Have you ever wondered how old your reptile pet would be if it were a human? If you want to know the equivalence of reptile years to human years, then you are in the right place.
Perhaps you are wondering why we have to compare an animals’ age to that of humans.
Of course, these are two different creatures, and they vary from each other through a couple of factors.
However, it’s always interesting to know how old your pet would be in a human’s age.
The tool is originally generated by uniquepetswiki.com
Here, we’ll learn how to convert reptile years to human years, why we need to change the reptile age to human age, life expectancy for different reptile species, and more.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Dilber. Read more about our knowledge control process here.
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Contents
Calculating Reptile Years to Human Years
Generally speaking, there are thousands of species of reptiles, and the list can be so extensive. We are going to focus on a few reptile species that are kept as pets popularly.
Keeping exotic pets is super awesome, and you get to learn a lot from their different behaviors. Aside from learning about these pets, I can just say that they are indeed fascinating, and that’s why I love them.
It is my fondness for these incredible pets that have brought me to this far of wanting to know the age of the reptiles in human age. And I’m glad to share this information with you.
All reptiles cannot be the same; they are all different and differ in their rate of growth. So, we are going to talk about each species separately.
The table below shows different species of reptiles and their equivalent age in human age.
| Species | Average lifespan (years) | One year in each species is equal to how many years in humans? |
| Snake | 7 | 8.5 |
| House Lizards | 5 | 16 |
| Leopard geckos | 17.5 | 4.6 |
| Bearded dragons | 10 | 8.0 |
| Corn snakes | 10.5 | 7.6 |
| Crested geckos | 17.5 | 4.6 |
| Chinese water dragons | 12.5 | 6.4 |
| Ball pythons | 20 | 4.0 |
| Sulcata tortoise | 80 | 3.5 |
| Russian tortoise | 35 | 2.3 |
| African spurred tortoise | 100 | 3.125 |
| Australian water dragon | 18 | 4.5 |
| Green anole | 5 | 16 |
| Red eared slider | 25 | 0.805 |
| Chameleons | 6 | 13.4 |
| Common turtle | 10 – 80 | 7 – 3 |
| Estern box turtles | 35 | 2.3 |
| Snapping turtle | 30 | 2.5 |
| Blue tongue skinks | 25 | 3.22 |
| Nile crocodile | 60 | 1.3 |
| Iguana | 20 | 4.0 |
| Monitor lizards | 25 | 3.3 |
Lazy on calculating yourself? Use our tool to calculate your pet reptile years to human years instead.
Reptile Years to Human Years Calculator
The tool is originally generated by uniquepetswiki.com
20 Years
Eg: Your bearded dragon is 2 years 6 months old. The first box you will enter 2, the second box you will enter 6. Convert to human years will be 20 Years
The tool is applicable to get:
- # Leopard gecko years in human years
- # Bearded dragon years in human years
- # Corn snake years in human years
- # Crested Gecko years in human years
- # Chinese water dragon years in human years
- # Ball python years in human years
- # Russian tortoise years in human years
- # African Spurred Tortoise years in human years
- # Australian Water Dragon years in human years
- # Green Anole years in human years
- # Red-eared slider years in human years
- # Chameleons years in human years
- # Eastern box turtle years in human years
- # Blue tongue skink years in human years
With this tool, you can get your lizard years to human years, snake years to human years, gecko years to human years, turtle years to human years. When saying reptiles years to human years, I meant reptiles age in human years.
Such as lizard age in human years, turtle age in human years, snake age in human years.
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If you want to have the calculator for your reptile that not appear on the list, please just give us a comment.
You will also like: animal years to human years.
Why You Need to Convert Reptile Years to Human Years?
If I show you how to convert reptile years to human years and I don’t explain why you need to do that, I will not have helped you much.
I don’t deny the fact that knowing your pet at a certain age compared to humans is good, but how is that helping you?
