Live Life Team
Most reptiles don’t have a real infant or baby stage. They are either eggs, young, live young, or adults reptiles. That said, there are differences between young reptiles and their adult counterparts that you should consider.
Freshly hatched or freshly born reptiles need some time to get acquainted with the world. They may be shy or nervous, and so you should keep your handling of them to a minimum for at least a few days.
Young reptiles may not eat the way an adult of their same species might. They will clearly need less food simply because they are smaller. However, their food needs might be drastically different. Some breeds of herbivores, for instance, will eat crickets when younger. While it is recommended that any food you provide for your herps be small to make it easier for them to eat and digest, in the case of young reptiles, you need to take very special care to make sure their portions are small enough. Greens and plant matter must be shredded fine. If your juvenile herp eats things like mice, make sure the mice aren’t too large for them to swallow.
With their diet, many herps bred in captivity will require supplements to replace vitamins and minerals which they may lack. Not only will this help them grow big and strong, it also helps prevent common problems for captive retiles like bone problems and illness.
A tank suitable for an adult reptile may not be suitable for your baby reptile. Too large an environment might make your baby reptile nervous. It will also need good hiding spots and may need to be kept away form adults. It’s best to check with your vet or other herp experts.
