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20 low-maintenance reptiles that make great pets
Low-maintenance reptiles can be a great choice if you’re a novice pet owner or someone who has a hectic lifestyle with not a lot of time leftover to devote to a pet.
There are lots of different types of reptile you can keep as a pet and the ones on this list are typically very hardy and most don’t require elaborate set ups in order to thrive. They still require basic care, but the majority are happy to do their own thing and won’t be demanding frequent attention.
As an added bonus, many reptiles enjoy long lifespans, so they can be a great choice if you’re looking for a display pet who will be around for years to come. It’s worth bearing in mind that some of the reptiles on this list will live for 50 years or more, so while they’re certainly low-maintenance they do require a long-term commitment.
Low-maintenance reptiles
1. Leopard gecko
An easy-to-care-for pet with a docile nature, the leopard gecko can live up to 20 years when looked after correctly. A breeze to handle and requiring minimal care, these nocturnal reptiles get their name because of their yellow and white coloring and black spots.
Measuring 8-10 inches in length, leopard geckos (or leos as they’re affectionately called) are slow-moving, vocal and gentle as long as they’re handled with care.
2. Bearded dragon
A great starter pet for reptile enthusiasts, the bearded dragon is native to Australia and grows to around 24 inches in length. Beardies will flare out the skin underneath their chin when feeling threatened, making them look like they have a beard, which is how they got their name.
Good bearded dragon care (such as ensuring they have a good tank setup with hiding areas and basking rocks) will help this calm, gentle and placid lizard live for up to 10 years.
3. Corn snake
Corn snakes make fantastic pets thanks to how docile and low-maintenance they are. Active at dawn and dusk, these snakes are typically low-key and will tolerate being handled. They can grow to around four feet long on average and have a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years.
Like all snakes, corn snakes are master escape artists, so you’ll want to make sure you have a very tight fitting lid on their tank to prevent them from getting out.
4. Blue-tongued skink
One of the best pet reptiles, the blue-tongued skink is laid-back, intelligent and easily tamed. These docile, quiet and gentle lizards hail from Australia and are known for forming strong bonds with their owners.
Their elongated body can reach 24 inches and length and most will live for 15-20 years with the correct care. While blue-tongued skinks are not aggressive, they will bite if they feel threatened and they have very strong teeth so bites can be painful.
For that reason, it’s always worth supervising children when they’re interacting with this skink.
5. Ball python
Named because for the way they curl up in a tight ball when feeling threatened, the ball python can grow to around 4-5 feet in length and if cared for correctly, they can live for a whopping 30 years!
Ball pythons are solitary and nocturnal, and are typically very docile and gentle, which makes them easy to handle. Calm and non-aggressive, ball pythons are well-mannered and while they’re generally friendly, most are also quite shy.
6. Russian Tortoise
Russian Tortoises are native to the desserts of Russia, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan and live in large, underground burrows which they hibernate in for many months of the year due to the extreme temperatures.
Reaching around 8-10 inches in length when fully grown, these hardy creatures can live for up to 60 years with the right care. Docile yet active, Russian Tortoises are very curious and responsive to their owners but most prefer not to be handled.
7. Kingsnake
Ground-dwelling kingsnakes are widespread in the US and are happy in a range of different habitats from forests to deserts. They typically hide out in rodent burrows and under logs, so you’ll want to make sure that their tank environment mimics their natural habitat.
Kingsnakes are mainly active during the day and they’re not venomous, although some will nip when stressed. On the whole, however, they are docile, adaptable, inquisitive and easy to tame and most will live between 10–30 years with the right care.
8. Red-eared slider
With the correct care (a large tank, special lighting and a diverse diet, for example) red eared sliders have been known to live for 20 years in captivity. A popular pet with a personable and friendly nature, they are happy to interact with their owners during feeding time, but for the most part, they prefer to be left alone.
Despite their friendliness and tendency to greet their humans at the side of their tank at mealtimes, they are note affectionate and don’t enjoy being picked up. However, if you’re happy with a pet you can enjoy watching, the enchanting red-eared slider could well be the creature for you.
9. Crested gecko
The crested gecko is a low-maintenance pet perfect for novice lizard owners. Considered extinct until 1994 when large populations were found on islands off the Australian coast, these powerful jumpers quickly became beloved pets.
Growing to eight inches in length and with a lifespan of 15–20 years, crested geckos are relatively calm and placid, and while they don’t necessarily enjoy being handled for long periods, they will tolerate short stints.
10. Panther chameleon
With their beautifully colored bodies and fast tongues, the elegant panther chameleon is a spectacular creature to behold. Males can grow to 21 inches in length with females being much shorter at 14 inches, but both have a lifespan of around eight years when they receive the correct care.
Slow moving, docile and quiet, their mood is often reflected by their changing colors and they’re known for being more relaxed than other chameleon species. However, it’s worth noting that excessive handling can cause stress, so they’re more of a display pet than a hands-on one.
11. Spiny-tailed lizard
While it’s legal to own a spiny-tailed lizard in the United States, it’s not a common choice of pet. That’s largely due to the fact that very few countries allow this little creature to be exported, so they’re rare and hard to come by.