I’m not here to complicate things but to make you understand every single thing fully. Aside from satisfying our curiosity, this conversion helps us to understand the comparative behavior of reptiles while comparing them to human behaviors at different stages and ages.
So, the conversion is done to understand the comparative behavior. Otherwise, only the human age cannot tell us about reptile behavior.
The tool is originally generated by uniquepetswiki.com
Also, converting a reptile’s age to humans gives you an idea of what to expect from the numerous behaviors of these animals. Knowing the real age of your reptile pet is a requirement for you to proceed and convert it to a human’s age.
When you know how old your animal is, it can help you to make some adjustments in the diet, housing structure, and healthcare as the reptile continues to grow.
But you should note that calculating reptiles age to humans age isn’t an exact science, but it is based on rough estimations. This is true because animals age at a different rate from humans, and also the rate of growth varies between animal species as they grow older.
Reptiles do not grow at the same rate, but their growth is different from one species to another. So, for you to be able to convert the reptile years to human years, you need to know their life expectancy as well. This is a bonus of knowledge for you.
Why Change a Reptile Age to the Human Age?
Changing a reptile age to the human age is a way to compare the average lifespan of humans and the average lifespan of a particular reptile.
When equated to human years, some reptiles express ages that hugely exceed the number of years that humans can live. It is indeed funny, but this helps to identify the specific reptiles that would live much longer if they were human. But remember, this is nothing serious but an estimation.
Here are some calculations showing the steps that I followed to fill in the table above on reptile years to human years.
One year old in dogs is equivalent to approximately seven years in humans (1:7), but remember this is not an exact science, but a rough estimate. Dogs vary in longevity; some will live for eight years and others 15 years (this gives a range of 8-15 years).
The average lifespan of dogs based on this range will be 11.5 years. Now, we can use the average life expectancy in dogs to get the average longevity in humans by using the ratio of 1:7, which gives 80.5 years (11.5*7=80.5).
So, if you want to calculate a reptile species years to human years, you simply divide the average human lifespan by the specific reptile’s average lifespan. For instance, bearded dragons have an average life expectancy of 10 years, so, take 80.5/10, which gives 8.05.
From the calculation, one year in bearded dragons is equivalent to eight years in humans.
Reptiles Average Life Expectancy
Have you ever wanted to know what the average life expectancy is for a particular reptile pet? When buying a specific reptile either from breeders or a reptile shop, it is necessary to understand its average lifespan.
The knowledge of the life expectancy of your reptile pet helps you to know how long you can live with your buddy. It also alerts you about how many years of responsibility you will be taking on for the proper care of your dear friend.
How long an animal will leave is directly affected by the diet, conditions in the habitat, care, trauma experienced, the ability of the pet to rest comfortably, stress, and diseases. Genetics also determine greatly how many years an animal can live.
Likewise, the average life expectancy in reptiles is different from one species to another. The aging process differs considerably between the wild reptiles and those in captivity, depending on a couple of factors. We are going to discover them shortly.
Life Expectancy of Different Species of Reptiles
Here, we will talk about the lifespan of a few species of reptiles, and how long they can live both in the wild and captivity.
Reptiles are susceptible to various threats in the wild such as predators, lack of food, harsh weather, harsh environmental conditions, and fighting while competing with other reptiles.
These all factors affect the lifespan of reptiles and while facing these challenges reptiles die.
While in captivity, there is no such environmental or physical threat to reptiles. As a result, they can live long life. However, feeding a good diet and maintaining natural habitat for the reptile is necessary.
Although reptiles tend to live longer, some of them have a shorter lifespan like the chameleons. Extreme longevity in reptiles is associated with infrequent reproduction, colder body temperatures, small litter, and larger hatchlings.
Below are different reptile species and their life expectancy in the wild and captivity.
Leopard Geckos Life Expectancy
#Leopard gecko years in human years
Leopard geckos are one of the popular lizards that are kept as pets today. In the wild, geckos can live up to a maximum of 15 years. Like I mentioned earlier, reptiles living in the wild face a lot of challenges.
