All Guides
Species setup guides, plus the explainers that apply to every reptile: UVB, heat, thermostats and enclosures.
For every reptile
ExplainerNew Feeder Insects and Supplements: Which Bugs, What Size, and When to Dust Common feeder insects compared, the size rule, gut-loading, calcium with and without D3, multivitamins, dusting schedules by UVB, and what never to feed. ExplainerNew Reptile Heating and Thermostats: Every Heat Source Compared, and How to Control It Halogen, deep heat projectors, ceramic emitters, radiant panels and heat mats compared, plus dimming vs on/off vs pulse thermostats, probes, and burn safety. ExplainerNew Reptile Substrate, Hides and Decor: What to Use, What to Avoid, How to Clean It Paper, tile, soil mixes and bioactive substrate compared, the impaction debate, warm, cool and humid hides, climbing, safe plants, water bowls and cleaning. ExplainerNew Reptile Enclosure Types: Glass vs PVC vs Screen vs Wood, and What Size You Need Glass, PVC, screen and wooden enclosures compared on heat, humidity and access, plus sizing for ground dwellers, climbers and snakes, and bioactive basics. ExplainerNew Reptile UVB Lighting Explained: Tubes, Ferguson Zones, UV Index and Distance What UVB does for reptiles, T5 vs T8 vs mercury vapor, Ferguson zones 1 to 4, UV index and meters, distance and mesh, replacement intervals and day length.
Leopard Gecko
Leopard Gecko · ExplainerNew 12 Common Leopard Gecko Mistakes (and How to Fix Each One) The leopard gecko setup and care mistakes new keepers make most, from heat mats with no thermostat to calcium sand and cohousing, with a clear fix for each. Leopard Gecko · ExplainerNew Leopard Gecko Diet: What to Feed, How Often, and Which Supplements Which insects to feed a leopard gecko, how big and how often by age, gut-loading, calcium with or without D3, the multivitamin schedule, and what never to feed. Leopard Gecko · ExplainerNew Leopard Gecko Enclosure Size: Minimum vs Recommended, and How to Lay It Out How big a leopard gecko tank should be (inches, cm, gallons), glass vs PVC vs wood, where the hides go, and the loose substrate debate laid out fairly. Leopard Gecko · FAQNew Leopard Gecko FAQ: Short Answers to the Questions New Keepers Ask Quick answers on leopard gecko lifespan, size, cost, handling, UVB, living together, shedding, tail dropping, smell, noises and how often they eat. Leopard Gecko · How toNew Your Leopard Gecko's First Week at Home: What to Do and What Is Normal How to settle a new leopard gecko: the trip home, when to start handling, why it may not eat yet, normal vs worrying behavior, quarantine and finding a vet. Leopard Gecko · ExplainerNew Leopard Gecko Lighting and Heating: Temperatures, Thermostats and UVB Leopard gecko temperatures in °F and °C, overhead heat vs heat mats, why every heater needs a thermostat, night drops, and how to give low-level UVB safely. Leopard Gecko · ChecklistNew Leopard Gecko Setup Checklist: Everything to Buy Before Day One Every item a leopard gecko needs, grouped by enclosure, heat, UVB, hides, food and monitoring, plus the order to set it up and how to test it first. Leopard Gecko · Buying guideNew Leopard Gecko Supplies List: The Gear Worth Buying, Item by Item Every leopard gecko supply with a pick: enclosure, UVB kit, halogen heat, thermostats, hides, substrate, temp gun and supplements, plus what to skip.
Bearded Dragon
Bearded Dragon · ExplainerNew 12 Common Bearded Dragon Mistakes (and How to Fix Each One) The setup and care mistakes bearded dragon keepers make most, from small tanks and weak UVB to heat rocks and too much fruit, with the fix for each one. Bearded Dragon · ExplainerNew Bearded Dragon Diet: Insects, Greens, Supplements and Water by Age How a bearded dragon's diet shifts from insects to greens with age: staple and treat feeders, safe greens, gut-loading, calcium and vitamin schedules, water. Bearded Dragon · ExplainerNew Bearded Dragon Enclosure Size: Minimum, Ideal and How to Lay It Out How big a bearded dragon enclosure should be in feet, inches and cm, why starter tanks are outgrown, glass vs PVC vs wood, layout, and the substrate debate. Bearded Dragon · FAQNew Bearded Dragon FAQ: Short Answers to the Questions New Keepers Ask Quick answers on bearded dragon lifespan, size, cost, handling, living together, brumation, black beards, shedding, smell, baths and leaving them for a weekend. Bearded Dragon · How toNew Your Bearded Dragon's First Week: Settling In, Handling and What Is Normal How to settle a new bearded dragon: when to start handling, early appetite, normal behaviors like head bobbing and arm waving, warning signs, and finding a vet. Bearded Dragon · ExplainerNew Bearded Dragon Lighting and Heating: Basking Temps, UVB and Thermostats Basking and cool-end temperatures, night temps, halogen vs ceramic heat, thermostats, T5 HO UVB strength and distance, UV index targets, and how to prevent MBD. Bearded Dragon · ChecklistNew Bearded Dragon Setup Checklist: Everything to Buy Before Day One Every item a bearded dragon needs, grouped by enclosure, heat, UVB, floor, food and monitoring, plus the order to set it up and how to test it for a week. Bearded Dragon · Buying guideNew Bearded Dragon Supplies List: The Gear That Matters, Item by Item Every bearded dragon supply with a US and UK pick: enclosure, T5 UVB, halogen heat, thermostats, thermometers, supplements and hides, plus what to skip.
