🦎

Reptiles buying guides

Terrarium, UVB, thermostat-controlled heat: serious herpetoculture starts with the gear.

Planète PetsYour First Terrarium: Leopard Gecko, Bearded Dragon, Corn Snake, Ball Python

To look after them well, the practical guide: Your First Terrarium: Leopard Gecko, Bearded Dragon, Corn Snake, Ball Python — €15

• Temperatures, humidity, UVB and enclosure sizes with clear numbers for each of the 4 species, sources compared
• Answers to the real questions: calcium sand, stuck shed, a ball python that will not eat, bearded dragon brumation
• A real budget collected in 10/2026, 12 studies with verified DOIs, 5 schedules and tracking tables, 7 printable checklists

Buy the guide — €15 See the contents, sample and guarantee

60-page printable PDF · instant download · 14-day money-back

• Vertical terrarium for a crested gecko: height, ventilation and humidityBedding & habitat

  Vertical terrarium for a crested gecko: why height matters more than floor space, what size fits each age, and how to manage the humidity cycle.

• Feeding a crested gecko: CGD powder, fruit and occasional insectsFood

  Feeding a crested gecko: why complete CGD powder remains the base diet, when to add insects, and how often to feed by age.

• Tail loss in crested geckos: why you should never grab one by the tailCare & grooming

  Tail loss (autotomy) in crested geckos: why the tail never grows back in this species, what handling mistakes to avoid, and what to do if it drops.

• Terrarium enrichment for a crested gecko: branches, hides and climbing supportsToys & enrichment

  Terrarium enrichment for a crested gecko: why climbing supports matter as much as décor, what hides to provide, and whether to rotate the layout.

• Transporting a Green Iguana to the Vet: Carrier, Heat and StressTravel & safety

  Rigid carrier, keeping the animal warm on the road, and grips to avoid with the tail: how to transport a green iguana to the vet without adding to its stress.

• Humidity and Shedding in the Chinese Water Dragon: Avoiding Skin ProblemsCare & grooming

  Why the Chinese water dragon needs high humidity, how to maintain it without stagnation, and the early signs of an incomplete shed.

• Feeding a Green Anole: Which Insects, and How Often?Food

  Small live insects, prey size and feeding frequency: the complete guide to feeding a green anole, a strict insectivore and a tiny lizard.

• Handling and Transporting a Pacman Frog: Limiting Stress and ContactTravel & safety

  Why the Pacman frog's permeable skin means handling should stay minimal, and how to transport it safely for a vet visit.

• Blue-tongued skink care: setup, diet, UVB and healthBedding & habitat

  Complete blue-tongued skink care guide: a 120 x 60 cm enclosure, temperatures, UVB shown to be essential by a 2025 study, omnivore diet and health.

• Ball python refusing to eat: seasonal fasting or a real problem?Food

  Understanding ball python (Python regius) fasting: the physiology behind it, common triggers for feeding refusal, and the signs that warrant concern.

• Hibernating a Greek tortoise outdoors: how to prepare it properlyBedding & habitat

  Preparing a Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca) for outdoor hibernation: pre-hibernation health check, a frost-free shelter, monitoring, and a safe wake-up.

• Pacman frog: preventing overfeeding and impactionCare & grooming

  Pacman frog (Ceratophrys): why it never seems to stop eating, the real risks of obesity and impaction, and a feeding schedule matched to its age.

• Green iguana and metabolic bone disease: why calcium is centralCare & grooming

  Metabolic bone disease in the green iguana: why the calcium-phosphorus imbalance and missing UVB cause it, the warning signs, and how to prevent it.

• Green anole breeding: egg-laying, incubation and hatchling careBedding & habitat

  Green anole breeding: one egg per clutch all season, collecting eggs from the substrate, incubation on damp vermiculite at about 28 °C and hatchling care.

• Feeding a blue-tongue skink: balancing an omnivoreFood

  What does a blue-tongue skink eat? Ratios of protein, vegetables and fruit, feeding frequency, calcium, and foods to avoid. The complete feeding guide.

• Enriching a Bearded Dragon Terrarium: Climbing Courses and Hunting GamesToys & enrichment

  How to enrich a bearded dragon's terrarium: climbing courses, hunting games, and gradual novelty to keep a curious, active lizard engaged.

• Carapace Pyramiding in Hermann's Tortoises: Causes and PreventionCare & grooming

  Carapace pyramiding in Hermann's tortoises: causes linked to humidity and protein, prevention tips, and benchmarks for steady shell growth.

