When you want a new reptile, you can go to a pet store or you can buy from a breeder. If buying from a breeder is your choice, you need to make sure that you are working with a reputable breeder. How can you make sure that your breeder is a good one?

Ask for Records

One way to do it is to ask the breeder if you can see their records. There are a few things you should look for when you are looking at the breeder's records. You want to look at the lineage records to see what the family history looks like for the animal you are curious about. The lineage records should include information about the genetics of the animal, and its parents. Some breeders will only keep records for a generation or two, while others will go back several generations back. You should check on the breeder's vet records. You want to make sure that the animals are seeing a vet regularly because that means that the breeder is taking care of the health of all their animals. 

Reviews

You should always check to see what reviews a breeder has. Not everyone will leave a review, but there should be enough that you can get a good idea about what other people think about that particular breeder. Don't just check the five-star reviews, also look at the one-star reviews. That will give you a better balance of opinions. If the breeder only has a small number of reviews, that can be a sign that they are new to the business, and may not be well known in the reptile community yet.

Professional Group Member

Check to see if the breeder is a member of any professional groups. You can check with those groups to see if they have any information about breeders in your area and if there is anyone that they might recommend. Many associations will have sales or swap boards that you can check out as well. 

Getting a reptile can be really exciting, whether it's your first animal or your tenth. There are things that you can do that will help you buy an animal from a good breeder. Doing these things aren't going to be onerous, and you should be able to get several of them done in just a few hours.

For more information, contact a breeder with reptiles for sale near you.