It is the same with wild leopard geckos. For instance, a predator can come at any time, especially when the gecko is hunting its food. Unfortunately, some geckos are caught and killed by the predators while still young, and their lifespan is cut off pretty early,
Leopard geckos are insectivores, and by that, I mean they will merely eat insects. Wild insects are more nutritious because they feed on more natural foods than in captivity. So, this is a bonus to the wild geckos.
However, it is not guaranteed that wild Leos will eat every day. There are times when they are forced to stay without food; for instance, they can’t hunt if there are predators nearby.
In captivity, leopard geckos have a maximum life expectancy of 20 years or even more. Some Leos have gone up to 30 years under extreme care.
The reason for the increased lifespan in captivity is because the geckos are in a sound habitat, reduced stressors, and they eat nutritious foods frequently.
Nonetheless, improper care makes the geckos die earlier than expected; some will not even reach 15 years.
Bearded Dragons Life Expectancy
How long a bearded dragon can live varies from dragon to dragon depending on whether they live in the desert or captivity. Bearded dragons in captivity tend to live longer while the lifespan of the wild beardies is quite shorter.
The maximum years for bearded dragons in the wilderness are anywhere from 5 to 8 years. The main challenges come in where the beardies have to contend with the harsh climatic conditions during particular seasons and predators as well.
Wild beardies are independent animals, which means that after hatching, they have to look for food on their own for survival. Most of the time, they go for more extended periods without food or water because the availability of food is not consistent.
In some remote areas where the fire is used to clear vegetation, a lot of habitats are destroyed, and the animals that are unable to outrun the flames get burned. Some beardies can lose their lives during such periods.
Life in captivity is more friendly, and the beardies can live between 8-12 years under proper care. If you go the extra mile in caring for your dragon, it can live even up to 14 years or more. Under extreme care, some beardies have been reported to live up to 20 years but on rare occasions.
Bearded dragons that are poorly cared for in captivity will live not more than eight years. Some will even die when they are still babies.
Corn Snakes Life Expectancy
Typically, corn snakes will only live for around 6 to 10 years in the wilderness. This is because of food scarcity, harsh weather when it is too cold, untreated diseases, and predators.
It is so bad that some wild corn snakes die too early because of humans killing them. People see wild snakes as pests and will not hesitate to kill them.
While corn snakes have a shorter lifespan in the wild, they are capable of living much longer in captivity. The captive corn snakes are getting everything they need without a struggle. There is stable habitat, proper diet and frequent feeding, and extreme protection against predators.
So, in captivity, corn snakes will live up to 15 years, and some can reach up to 20 years, though this is exceptionally uncommon. Even so, some corn snakes have been reported to be more than 23 years.
Crested Geckos Life Expectancy
There are no real figures about how many years crested gecko can live in the wilderness because they were just rediscovered a few decades ago, around 1994.
Wild reptiles experience a lot of challenges, including food scarcity, lack of treatment, predators, extreme climates, etc. All these situations decrease their lifespan. This is also the trend with crested geckos.
Crested geckos became common pets since 2000, and they have been found to live up to around 15 years. But some tend to go up to 20 years under special care.
There are a few estimates that crested geckos can live up until the age of 30. This is a pretty long time to live with your pet so, be prepared for a prolonged commitment.
My friend’s cresties only lived for 4 years in captivity. Both Messi and Krais. Messi is a female, she died in 4 years 5 months :(. Krais, after that two months. Not all captivity reptiles will live longer than the avg.
A lot of research about crested geckos is going on to determine their actual life expectancy in the wild and captivity.
Chinese Water Dragons Life Expectancy
Most Chinese water dragons reach the age of 10 to 15, but a few who receive extreme care can go up to 20 years. This is the far they can go when bred and kept in captivity.
These pretty lizards are native to Southeast Asian’s rainforest, and they inhabit places near the lakes and streams. They as well face a lot of threats due to predators, scarce food supply, among other factors that reduce their life expectancy in the wild.
