Why is it so many myths and legends feature reptiles as the bad guys, and tales of terror still speak of slithery serpents and fire breathing dragons? There are plenty of superstitions surrounding reptiles, and some of them are partially based on truth, but in reality, many reptiles species are completely harmless to humans.

Reptiles should be respected, not feared. If you are thinking of keeping reptiles as pets, you should find out all you can about them, and take great care of them. You can discover some fascinating facts, and find out what is false. Sharing your knowledge, and showing off your pets, will help more people to understand that reptiles can be cool characters too!

* Snakes and Serpents

Snakes are often feared because some of them have poisonous venom, and there is a superstition that all snakes are evil.

The serpent is often depicted as a cunning, deceptive and manipulative creature, like the tempter of Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:4-5 and 3:22). The serpent’s forked tongue is a symbol of deceptive speech.

The most common myth about snakes is that they are cold, slimy and unpleasant to touch. Snakes, like all reptiles, cannot manufacture their own body heat, and rely on ambient temperatures. Kept in the right conditions, most of them feel pleasantly warm and dry.

Corn snakes are one of the most popular species of snake to be bred in captivity. They enjoy being handled, and are easy to care for. Corn snakes survive well on weekly feeds, but fresh water is important as corn snakes drink frequently.

* Lizards and Dragons

The mythological dragon is a symbol of power and ferocity. Bearded Dragon Lizards are not, of course, the same as the fire breathing ones, but they are voracious lizards that attack and kill any small creature.

In captivity, the adult bearded dragon lizard will consume large quantities of crickets, meal worms, and the occasional white mouse, while newly hatched dragon lizards prefer crushed insects. They also enjoy leafy vegetables as they grow older, and will eat a variety of freshly chopped fruits and vegetables.

Bearded Dragon Lizards don’t drink water in the wild because they live in a humid environment. They can gain moisture from eating vegetables, in captivity, but the vivarium should be sprayed every day to keep it moist, to ensure the dragon does not dehydrate.

* The Gecko’s Tail

Most people know that geckos, like most lizards, drop their tails when frightened or disturbed. The detached tail will distract the predator as it wriggles about, while the gecko makes its escape. It is a myth though, that the gecko will simply regenerate a perfect new tail.

The leopard gecko will drop its tail and grow a new tail in time, but it will not be the same as its original one. After a leopard gecko drops its tail, it’s left with a pink stump, which starts to grow into a conical shape. This will change to a violet-red as it grows larger, then it will become lavender, and eventually pale gray.

A male leopard gecko will shake his tail to attract a female, and her tail will sway from side to side as a response. Leopard geckos do breed well in captivity, and can safely be kept as pets. Just be sure never to pick one up by the tail!