Do you want to know if reptiles are common pets?
Are you looking to learn more about reptile trends in the United States?
When most people first think about getting a reptile pet, they often feel like they’re the only ones out there who have them.
You may have even felt the stigma attached to reptile owners.
Some folks think it’s weird to own one.
The reality is much different, and the benefits are immense.
It would help if you learned how many households in the United States have at least one reptile.
The trend for reptile pets in American households has risen somewhat in recent years, but the current data suggests at least one reptile is found in 3% of homes in the United States.
Read ahead for more details and which reptiles are the most popular.
Table of Contents
How Many Households In The United States Have At Least One Reptile?
In recent years, reptile ownership has risen to the point where there are an estimated 3% of households that own at least one reptile.
Why?
Communication
Before the 2000s, reptiles were relatively uncommon pets.
Part of the reason for this was to do with access, while the other had to do with limited communication.
Unless you had someone who could refer you to a reptile breeder, it wasn’t easy to find one.
Even today, most cities have limited breeders, but a simple internet search will help you connect with one anywhere in the country.
Pet stores may have had some more common reptiles, but the supply was limited in the area.
As our communication has grown, so has the ability to connect and share information on these unique pets.
Due to this, their popularity has risen.
And while we’re talking about breeders you may find it interesting to learn about how much money reptile breeders make in this post.
Conservation
Another reason they’ve risen in popularity is due to conservation efforts and awareness.
Many reptile species are endemic and struggle to survive outside their normal environment, which is destroyed and affected by human settlements.
Through environmental groups, some species of reptiles have risen as pets to help them survive and thrive.
An excellent example of this is the blue iguana, which was extremely endangered and is now at a much more stable place.
Easier Access To Care Knowledge
As the internet and quality sites, such as this one, rise in the world, people have access to better information, which makes them feel more comfortable taking these unusual friends.
Before, people wouldn’t even know what to do with one of these pets, let alone if some of these species even existed.
People see how easy and how much fun it is to keep some of these pets.
Why Should You Own A Reptile?
Even knowing all the people out there who keep at least one reptile, you may wonder why they want to in the first place.
Live Long Lives
Many pets will hang around with you for a decade or two, but many reptile breeds, especially turtles and larger snakes, can be your friends for much longer.
If you’re looking for a new friend to care for a long time, reptiles may be precisely what you need.
Easy To Care For
At first, most new owners feel intimidated by all they must do to care for their reptile pets.
Specific temperature, humidity, substrate, diets, and other needs seem like a lot.
In all honesty, most owners who stick with it say it ends up being easier than keeping a dog or cat.
Once you’ve figured out how to set up their tank, it’s smooth sailing from there.
Reptiles need less interaction to be happy.
Often, they don’t need to be fed much or as often.
Builds Character
For kids and adults alike, caring for pets teaches and develops character and discipline.
You learn how to set up habits and routines to give your pet the best life.
This skill directly applies to your own life.
Many parents will get a reptile pet with the aim of helping their kids develop these skills.
There are teachers galore who subscribe to this belief as well.
Develops A Deeper Understanding Of The World
With the advent of the internet and the vast sources of information out there, it’s easy to assume we, as a society, know all we need to know and can access it instantly.
Studies and experience show while this is great, it’s nothing compared to practical experience.
When looking at reptiles and keeping them as pets, owners see something quite different than ourselves.
When people keep dogs and cats, they’re different, but they’re still mammals.
They function primarily the same way.
Reptiles are unique, and we can physically see how those differences function.
Between how they absorb moisture, different diet functions, shedding, body temperature regulation, color changes, and much more, there is a lot to be learned from these unique pets, whether you’re an adult or a child.
Look Unique And Cool
Yeah, reptiles look cool.
They’re unlike what most people keep as pets, so you’ll have unique attractions at home.
From the fierce but docile bearded dragon to the colorful and fragile chameleon, reptiles are among the most interesting looking pets out there.
Most Common Reptile Pets
This section covers the most common reptile pets and why they’re so common.
| Pet | Reason For Popularity |
| Bearded Dragon | Healthy, tough, cool-looking |
| Leopard Gecko | Small, easy to care for, fun to look at |
| Corn Snake | Healthy, fun to watch eat |
| Ball Python | Healthy, fun to watch eat |
| Red-Eared Slider Turtle | Classic, live long lives |
| Crested Gecko | Cute, unique colors |
| Boxed Turtle | Classic, live long lives |
| Iguana | Large and fierce-looking, but calm and fun |
| Chameleon | Beautiful colors, unique environment and look |
| Boa Constrictor | Fierce-looking and large, easy to care for |
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning about how many households in the United States have at least one reptile and why you may want to own one.
3% may not seem like a lot, but assuming an average of 128.58 million households, according to Statista, you’re looking at around 3.86 million households with a reptile.
Search around our site to learn more about these pets and hopefully decide to get one for yourself.