Due to the difficulties in the wild, these lizards will live not more than ten years. Moreover, Captive Chinese water dragons can also die before reaching ten years under improper care.
Ball Pythons Life Expectancy
Ball pythons can survive in the wild for around ten years or even less, depending on how they can cope with life in their natural habitats.
On the other hand, the captive ball pythons survive for a pretty long time because they are provided with everything they need. They don’t skip a meal; there is proper healthcare, stable housing, just to mention a few. I can only say they have a perfect life as pets.
Surprisingly, the oldest ball python in history is believed to have died when it was over 40 years. Living with a pet for 40 years is something so beautiful, I can say. However, the typical lifespan for ball python pets is between 20-30 years.
Russian Tortoise Life Expectancy
Russian tortoises live naturally in hilly and rocky areas and dry areas with few vegetations. As you can see, the chance to get food in these areas is minimal, and so, these tortoises have an average of 20 years in the wild.
There is a simple life, plenty of food, reduced stress, and all other good things in captivity. Russian tortoises have high longevity compared to the majority of reptile pets. When they have a good life, they can even reach 100 years. This means you will live with it for your entire life. Aah, this is so amazing.
However, the typical lifespan for Russian tortoises in captivity is an average of 50 years. Only a few of them will go up to 100 years, and if you have one, count yourself lucky.
African Spurred Tortoise Lifespan
Adult African spurred tortoises can measure 83cm in length with an average weight of about 105kg. The units themselves can show how huge these tortoises are, in fact, they are the largest in the world.
African spurred tortoises inhabit semi-arid grasslands, savannah and scrub areas in the Sahara Desert. They can go for several weeks without food and water but have a reduced lifespan in the wild. In captivity, these tortoises can live for 50 to 150 years or more.
Australian Water Dragon Lifespan
Australian water dragons in the wild will not live for long compared to the water dragon pets because most of them are predated. Those that are lucky and are favored by the environment can live for around 16 years.
Contrarily, captive water dragons can live up to 20 years, and some can go beyond this age if you go a step further in caring for them.
Green Anole Life Expectancy
There is no significant difference in the longevity between the wild Green anoles and those in captivity. In their natural habitat, these lizards have a life expectancy ranging anywhere from 2-8 years.
They can live for the same age bracket in captivity, but some anole lizards reach ten years. How long they will live as pets is mainly dependent on proper nutrition and care, and ideal conditions in their habitat.
There is high survivability of more giant Green anoles than the smaller ones, which most of the time don’t get the required nutrients, particularly when they both have to compete for food.
Red Eared Slider Longevity
Red-eared sliders have a long lifespan of about 30 years in the wild. But some sliders have been found to live for more than 40 years. This is somewhat extended longevity for an animal to live in the wilderness.
Another uncommon thing about Red-eared sliders is that their lifespan is shortened in captivity. These turtles require more care than we may think. When cared for properly, slider turtles will live for 20 years, but sometimes, they can go past this age.
Chameleons Lifespan/Longevity
Chameleons are far much different from most reptiles in terms of longevity; they have the shortest lifespan. Despite living for a few years, owning a chameleon is quite cheaper because it saves you from long-term commitments.
The average life expectancy for wild chameleons ranges from 2-3 years. The chameleon pet’s longevity slightly increases because life in captivity is more favorable. A captive chameleon can live from 3-10 years but in ideal conditions.
Estern Box Turtles Longevity
The longevity for Estern box turtles in their natural habitat is about 30 to 40 years. It is quite short compared to how long they live in captivity because of predation, diseases, food scarcity, unbearable seasons, etc.
The captive Estern box turtles can live for 100 years, but to reach this age, they require maximum care and protection.
Blue Tongue Skinks Lifespan
Blue tongue skinks tend to live much longer than most lizard pets and household pets like dogs and cats. Wild Blue tongue skink lizard’s lifespan is about 20 years. Some may exceed this age, but others die earlier due to many challenges in the wild.
