I want to level with you — I was never a huge reptile person. In my mind, they just weren’t cute. To me, cute pets had fluffy tails, blinked their eyes rapidly, and wagged their noses when happy. Birds were pretty too, but reptiles just seemed so…drab in comparison. That was until I started working at a reptile store and learning more about them every day.
Not only are there so many cute reptiles out there, but after you meet one, you’ll wonder how you could have ever forgotten about this entire category of loveable, hilarious, and oddly personable creatures. So whether you’re a lifelong reptile aficionado or you’ve only recently found yourself wondering what it would be like to own a reptile as a pet, this list is about to change your mind.
Why Reptiles Are The Best Pets
Okay, but first. A quick note on why you should even consider owning a reptile. I get it, most animals do not try to seek you out when you come home from work, they don’t generally make you laugh out loud on a daily basis, and they can often be a bit weird looking. BUT reptiles are also masters of adapting to your home and they grow attached to their owners over time. Many reptiles are low maintenance (read: don’t shed hair all over your home like cats, don’t bark at every squirrel like dogs, and don’t knock over your houseplants trying to climb up your curtains) and live for decades, allowing you plenty of time to develop your unique bond.
In addition, reptiles are perfect for smaller apartment dwellers or families with allergies to furry pets. They’re quiet, they don’t need to go on walks twice a day, and honestly, there’s something really therapeutic about sitting and watching a reptile go about their day. Once you learn what temperature, lighting, and dietary needs they have, plus how to adequately set up their cage or tank, they’re happy as can be and fit right into your home.
How Do You Define “Cute” When It Comes to Reptiles?
There are so many things that can make reptiles cute. It’s the way their little heads tilt when you’re trying to show them a new toy. It’s how chubby-legged and wide some skinks walk. It’s the oversized doe eyes of a chameleon. It’s how fast some tiny little lizard runs across your hand like it’s a treadmill. Reptiles aren’t going to wag their tails or give you kisses on the nose, but they have plenty of other ways to show you they care.
Okay, now that we’ve got all the warm fuzzy feelings out of the way, let’s get into it.
15 Cute Reptiles That Will Make You Want One ASAP
1.Leopard Gecko
You’d be hard pressed to find a reptile more perfect for beginners than the leopard gecko. Not only are they docile and easy to care for, but they have big warm-patterned bodies that almost look like they were finger painted on. Pair that with their naturally smushed face and cheeks that make them look like they give you hugs when you pick them up, and you’ve got one cute little dude. Leopard geckos are known for being easygoing and tolerant of handling, which makes them perfect for kids and families.
Bonus: Leopard geckos make little chirping sounds when content or hungry, which is actually pretty darn adorable if you ask me.
2.Crested Gecko
The crested gecko is one of my all time favorites. Native to New Caledonia, these guys have textured skin that looks like they’ve been here forever. They’re excellent climbers, so watching them run around and around your well-planted terrarium is a joy. Crested geckos are tame, don’t require live food (if you feed them crested gecko diet), and tend to be inquisitive and bold rather than shy.
3.Blue-Tongued Skink
Blue-tongued skinks have won my heart with their pudgy bodies and impressive rainbow tongues. Whenever I see one out and about, I can’t help but stroke their broad nose to make their tongue come out. Beyond just the tongue thing, blue-tongued skinks are also known to be quite personable and handle well. They tend to recognize their owners after a while and love relaxing in laps for pets.
4.Bearded Dragon
If you want a friendly reptile that you can truly interact with, bearded dragons are the way to go. They’re alert, attentive, and always up for hanging out with you. Beardies puff up their spike-covered cheeks when they’re excited or feeling threatened, but for the most part they’re chill. My personal favorite part about bearded dragons is watching them follow you around the room when you walk. They truly do feel like they’re watching TV with you.
5.Axolotl
Look, I know these are technically amphibians but I just couldn’t cop to writing a whole article on cute reptiles and leaving these guys off the list. Axolotls have feathery external gills, wide grinning mouths, and a translucent charm that no other aquarium pet really matches. They range in colors from bright albino white to deep wild-type brown. Axolotls are fully aquatic and require cooler water temperatures than your average aquarium fish, but they’re still quite easy pets to own.
