What's the difference between reptile boarding and sitters?

Have you ever heard of reptile boarding? We’re not just about paws on all fours at TrustedHousesitters, we love every type of precious pet, including those with snazzy scales. Reptile parents, we’re looking at you today!

When you need to be away from your loveable lizard or gorgeous gecko, it can be tricky to decide what would work best for your pet. Is reptile boarding the best option? What about finding an experienced reptile sitter, is that possible? In fact, what’s the difference between boarding for reptiles and a reptile sitter?

Fret not, chameleon cuddlers, we’re here to help your pet parents choose the right option for your reptile family. So, let’s learn more about reptile boarding, reptile pet sitting, and the pros and cons for both sides of pet care when you need to be away.

What is reptile boarding?

Boarding for reptiles has been a round for a while, don’t you know! Like dog boarding or catteries, they’re facilities designed to temporarily house reptiles while their pet parents are away. Reptile boarding shelters are run by animal professionals who will make sure your precious pets are cared for and kept safe. Pet parents will often pay a set fee for reptile boarding which can range from several hours to many days or weeks.

What is a reptile pet sitter?

There are two ways to come by a reptile pet sitter - one is through a hiring service, and the other is through a pet sitting travel solution like TrustedHousesitters! Rather than pay an hourly or daily fee, you can sign up for a Pet Parent membership to offer you unlimited access to all our verified, trusted pet sitters. Our sitters’ profiles help you find the perfect match for you and your precious pet - whether that be through previous reptile experience, a love for all things scaly, or they have something you just like about them.

Finding a reptile sitter means you don’t need to worry about transporting your cold-blooded comrade to a boarding facility, they can stay in the comforts and familiarity of their own home. A reptile pet sitter can provide additional daily enrichment, ensure their usual routine is kept, and care for your home at the same time.

Reptile boarding: pros and cons

Pros

There are plenty of pros for reptile boarding and many reasons why some pet parents choose to use boarding for reptiles instead of an exotic pet sitter:

• They’ll be cared for by experienced, reputable professionals - as you know, reptile care requires a little more than changing their food and water every day. Some scaly companions need to have their tank temperature and humidity tested throughout the day. If your pet needs to be handled, pet care professionals will know how to safely and confidently hold them.
• Knowledge around different diets for different breeds - while most boarding places will feed your four-legged family to your requests, they’ll also be training to know what else could be included or added to their diet without causing any issues.
• On-site exotic pet care - as an exotic pet parent, you’ll already have your specialized vet or practice for your cold-blooded creature. However, if the boarding facility is outside your local area, the staff will have access to exotic pet vets in case of an emergency.
• No need to bring your enclosure - rather than trying to work out how to transport an iguana tank, most reptile boarding places will have their tanks and cages on-site. These will be cleaned and disinfected daily.

Cons

Now for the negatives - reptile boarding may not be for everyone and that’s okay. There are a few reasons why some pet parents prefer to keep their creatures at home:

• There’s no place like home - even for reptiles! Why they may not perceive home in the same way a dog does, but their familiar surroundings smells, and tastes are comforting to any creature. The act of transporting them and then placing them somewhere unknown can be stressful for reptiles, it’s not the same as home.
• Daily enrichment and mental stimulation are not guaranteed - unless the boarding facilities specify they offer daily enrichment for pets, this isn’t something boarders can promise. While they’ll certainly feed and clean your pet daily, they also have to do this for all the other animals in the facility. Special one-to-one time and handling might not be part of their routine.
• Specific reptile boarding facilities are not as easy to come by - of course, boarding for reptiles has been a thing for ages and isn’t something new. However, as much as we love our exotic pets, they’re not as numerous as our furry felines or derpy doggos. This means fewer boarding facilities specific for reptiles. If you’re unable to find one near you, you may have to travel some distance to find your closest boarding place.
• There’s a higher risk of your pet catching diseases - sadly, this goes for all types of boarding. When different animals are brought together from separate homes there will always be a chance of disease spreading. Reptile boarding facilities will be hot on their cleaning and disinfecting, of course, but sometimes these microscopic meanies can slip through the cracks.

Using a reptile pet sitter: pros and cons

Pros

Speaking from a TrustedHousesittes perspective, there’s an unlimited list of pros for why you should find a reptile sitter with us! Of course, we’ve been fair, and narrowed it down to a few main reasons:

• No stressful move to a new environment and unfamiliar enclosure - allowing your pet to be surrounded by their familiar enclosure with hiding holes, sunning spots, and watch areas. Moving stress can be a very serious health issue for reptiles, so reptile sitting quickly eliminates this factor.
• Their routine can be kept - an in-home reptile pet sitter is there to make sure their day-to-day lives are kept as normal as possible. Their feeding routine with their favorite food, daily mental stimulation, and handling can all be included as part of the pet sitter day.
• Reptile pet sitting goes beyond just feeding and cleaning - creatures need comfort and pet sitters provide this. Your personally tailored day-to-day instructions will let sitters know exactly what’s expected of them, whether handling is permitted or encouraged, and how they can safely entertain your scale babies.
• Travel knowing your pet and home are in safe hands - we’re pet parents, so we’ll always worry about our favorite four-legged family! But knowing they’re safe at home with someone to watch over them and your house can be a relief. Your sitter can update you throughout the day on how they’re doing, contact you directly if they have any issues, and send you adorable pictures of how they’re settling in with their sitter.

Cons

Reptile pet sitting might not be right for first-time pet sitters, or those who have never lived with reptiles before. Here are a few more cons of finding an exotic pet sitter:

• It’s an exchange of trust, not all pet parents want to try - and there’s nothing wrong with this. It’s completely understandable - your pets and home are the most precious things in the world, so the thought of leaving them with a stranger might be too much to as of some pet people. And that’s fine!
• Finding a sitter with specific experience can be tricky - especially for someone specifically to do reptile pet sitting. While some sitters may be experienced with other types of pets, they may have a blind spot when it comes to reptile care. This is why it’s so important to talk with or meet your sitter beforehand.
• Hourly pet sitting is expensive - that is if you choose to hire an exotic pet sitter rather than become one of our members. And fair enough, you might just need someone to care for your bearded dragon baby while you’re at work for the day. If so, the hourly rates can easily add up and add to the already expensive world of reptile care.
• You’ll still be paying for gas and electricity with an in-home sitter - and in this economy! But, yes, if you have someone house sitting and pet caring they will need to use your facilities. Depending on where you live and how long you’re away, some pet parents might not think any money is being saved from a bill's point of view.

If you’re a reptile raiser seeking a sitter, have a look at all the reptile sitters currently available near you. Find a verified, experienced reptile sitter who’ll make the right match for your cold-blooded family. You can also chat with other reptile parents on our Community Forum to learn more about their experience with reptile boarding or sitting. Or, share the love through your own experiences with other curious pet parents.