Reptiles come in all shapes and sizes, and their basic needs vary significantly from species to species. It's essential that you tailor your shopping list to meet the specific requirements of the reptile you've chosen. Here are items, grouped by category, that you should purchase before you bring your new reptile home. Of course, you can always add items as time passes and you become more familiar with your pet's needs.

Housing for Terrestrial Reptiles

You will need a cage or terrarium with:

Housing for Semi-Aquatic Reptiles

You will need:

Housing for Aquatic Reptiles

You will need:

Food

You will also need commercially-prepared food, designed specifically for the kind of reptile you have. If your reptile requires live food, you must identify a reliable, high-quality source. Petco strongly recommends feeding your reptile frozen thawed food. Depending on the species, your pet may need a multi-vitamin/mineral and calcium supplements. Your pet reptile may also need fresh greens or fruit. Some reptiles require large amounts of dark leafy greens. Consult your exotic veterinarian and a Petco reptile specialist for your animal's specific dietary needs.

Miscellaneous

More items that may be useful are tweezers for removing ticks, a thermostat and timer (optional), treatments and prescriptions from your reptile veterinarian, as required, for internal or external parasites, forcepts or other tools for feeding.