Ball Python
Ball Python · ExplainerNew 12 Common Ball Python Mistakes (and How to Fix Each One) The ball python care mistakes new keepers make most, from unregulated heat mats and dry air to oversized hides and live feeding, each with a simple fix. Ball Python · ExplainerNew Ball Python Diet: What to Feed, How Much and How Often How to feed a ball python: frozen-thawed vs live prey, prey size, feeding frequency by age, safe thawing, food strikes and why a gram scale matters. Ball Python · ExplainerNew Ball Python Enclosure Size: Minimums, Ideal Size and Layout How big a ball python enclosure should be, why PVC beats glass for humidity, where tubs and racks fit in, and how to lay out hides, clutter and substrate. Ball Python · FAQNew Ball Python FAQ: Short Answers to the Questions New Keepers Ask Quick answers on ball python lifespan, size, biting, handling, humidity, stuck sheds, food refusal, UVB, morphs, smell and whether two can live together. Ball Python · How toNew Your Ball Python's First Week: Settling In, Feeding and Handling What to expect in a new ball python's first week: why it hides, when to feed and handle, how to pick it up, shedding signs, quarantine and when to see a vet. Ball Python · ExplainerNew Ball Python Lighting and Heating: Temperatures, Thermostats, Humidity and UVB Ball python temperatures for the warm hide, cool side and night, the safest heat sources, why every heater needs a thermostat, humidity targets and UVB. Ball Python · ChecklistNew Ball Python Setup Checklist: Everything to Buy Before Day One Every item a ball python needs before it comes home: enclosure, heat and thermostat, humidity, hides, water and feeding tools, plus the order to set it all up. Ball Python · Buying guideNew Ball Python Supplies List: The Gear Worth Buying, Item by Item A complete ball python shopping list: enclosure, heat source, thermostat, humidity gear, hides, water bowl and feeding tools, with what to look for in each.
Crested Gecko
Crested Gecko · ExplainerNew 11 Common Crested Gecko Mistakes (and How to Fix Each One) The crested gecko mistakes new keepers make most, from overheating and short tanks to constant wetness, fruit-only diets, grabbed tails and males kept together. Crested Gecko · ExplainerNew Crested Gecko Diet: Complete Powdered Food, Insects, Calcium and How Often to Feed What crested geckos eat: complete powdered diets like Pangea and Repashy, which insects to offer and how often, calcium and D3, fruit treats and foods to avoid. Crested Gecko · ExplainerNew Crested Gecko Enclosure Size: How Big, How Tall, and How to Fill It Minimum and ideal crested gecko terrarium sizes from the RSPCA, RVC, PetMD and ReptiFiles, why height matters most, which material to use, and how to lay it out. Crested Gecko · FAQNew Crested Gecko FAQ: Short Answers to the Questions New Keepers Ask Quick answers on crested gecko lifespan, size, heat, UVB, humidity, diet, handling, tail loss, jumping, living in pairs, cleaning and when to see a reptile vet. Crested Gecko · How toNew Crested Gecko First Week: Settling In, Quarantine, Feeding and When to Handle Bringing a new crested gecko home: the trip, the first nights, offering food, when to start handling, quarantine from other reptiles, and the first vet check. Crested Gecko · ExplainerNew Crested Gecko Lighting and Heating: Temperatures, Overheating, Humidity and UVB Crested gecko temperatures by day and night, the 85°F ceiling and how to stay under it, the misting and dry-out cycle, and low UVB for a Ferguson zone 1 gecko. Crested Gecko · ChecklistNew Crested Gecko Setup Checklist: Everything to Have Ready Before Day One Every item a crested gecko needs before it comes home: tall terrarium, low UVB, gentle heat with a thermostat, misting, gauges, food and cover, in setup order. Crested Gecko · Buying guideNew Crested Gecko Supplies List: The Gear Worth Buying, Item by Item A complete crested gecko shopping list: tall terrarium, low UVB, gentle heat only if needed, misting, gauges, food, plants and hides, with what to look for.
