Are Reptiles Really “Low Maintenance”?

Reptiles are often advertised as “easy pets” that are perfect for busy people or beginners who don’t want the constant walks, grooming, or training that dogs and cats require. But while reptiles don’t need a walk around the block or a litter box, calling them low maintenance might be a bit of a stretch. Let’s break down what “low maintenance” really looks like when you’re providing proper, ethical reptile care.

1. The Setup is Everything

Most of the “work” in reptile care happens before you even bring your pet home. A proper setup can take weeks of research, planning, building, and testing. You’ll need to:

• Learn about your reptile’s natural habitat and how replicate it in captivity; temperature gradients, humidity, UVB exposure, lighting cycles, and substrate all matter.

• Choose an enclosure large enough for natural movement and enrichment. (Hint: that spare cracked 20-gallon aquarium or 40-gallon breeder tank from the pet store won’t cut it for most commonly kept reptile species!)

• Test your setup for stability before introducing your reptile. Make sure the temperatures and humidity stay consistent.

A correct habitat can easily run a few hundred dollars or more, depending on the species. The preparation for a new reptile can hardly be considered “low maintenance.” 

2. Daily Care Still Counts

While you don’t walk a bearded dragon or need to regularly brush your snake (hah!), reptiles still have daily needs:

• Monitoring temperatures, humidity, and ensuring all lights are functioning properly.

• Spot cleaning waste, uneaten food, and shed skin.

• Providing fresh water and potentially misting, depending on species.
  

These tasks don’t take hours, but skipping them can quickly lead to health problems that are far more time-consuming (and expensive) to fix later!

3. Feeding Isn’t Always Simple

Feeding a reptile goes beyond tossing in some lettuce or a few crickets.

• Many reptiles require specialized diets, like live insects gut-loaded with nutritious gut-load gel and fresh foods, and a rotating schedule of calcium (with and without d3) and multivitamins. 

• Omnivorous species like bearded dragons need a balance of protein and greens that changes with age.

• Snakes, on the other hand, need properly sized frozen-thawed prey — and that means proper storage, thawing, and handling.

Miss the mark too often, and you’re dealing with obesity, malnutrition, or even metabolic bone disease.

4.

Maintenance Never Ends

Even the best setups need ongoing care:

• Deep cleaning substrate and décor every few weeks or months.

• Replacing UVB bulbs every 6–12 months depending on manufacturer recommendation (they weaken over time, even if they still emit visible light).

• Adjusting humidity and heating seasonally.

• Observing behavior, tracking weight, and taking your pet to a reptile specialized veterinarian if you notice any concerning changes and/or suspect any illness

5. Reptiles are Long-Term Commitments

Reptiles can live a very long time when properly cared for:

• Leopard geckos: 15–20 years

• Bearded dragons: 10–15 years

• Ball pythons: 30 years or more

  That’s decades of consistent care — not exactly a “set it and forget it” pet!

6. The Real “Low Maintenance” Myth

People call reptiles low maintenance because they seem less interactive than dogs or cats. But that doesn’t mean they need less.

Reptiles thrive with enrichment, routine, and observation. While they don't require  excessive hands on daily maintenance, they instead require knowledgeable observation and routine maintenance.

If your goal for a new pet is to do the bare minimum, you’ll end up with a stressed or unhealthy reptile. But if you’re willing to learn and invest time upfront, reptiles can be incredibly rewarding companions that are lower effort day-to-day than a mammal, but never “no effort.”

Reptiles aren’t "low maintenance", they’re differently maintained. Once you’ve dialed in their environment and routine, care becomes smooth and predictable. But reaching that point takes time, money, and real understanding about your pet's requirements.

If you’re drawn to reptiles because they’re “easy,” pause and research deeper!

If you’re drawn to them because they’re worth the investment, you’re already on the right track.