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!

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 you choose the right pet care 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?

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 (which can seriously add up), you can choose a TrustedHousesitters membership plan which gives you access to arrange loving pet care. Plus, you can make use of our extra handy perks like our 24/7 veterinary advice line during sits.

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 beings 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.

And if you're not quite a pet parent to a reptile yet but you're simply getting clued-up ahead of time, kudos to you! Explore the best beginner reptile pets to make sure you're adopting responsibly.

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! While they may not perceive home in the same way a dog does, 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.
• 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 new. However, as much as we love our exotic pets, they’re not as numerous as cats and dogs. 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.

Welcoming a reptile pet sitter: pros and cons

Pros:

• 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:

• Welcoming a pet sitter can be daunting, especially if you’re new to it. And it makes total sense - your pets and your home are two of the most precious things in life! That’s why here at TrustedHousesitters, all of our sitters have completed ID verifications. Pet owners can also read sitter reviews on their profile, as well as external character references for extra peace of mind.
• 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.

Useful resources

• Cat boarding vs. cat sitting
• Bird boarding vs. bird sitting
• Chicken sitting vs. chicken boarding
• Pet sitting vs. boarding