Corn Snake
Corn Snake · ExplainerNew 12 Common Corn Snake Mistakes (and How to Fix Each One) The corn snake care mistakes new keepers make most, from unlocked lids and unregulated heat mats to cedar bedding and overfeeding, each with a simple fix. Corn Snake · ExplainerNew Corn Snake Diet: What to Feed, How Much and How Often How to feed a corn snake: frozen-thawed mice, prey size by body width, feeding intervals from hatchling to adult, safe thawing, and how to avoid overfeeding. Corn Snake · ExplainerNew Corn Snake Enclosure Size: Minimums, Ideal Size and Layout How big a corn snake enclosure should be, how the RSPCA, RVC and ReptiFiles minimums compare, which materials work best, and how to stop escapes for good. Corn Snake · FAQNew Corn Snake FAQ: Short Answers to the Questions New Keepers Ask Quick answers on corn snake lifespan, size, biting, handling, escapes, heat, humidity, UVB, feeding, shedding, vet visits and whether two can live together. Corn Snake · How toNew Your Corn Snake's First Week: Settling In, Feeding and Handling A new corn snake's first week: why it hides, when to feed and handle, how to pick it up, quarantine, mites, breathing signs and the first vet visit. Corn Snake · ExplainerNew Corn Snake Lighting and Heating: Temperatures, Thermostats, Humidity and UVB Corn snake basking, cool side and night temperatures, overhead heat vs heat mats, why every heater needs a thermostat, humidity targets and low-level UVB. Corn Snake · ChecklistNew Corn Snake Setup Checklist: Everything to Have Ready Before Day One Every item a corn snake needs before it comes home: a locking enclosure, basking heat and thermostat, substrate, hides, climbing decor, water and feeding tools. Corn Snake · Buying guideNew Corn Snake Supplies List: The Gear Worth Buying, Item by Item A complete corn snake shopping list: escape-proof enclosure, basking heat, thermostat, UVB, burrowing substrate, hides, climbing decor, water bowl and tongs.
Veiled Chameleon
Veiled Chameleon · ExplainerNew 12 Common Veiled Chameleon Mistakes (and How to Fix Each One) The care mistakes veiled chameleon keepers make most, from glass tanks and water bowls to too much heat and weak UVB, and the simple fix for each one. Veiled Chameleon · ExplainerNew Veiled Chameleon Diet and Hydration: Insects, Gut-Loading, Supplements and Water What veiled chameleons eat and how often by age, the best feeder insects, gut-loading, calcium and vitamin schedules, and how they drink from misting and drips. Veiled Chameleon · ExplainerNew Veiled Chameleon Enclosure Size: Height, Screen vs Glass, Plants and Drainage How big a veiled chameleon enclosure should be in inches and cm, screen vs hybrid vs glass, juvenile setups, safe live plants, branch layout and drainage. Veiled Chameleon · FAQNew Veiled Chameleon FAQ: Short Answers to the Questions New Keepers Ask Quick answers on veiled chameleon lifespan, size, difficulty, cage size, drinking, misting, heat, UVB, food, handling, cohabiting, egg laying and vet checks. Veiled Chameleon · How toNew Your Veiled Chameleon's First Week: Settling In, Handling and What Is Normal How to settle a new veiled chameleon: leave it alone, mist on schedule, offer food, read stress signs, why handling waits, warning signs and the first vet trip. Veiled Chameleon · ExplainerNew Veiled Chameleon Lighting and Heating: Basking Temps, UVB, Humidity and Night Basking, ambient and night temperatures for veiled chameleons, why too much heat is dangerous, T5 UVB strength and distance through mesh, UVI targets, humidity. Veiled Chameleon · ChecklistNew Veiled Chameleon Setup Checklist: Everything to Have Running Before Day One Every item a veiled chameleon needs: a tall screen cage, T5 UVB, basking heat on a thermostat, misting, drainage, live plants and monitoring, in setup order. Veiled Chameleon · Buying guideNew Veiled Chameleon Supplies List: The Gear That Matters, Item by Item Every veiled chameleon supply with US and UK picks: screen cage, T5 UVB, basking bulbs and dimming thermostat, misting system, dripper, plants and supplements.