Caring for multiple reptiles

[ChristianH26]

Up until recently I cared for a corn snake as well as my blue tongue skink. Unfortunately he recently had to be put to rest because of a stomach parasite. In the 9 months or so I cared for the two of them I found it really quite a struggle. What tips would you guys have for caring for more than one reptile such as housing arrangements etc. I really would love another reptile as well as Stevie but I Don’t want to do so unless I’m able to efficiently care for the both of them? I am only 17 and about to go to university so I Don’t want to add any extra stress with another reptile unless I’m able to care for 2 in a more stress- free way.

[Janella]

So caring for multiple reptiles is about responsibility and making sure you do your education from reliable sources. Having timers for lights helps too. So if you are going to be leaving for school it probably is best to wait to get another reptile. Who will be caring for your BTS while your gone? It is all things to think about.

[ChristianH26]

Yes fortunately somebody to look after them isn’t a problem as I have a large family who love them all as much as me and I am staying home for uni. I think I’d like to get a shelving unit if I were to have another reptile.

[Yeshika]

As a fellow university student, I'd definitely recommend waiting until after uni to bring in any new family members. It's really important to be able to make time for the pets you already have, I'm not sure which of your reptiles passed away, but if you still have your skink, they'll definitely be wanting your attention in the spare time you have in between classes, assessments and homework. It's like that for any animal really; They all need varying levels of attention and care, and there's always going to have to be time in your schedule for them. Make sure you've got plenty of free time to dedicate to a new animal, if you're considering one

[ChristianH26]

Yeah that’s been my thought to be honest. After I’ve had a good think about it I think I’ll just stick to the skink for now

[Caffee]

Personally, ive owned several animals at once and currently do still. As of now; i own a turtle, fish, And BTS. I had a guinea pig as well, but she was put to sleep a few weeks ago. That being said, i would say i have some experience in multi animal ownership.

Heres a few things i recommend:

1.) timers. Timers. Timers. For your reptile lights, timers are a blessing.

2.) One thing to keep in mind before and during ownership is how much spare money you have. Dont just think upfront costs, think vet costs, think if something breaks, think upgrades. Good rule of thumb is if you cant buy it twice, dont buy it at all. Having good money management and saving will relieve a lot of anxiety and stress. One good way to save money is finding deals on certain supplies. For example, the dollar store has lots of fake greenery and you can buy certain substrate from places like home depot (always check and make sure that its safe first.)

3.) rituals. Set up schedules that work for you. For example, when i was in school, i did cleaning and feeding on the weekends and made sure i got my homework done at school or as soon as i got home so i could focus on my animals and still have time to myself.

4.) organization. Keep things clean and organized so you always know where everything is so its quick and easy to grab when you need it. I also like to buy cleaning tools that are labeled specifically for my animals.

5.) plan for the future. Ask yourself, will you be able to own this animal still in x amount of time? Will you still be able to provide everything and more? This is especially important to be prepared for as a student.

At the end of the day, animal ownership should be fun. Stress can happen time to time, but if you ever constantly feel stressed then maybe owning more then your current two isnt your best option. We can give you tips to manage more, but its up to you to decide if owning more animals is best for you and the animal.

[ChristianH26]

Thank you for the help and yes I think through uni, just sticking to the one reptile is probably the smartest idea.