The captive blue tongue skinks longevity is above 20 years, which may range from 30-50 years. However, the exact life expectancy for these lizards depends on their species.
What Affects Reptile Lifespan?
There is variation in longevity between different reptiles, and there are various factors that determine how long a reptile can live.
Here, we will dive deeper into a few of these factors and see how they affect the reptile lifespan.
Since we cannot control reptile life in the wild, we are going to concentrate on life in captivity.
Some factors that affect the number of years a reptile can live are environment, diet, and species. Below is a discussion on each element.
Environment
When it comes to the environment of the tank, you have to maintain everything according to the type of species such as temperature, humidity, hides, substrate, and ventilation.
The highest percentage of reptiles are cold-blooded, and this means that they use external heat sources to warm their bodies. According to scientists, high temperatures are inversely proportional to reptile lifespan.
When the temperatures are incredibly high, there is a fast rate of living, which speeds up the aging process in reptiles and eventually results in a shorter lifespan. Reptiles should have the right temperatures to bask in; this is important for their longevity.
Inadequate spacing is another parameter that can negatively affect lifespan. For instance, any reptile will not be able to go around a small space. Insufficient space also inhibits the reptile from expressing most of its behaviors, and this leads to stress that shortens lifespan.
Another thing to consider is the substrate; make sure you use the right type of substrate for your reptile. Before the purchase, check out the pros and cons for each substrate and see which best suits your reptile pet.
Providing a home that your reptile will love and where it can engage in the activities it loves will help your friend to live longer.
Diet
I don’t think I need to explain a lot of things here, but proper nutrition is mandatory if you want your pet to live longer.
Make sure you know the ideal food for your buddy, how to feed when to feed, and ensure it gets consistent proper nutrition. A proper diet keeps the animal healthy through boosting its immunity, and this does prolong not only longevity but also reduces treatment costs.
Species
Males tend to live longer than females, and this applies to most of the reptiles, if not all. The males are always larger and hardier, in most cases. Also, females without babies have quite a longer lifespan than those with babies.
Reproduction impacts some stress on the animals, and this may be the reason for a pretty reduced longevity in the reptiles that have babies.
How Can You Tell How Old Your Reptile is?
The best method and most convenient way to figure out the age of your reptile is by inquiring from the breeder, where you bought the pet. Most of the breeders have all records about the animals they breed or have bred before.
You can also choose to visit your reptile veterinarian, at least the vet can help you in estimating the age of your friend.
Also, another simple way to go about is measuring the length of your reptile from tip to tip and then use the growth charts available online to check the reptile’s age.
There are different charts for specific reptiles showing their ages based on measurement. However, the details in these charts are not actual values but only estimates.
Wrapping Up
Now you know why you need to convert reptile years to human years and the longevity for different reptile species.
Wild reptiles have a shorter lifespan compared to the captive reptiles. Life in the wild is more demanding due to predation, inconsistent food, untreated diseases, harsh climatic conditions, etc.
Exceptionally well cared for captive reptiles live for a longer time, and they surpass their average lifespan. But the reptiles that are poorly cared for in captivity don’t reach their average life expectancy, and they die much earlier.
What I want you to note is that it is possible to make your reptile live longer by practicing persistent and proper husbandry practices. Make sure your pet is living in a comfortable environment where it appreciates it.
Tags:
- Leopard gecko age in human years
- Bearded dragon age in human years
- Corn snake age in human years
- Crested Gecko age in human years
- Chinese water dragon age in human years
- Ball python age in human years
- Russian tortoise age in human years
- African Spurred Tortoise age in human years
- Australian Water Dragon age in human years
- Green Anole age in human years
- Red-eared slider age in human years
- Chameleon age in human years
- Eastern box turtle age in human years
- Blue tongue skink age in human years
Hi William, can you add other than reptiles to the list? If yes, please add the horse 🙂
Hi Richard, currently, we are not aiming for any other pets than reptiles. Thanks for your interesting