6.Russian Tortoise
There are few animals as relaxing to watch as a tortoise. With Russian tortoises, you get the added bonus of them being on the smaller side for the tortoise family. This means they’re more easily accommodated in a home and don’t get as large as some of the longer-lived species. Russian tortoises can live just as long as your average pet reptile, developing wonderful personalities as they watch you go about your life. If you just want to veg out and watch your pet enjoy life at their own pace, tortoises are the way to go.
7.Gargoyle Gecko
This little guy has quickly become a customer favorite of mine. With its chunky body and textured appearance that gives them their name, the gargoyle gecko is tougher to spot than their smooth-skinned cousin the crested gecko. What they lack in skinniness, these geckos make up for tenfold with their adorable personalities. They’re calm, easy to handle, and also hail from New Caledonia, so they can be set up nearly identically to crested geckos.
8.Green Anole
Want a reptile that you can watch 24/7? Meet the green anole. These tiny dinosaurs change color based on their mood and environment. The males even sport bright red “dewlaps,” which is the fancy term for throat fan. They extend their throats to either show dominance to another male or woo a lovely lady anole. These little lizards will spend their days cruising around their habitat, sticking their tongues out at every bug that dares cross their path. Priceless.
9.African Fat-Tailed Gecko
The leopard gecko may be king of the cute reptile world, but these cuties are giving him a run for his money. African fat-tailed geckos are even smaller in stature than their leopard cousins and have an incredibly soft velvet appearance. Their tails are stout and serve as storage for fat reserves, hence the name. Like leopard geckos, they come in nearly any pattern and color combination you can imagine, but tend to be even lazier than leopard geckos. Expect extremely slow movement and great handling tolerance.
10.Painted Turtle
As far as aquatic reptiles go, nothing comes close to a painted turtle when it comes to an “Oh Snap!” factor. Side note: “Oh Snap” is a southern saying that you should adopt immediately; by context it means something surprisingly and pleasingly beautiful. Painted turtles have deep greens and blacks on their shell and neck, but bright red and yellow along the edges. Watching these turtles swim around their tank and emerge for some basking is a hobby of mine. They’re active and really cool to watch, plus they become accustomed to you with time.
11.Day Gecko
Day geckos, and more specifically the giant day gecko from Madagascar, are some of the most colorfully wonderful reptiles on the planet. These guys range from lime green to electric green with shades of red or blue highlighted across their back. In my opinion, they kind of look fake. But they’re REAL. They aren’t great with handling because their skin is very thin and delicate, but these geckos are STUNNING. Buy one brightly colored gecko and plant their tank like a rainforest. You’ll watch them rave for hours.
12.Kenyan Sand Boa
Are you nervous about snakes but want to learn more? I used to be too, which is what makes the Kenyan sand boa my favorite snake out there. These little fellas are small in size, stout in body, and come in amazing oranges and yellows. Nonvenomous and slow moving, they’re often described as “snuggly” because they love to burrow into your hand and warmth.
13.Chinese Water Dragon
Chinese water dragons have entranced me since I was young. Emerald green scales, skinny legs, and long elegant tails come together to make these reptiles some of the most breathtakingly gorgeous creatures around. They have a calm nature about them and will enjoy you as long as you handle them consistently when they’re young. Chinese water dragons need a larger vivarium than your average reptile, with plenty of water for baths and heights to climb, but when done correctly you’re rewarded with a TRUE dinosaur.
14.Ball Python
Ball pythons may be one of the most popular pets in the reptile world and there’s good reason why. They come in an insane amount of color morphs (or variations) from simple black and white to bright blue and yellow. These snakes are docile, have a slow sweet gait when they move about, and absolutely STUNNED me the first time I held one. When comfortable, they literally curl up into a ball with their faces seeming to smile. Don’t believe me? Go grab yourself a ball python and see what I mean.
15.Pancake Tortoise
Need we say more?
Final Thoughts
My hope with this article is that you found even just one reptile that made you do a 180 on how you feel about them. They can seem intimidating to research at first due to the variety of needs they have based on species — from humidity and heat to dietary needs and cage sizes. When you discover the reptile that’s perfect for your lifestyle and get their environment lined up to suit their natural habits, it’s unlike any other pet experience. At least for me it has been. Quiet, mesmerizing, and filled with joyful moments that will make you smile every day.
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