• UVB for Veiled Chameleons: How Long and How Far?Accessories

  UVB for veiled chameleons: lamp distance, daily exposure time, and the right equipment for proper vitamin D3 synthesis.

• Incomplete Shedding in Leopard Geckos: Toes and Tail to WatchCare & grooming

  Incomplete shedding in leopard geckos: why toes and tail tips sometimes stay stuck, and how to spot and safely remove leftover shed skin.

• Taming a Blue Tongue Skink: Gentle HandlingToys & enrichment

  How do you tame a blue tongue skink? Gradual habituation, handling duration, and stress signals to build trust without forcing it.

• Enriching a Blue Tongue Skink Terrarium: Digging, Hides, ForagingToys & enrichment

  How do you keep a blue tongue skink busy? Digging boxes, deep substrate, hides and scattered meals to stimulate this curious lizard and prevent boredom.

• Transporting a Bearded Dragon to the Vet or on a Trip Without StressTravel & safety

  How do you transport a bearded dragon? A suitable box, keeping it warm, a calm journey and gentle re-acclimation to limit the reptile's stress.

• Transporting a Hermann's tortoise to the vet: what a study on handling stress revealsTravel & safety

  A study on handling-induced tachycardia in a tortoise shows why a vet trip deserves more care than its slow, armoured passenger suggests.

• Enriching a snake's terrarium: what a study on ratsnakes showsToys & enrichment

  A study on environmental enrichment in ratsnakes reveals measurable behavioural changes, a concrete lead for enriching a ball python's or corn snake's terrarium.

• Enriching a red-eared slider's aquatic tank: what a study on this species showsToys & enrichment

  A study on enrichment in the red-eared slider reveals measurable behavioural preferences, a concrete basis for setting up this aquatic turtle's tank.

• Transporting a leopard gecko safely: what a study on caudal autotomy showsTravel & safety

  A scientific review on caudal autotomy in lizards explains why handling a leopard gecko during transport calls for particular care around the tail.

• Feeding a Tortoise: The Greek and Hermann's TortoiseFood

  What does a Greek or Hermann's tortoise eat? Wild plants, calcium/phosphorus ratio, cuttlebone and the mistakes to avoid for a healthy herbivorous tortoise.

• Feeding a Corn Snake: Prey Size and FrequencyFood

  What does a corn snake eat? Mouse size, feeding frequency by age, frozen or live prey and refusal to eat: the complete guide.

• Complete bearded dragon setup: what starting budget should you plan for?Bedding & habitat

  Terrarium, UVB, heating, decor, food: everything a complete bearded dragon kit includes, with a realistic starting budget of 400 to 700 €.

• Complete leopard gecko setup: what starting budget do you need?Bedding & habitat

  An 80 cm terrarium, heat mat, hides and calcium: what goes into a complete leopard gecko kit, with a starting budget of 250 to 450 €.

• Which terrarium for a corn snake? Size, security and budgetBedding & habitat

  Minimum dimensions, secure locking, thermal gradient: how to choose a terrarium for an adult corn snake, with a detailed budget.

• 3D terrarium backgrounds and decor: polystyrene, cork or resin?Bedding & habitat

  3D background decor for terrariums: cork panels, carved polystyrene or resin, prices, installation and safety for geckos, bearded dragons and snakes.

• Branches, vines and climbing supports for terrariums: choosing wellToys & enrichment

  Natural branches, flexible vines, hammocks: which climbing supports to install in a terrarium, how to disinfect them and at what price.

• Combined LED + UVB lighting: the two-in-one terrarium fixtureAccessories

  Combined LED + UVB fixture for terrariums: benefits, spectrum, prices from 80 to 200 € and the species concerned, from bearded dragons to tortoises.

• Dimming thermostats and timers: regulating your terrarium smoothlyAccessories

  Dimming, on/off or pulse thermostats and day/night timers: how to regulate terrarium heating and lighting, with prices from 25 to 120 €.

• Temperature probes: where should you place them in the terrarium?Accessories

  Where to place temperature probes in a terrarium: height, basking spot, thermostat probe and control thermometer, plus mistakes to avoid.

• Humid hide: DIY or store-bought, which should you choose?Care & grooming

  Humid shedding hide for geckos and snakes: build your own for 3 € or buy a moist cave for 15-30 €, plus substrates and maintenance.

• Feeding tongs for reptiles: safety and good habitsFood

  Feeding tongs for reptiles: stainless steel or bamboo, ideal length, prices from 5 to 20 € and safety rules to avoid bites.

• Breeding your own feeder insects: a cricket bin for your reptilesFood

  Setting up a cricket bin at home: 20 to 40 € of equipment, escape-proof ventilation, feeding and yield to supply a gecko or bearded dragon.