Still, if you manage to get your hands on one, the spiny-tailed lizard will certainly prove to be the talking point of your home! These creatures are very low maintenance as they only require vegetation for food and their enclosure needs aren’t complicated either – they just need a warm tank with plenty of rocks where they can bask and hide.
The spiny-tailed lizard can live for up to 30 years and while they’re very gentle, they don’t like to be handled.
12. Eastern box turtle
The eastern box turtle is found in woodlands across the Chesapeake watershed in the US. This small reptile measures just six inches in length and has a lifespan of around 40 years.
Eastern box turtles are brown with orange and yellow markings and their toes are only slightly webbed. Typically docile and shy, these turtles are active during the day and enjoy foraging for food.
They tend to be able to recognize the voice of their favorite human and while they don’t like being handled, many will interact with their owners by playing with toys.
13. Green anole
A small lizard native to the southern United States, the striking green anole are known for their eye-catching green skin and the bright red fold of skin over their throat.
They’re a great choice for beginners as they’re very easy to care for and while they are known for being skittish and shy, over time they can learn to tolerate short and gentle handling.
However, it’s worth noting that on the whole, they are best as display pets, so that’s something to keep in mind if you have children in your family. Most green anoles will live for 5-8 years with the correct care.
14. Gargoyle gecko
Found only on the southern end of the island of New Caledonia in the south-west Pacific, the gargoyle gecko has an easygoing and relaxed nature. Their triangular-shaped head, large bulging eyes and their ability to take on a variety of colors has made them a very popular pet in recent years.
Measuring 6-10 inches in length, gargoyle geckos can live for 20 years and because they’re so friendly, they adapt really well to being kept as a pet. While generally placid, they can be territorial with other geckos and for that reason, they’re best kept alone unless in a bonded pair.
15. Chinese Water Dragon
Native to southern China and Southeast Asia, the Chinese Water Dragon is relatively small with females measuring two feet in length and males growing to reach three feet.
They tend to live for around 14-16 years and while they’re popular pets, many people underestimate their advanced needs and specific care requirements. Chinese Water Dragons need large enclosures measuring at least six feet in length, three feet in depth and six feet in height. They need a good pool of water that they can submerge at least half their height in and the temperature and lighting in the tank need to be kept at the correct levels for bone health.
They are social creatures who like to live in pairs or groups and they’re one of the friendliest lizards so they don’t mind being handled.
16. Hermann’s tortoise
The gentle and calm Hermann’s tortoise hails from Mediterranean Europe where it lives in rocky hillsides and forests. Mild mannered and beautiful to look at, this little tortoise measures just 6-8 inches in length and can live for a mind-blowing 75 years with the right care.
While they prefer not to be handled, they’re typically very social and will often approach their owners in search of food. They also enjoy being around other Hermann’s tortoises and are very active with a love of running, digging and foraging. It’s worth noting that these tortoises do not do well inside, so you’ll want to house them in an outdoor enclosure.
A long-lived reptile who will easily reach the age of 50, the red-footed tortoise is native to Central and South America, and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Barbados.
They require specific temperatures and humidity levels to thrive and their diet should be made up of dark leafy greens, vegetables, fruit and animal protein. Docile and easy going, they are active during the day and spend a lot of time digging and foraging.
Curious and known to approach their owners at feeding time, the red-footed tortoise is friendly but is easily stressed by excessive handling.
18. Frilled-necked lizard
Hailing from Australia, the frilled-neck lizard is a rare but fascinating little creature with a spectacular frill around their neck that they use as a defence mechanism when feeling threatened.
Typically docile and non-aggressive, frilled-neck lizards are quick and agile and while they’re not overly fond of being handled, they make excellent pets due to their calm nature and relatively straightforward care needs. Frilled-neck lizards grow to around three feet in length and most will live for around 10-15 years.
19. Red-eyed crocodile skink
Endemic to New Guinea where it lives in tropical rainforests, the red-eyed crocodile skink is a shy and secretive little critter who does best when kept as a display pet. They love to hide and can become very stressed when handled, so keeping this to a minimum will ensure they remain happy and healthy in their habitat.
The red-eyed crocodile skink has very specific care needs, so their enclosure must contain moisture-retaining substrate in the form of bark and moss, as well as high humidity levels but cooler temperatures.
As long as they are looked after correctly, most red-eyed crocodile skinks can live for 10 years, with some living longer.
20. Greek tortoise
Greek tortoises are native to Southern Europe, Southwest Asia and Northern Africa where they inhabit various terrains including grasslands, rocky hillsides and forests.
They have a friendly, calm, gentle and interactive nature, which is why they’ve become so popular as pets. They are social creatures who enjoy the company of their owners, but like all tortoises, they can become stressed when handled so this is best kept to a minimum.
Greek tortoises do require a long-term commitment as most will live for 50 to 100 years when kept in favorable conditions.
Edited by Georgia Guerin.
This feature was last updated in August 2025.
