snakes as they don’t get very large like other snakes. They are calm and caring for them is pretty easy. Ball Pythons come in a variety of colors and if several are available you can get one with a color pattern that you like. Setting up a Ball Python enclosure does not take much effort because they don’t need fancy decorations or equipment. They enjoy being handled and don’t usually bite unless they’re hungry.

Blue-Tongued Skink

Blue-Tongued Skinks are docile and friendly reptiles. They don’t need branches to climb because they are mostly ground-dwellers. Because they don’t climb it makes it easy to set up their cage. Blue-Tongued Skinks don’t have selective dietary needs and you won’t need to buy them anything special or fancy to eat. All of these things make them a great reptile for beginners.

Eastern Box Turtles

If you are a hopeful future reptile owner and want to own a turtle then an Eastern Box Turtle is what you need. These turtles can adapt to a variety of living conditions and caring for them is relatively easy when compared to other turtles. They are social and don’t get aggressive with their owners but excessive handling can still stress them. While they don’t grow longer than 6 inches, they still need a lot of space to move around. Besides a little space, there is nothing extra that they need for their enclosure.

Rosa Boa

Rosa Boa has a balanced temperament and doesn’t mind being handled. Their easy going temperament makes them one of the best reptile pets for beginners. They don’t get aggressive with their owners. Feeding them can require a little extra attention because they eat a lot and can sometimes get aggressive while being fed.

African Sulcata Tortoise

African Sulcata Tortoises are one of the largest tortoises in the world. Still they made the list of the 10 best reptile pets for beginners because of their calm and non-aggressive temperament. They do need a large outdoor enclosure but if you have the space, you will be rewarded with a pleasant reptile.

Milk Snakes

Milk Snakes make great reptile pets for beginners because they are small and don’t require a lot of attention. Handling them from the beginning can help them grow to become very gentle and peaceful pets. Milk Snakes are not venomous and that makes them a good reptile choice for beginners. Milk Snakes are safe to be handled by children because they don’t tend to bite.

Panther Chameleons

While most Chameleon species need a lot of care, Panther Chameleons are easy to care for. Panther Chameleons can adapt to different enclosure settings and don’t need anything crazy when setting up their cage. They are regarded as also one of the calmest Chameleons. While they can be handled, they can become stressed if handled too much. Because they’re so easy to care for they easily made the list of the top 10 reptile pets for beginners.