Above: Corn Snakes would make amazing
pets, but there are good reasons why private
ownership of exotic reptiles is illegal in Australia.
Image by Petlin Dmitry.
Thermostats range in price from $40 to more than
$400 and it pays to invest in a high-quality device.
Some of the best mid-range thermostats ($150 -
$200) offer day and night heating options, as well as
timers for UV lights and humidity control.
“Can I keep a chameleon or Corn
Snake as a pet?”
At Kellyville Pets, we receive an enquiry about
ownership of exotic reptiles in Australia on almost a
daily basis. It is against the law to keep any exotic
(non-native) reptile or amphibian in Australia as a
Left: good-quality
globes and a
quality thermostat
make a big
difference.
pet (the Axolotl being an exception). These laws
exist to protect our native reptile fauna from
infectious diseases, as well as our environment
from potentially invasive species. Unfortunately
there is a sizeable illegal black market for exotic
reptiles in Australia. These exotics are smuggled
into the country and some are even bred here.
I have personally been called out to capture
numerous Corn Snakes and even a Greek Tortoise
roaming the streets of suburban Sydney. Whilst
there are many exotic reptiles that would make
amazing pets, do not be tempted to break the law
and risk the health of our native reptiles and
environment. There are significant penalties
including expensive fines and even jail time if you
are caught with an exotic reptile in your possession.
“My heat globes don’t last very
long and keep blowing. What
causes them to blow?”
There are a number of different types of heat globes
commonly used for heating reptile enclosures
including incandescent, halogen, ceramic and
mercury vapour globes. Incandescent globes are
the cheapest option available, however they only
have a limited lifespan and there are many factors
that may cause them to blow in a short period of
time. Here are some tips for getting the most out of
your heat globes:
Do not touch the bulb directly with your
hands. We humans have natural oils on our
skin and these oils may result in ‘hot spots’