Checklist
Reptile Supplies Checklist: What Every Enclosure Needs, by Species
The supplies every reptile enclosure needs, and a species table of adult size, enclosure, basking heat, UVB zone and diet, each from a named vet or zoo source.
All guides12 guides
All guides
Reptile setups by species: enclosure sizes, heat, UVB and diet from veterinary, zoo and herpetological sources, with the supplies each one needs.
Enclosures
Enclosure sizes and setups for bearded dragons, leopard geckos, ball pythons, corn snakes, hognoses and king snakes, from veterinary and zoo sources.
Comparison
Ball Python Enclosure: PVC vs Glass, Humidity and Heat
Ball python enclosure size, PVC vs glass vs wood, humidity for clean sheds, heat on a thermostat, hides and substrate, from VCA, the RSPCA and a herp society.
Setup guide
Bearded Dragon Enclosure: Size, Setup and the Gear It Needs
How big a bearded dragon enclosure should be, basking and cool-side temperatures, UVB, heat, substrate and hides, from VCA, the RSPCA and the UV-Tool study.
Setup guide
Corn Snake, Hognose and King Snake Enclosures: Setup by Species
Enclosure sizes, temperatures, humidity, locking lids and hides for corn snakes, western hognoses and king snakes, from vet, zoo and herp society sources.
Setup guide
Leopard Gecko Tank Setup: Tank Size, Heat Mat, Hides and Substrate
Leopard gecko tank size, warm and cool temperatures, heat mat and thermostat, three hides, substrate and UVB, from VCA, the RSPCA and the UV-Tool study.
Heat and UVB
UVB lamps by species and UV zone, basking bulbs, ceramic emitters, heat mats and the thermostat every heat source needs.
Comparison
Reptile Heat Lamps, Heat Mats and Thermostats: What to Use Where
Basking bulbs, halogens, heat projectors, ceramic emitters, heat mats and panels compared, and the thermostat each needs, from maker manuals, VCA and the RSPCA.
Comparison
Reptile UVB Lighting: T5 HO vs Compact vs Mercury Vapor, by Species
UVB zones by species from the UV-Tool study, T5 HO vs T8 vs compact vs mercury vapor lamps, distances, mesh losses and replacement intervals from the makers.
Food and supplements
What pet reptiles eat by species and age, calcium and vitamin supplements as vets describe them, and gifts for reptile keepers.
Roundup
Gifts for Reptile Keepers: Useful Gear and Fun Picks, by Person
Reptile gifts matched to the person: gauges and UVB for a new dragon owner, tongs for snake keepers, pens for tortoises, plush for kids, and CDC hygiene advice.
Answer
Turtle and Tortoise Food: Pellets, Greens and What to Avoid
What aquatic turtles and tortoises eat, how often to feed them, calcium, fruit and foods to avoid, from VCA, the RSPCA, Tortoise Trust and a vet school.
Answer
What Do Bearded Dragons Eat? Diet, Calcium and Supplements
Insects and greens by age, how often to feed, foods to limit or avoid, and calcium and vitamin D3 dusting, from VCA, RSPCA and Washington State University.
Turtles and tortoises
Aquatic turtle tanks with filters, basking docks and UVB, and tortoise tables and outdoor pens, with the CDC hygiene advice for shelled pets.
Setup guide
Tortoise Enclosures: Tortoise Tables, Indoor Setups and Outdoor Pens
Why tortoise tables beat glass tanks, room for Russian, Hermann's and sulcata tortoises, outdoor pens, digging and UVB, from vet and tortoise sources.
Photo: Futureman1199 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Setup guide
Turtle Tank Setup: Tank Size, Filter, Basking Dock and UVB
How big a turtle tank should be, water and basking temperatures, filters, water changes, basking docks, UVB and CDC Salmonella advice, from VCA and the RSPCA.
Photo: Beeblebrox / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0