How to find a reptile sitter

So Auntie Amy’s expertise doesn’t quite extend to reptile care and entrusting your scaly sidekick to the kid who lives next door is out of the question, but where does that leave your precious pet when you’re out of town? It’s time to find a trusted reptile sitter! 

Caring for reptiles requires a little more attention to detail than your average furry friend, making the hunt for a qualified caretaker a tad tricker. But don’t worry, here’s your guide on how to find a reptile sitter who really knows their stuff.

How to find a reptile sitter 

Use a reputable pet sitting platform

Call us biased, but with over 180k happy members, it’s clear that TrustedHousesitters is a pretty good place to start. Trusted by name and trusted by nature, our dedicated sitters don’t take care of pets for the money, they do it for the love of pets! This means your cold-blooded buddy will be in warm, caring hands whenever you’re away. 

Start your search in advance

Once you’ve settled on your pet sitting platform of choice, it’s time to get the ball rolling. Ideally, you should create your listing and add in your travel dates as soon as your trip’s booked. This will give you plenty of time to find your perfect reptile sitter, and allow them to make their own travel arrangements well in advance. 

Specify your reptile’s needs

Include clear details of how to care for your pet reptile in your listing, including the following information: 

• What, how often, and how much does your reptile eat? Does their diet require live feed or any special preparation?
• What temperature and humidity levels does your pet need? Ensure sitters understand how to manage heat lamps, UV lights, and other environmental controls.
• Does your scaly sidekick enjoy being handled? Some reptiles prefer minimal human contact, while others might enjoy a tickle under the chin or a supervised roam around the room.
• Does your cold-blooded buddy have any specific health concerns or medications that need to be administered?

Opt for an experienced reptile sitter

As reptile care can be quite different from looking after other pets, it’s often best to choose a sitter who knows their way around a terrarium. On TrustedHousesitters, you can use the filter to search for sitters who have experience caring for reptiles before reaching out to see if they’ve cared for your particular type of pet before. If finding someone local also matters to you, just include your location in the search to connect with a reptile sitter near you.

Check through references and reviews

All of the sitters on TrustedHousesitters must go through identity checks and verifications in order to join our platform. In addition, they provide external references and receive reviews from pet parents each time they complete a sit, both of which will give you a more rounded view of your potential sitter. 

Arrange an initial phone call

Once you’ve decided on a few potential sitters, it’s a good idea to have a chat with them so you can get to know them a little better. You might want to ask some of the following questions to find out more about their experience: 

• Have they cared for reptiles before? More specifically, have they cared for the type of reptile you own?
• Do they understand the needs of your pet, including dietary and environmental requirements?
• Are they prepared to handle an emergency? 
  

It’s also a great sign if the sitters ask you their own questions, from feeding routines to how to clean the cage. 

After chatting with a few potential sitters, most pet parents get a good sense of who’s the best match for their scale-clad companion. But don’t worry if you don’t find the right sitter straight away – that’s why it’s so important to give yourself plenty of time to find the perfect person. 

As more and more pet parents welcome cold-blooded buddies into their families, the hunt for reliable reptile sitter services is heating up! By finding a reptile sitter through TrustedHousesitters, your scaly sidekick will enjoy around-the-clock care and attention, ensuring they stay happy and healthy while you’re away.