• Mealworms, superworms and gut-loading: feeding your feeder insects wellFood

  Mealworms and superworms for reptiles: differences, feeding frequency, prices and gut-loading to turn the insect into nutritious prey.

• Frozen prey for snakes: buying, storage and thawingFood

  Frozen prey for snakes: where to buy pinkies and rats, prices from 0.50 to 4 € each, freezer storage and safe thawing.

• Outdoor enclosure for a Hermann's tortoise: building and safetyBedding & habitat

  Outdoor enclosure for a Hermann's tortoise: minimum area, escape-proof walls, shelter, plants and a budget of 100 to 400 €, with a note on regulations.

• Basking lamp for tortoises: wattage, height and safetyAccessories

  Which basking lamp for a tortoise: halogen spot or mercury vapour UVB bulb, wattage, mounting height and a budget of 15 to 70 €.

• Substrate for tortoises: topsoil, soil-sand mix or wood chips?Bedding & habitat

  Which substrate for a tortoise in a terrarium or shelter: soil-sand mix, fertiliser-free topsoil, depth, prices and materials to avoid.

• Tortoise hibernation: the essential equipmentCare & grooming

  Equipment for hibernating a tortoise: insulated box, substrate, alarm thermometer, scales and a 5 °C room, with a budget of 40 to 120 €.

• Slider turtle aquaterrarium: filtration comes firstAccessories

  Filtering a slider turtle aquaterrarium: oversized external filter, flow rate, maintenance and a budget of 60 to 200 € for healthy water.

• Smart hygrometer: monitoring your terrarium remotelyAccessories

  Smart hygrometer for terrariums: smartphone alerts, data history, WiFi or Bluetooth, accuracy and a budget of 15 to 60 € for remote monitoring.

• Cleaning the terrarium: which safe products should you use?Care & grooming

  Safe terrarium cleaning: white vinegar, steam, reptile-specific disinfectants, products to ban and a weekly maintenance routine.

• Snake mites: detecting and eliminating the terrarium's parasitesCare & grooming

  The snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis) weakens the animal and spreads disease. How to spot an infestation, treat the snake and disinfect the terrarium.

• Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae for insectivorous reptiles: a real upgrade?Food

  Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) are popular with leopard gecko and bearded dragon owners. What the research actually says about their nutrient profile.

• Bearded dragon black beard: stress, display, or a warning sign?Care & grooming

  A bearded dragon that darkens its throat isn't always signalling trouble. How to read a black beard depending on context: shedding, thermoregulation, stress or display.

• Mold and condensation in a humid terrarium: diagnosing and fixing itBedding & habitat

  Persistent fogging, mold patches on the decor: the causes of excess condensation in a humid terrarium (water dragon, crested gecko, chameleon) and how to fix it.

• Weighing your reptile: why and how to track weight over timeAccessories

  A kitchen scale and a notebook are enough to track growth and catch weight loss early in a reptile. Frequency, method and species benchmarks.

• Green anoles in a group: cohabitation, dominant males and beginner mistakesBedding & habitat

  The green anole lives in small groups, but only one male per terrarium: here is how to build a balanced group, spot a bullied individual and avoid the mistakes that stress these lizards.

• Green anole UVB lighting: why it is essential and how to set it upAccessories

  The green anole is a diurnal lizard that needs UVB to fix calcium and stay healthy. Which tube to choose, how far to place it and when to replace it.

• Heat mat or lamp: should you heat the terrarium from below or above?Accessories

  Ventral heat from a mat or radiant heat from a lamp: the right choice depends on the species' lifestyle. Why a nocturnal gecko and a diurnal bearded dragon have different needs.

• The leopard gecko's moist hide: essential for a successful shedBedding & habitat

  Without a moist hide, the leopard gecko risks an incomplete shed on its toes and tail tip. How to build, place and maintain this essential hideaway.

• Isopods and springtails: the bioactive terrarium's cleanup crewToys & enrichment

  These small detritivores recycle waste and droppings in a bioactive terrarium. Which species to pick, how many, and why they never replace regular cleaning.

• Bearded dragon brumation: signs, precautions and should you prevent it?Care & grooming

  Slowing down, refusing food, sleeping for long stretches: an adult bearded dragon's brumation is a natural phenomenon, but it calls for a precise protocol to stay risk-free.

• African fat-tailed gecko terrarium: getting the setup rightBedding & habitat

  A nocturnal, ground-dwelling cousin of the leopard gecko, the African fat-tailed gecko has similar needs but wants more humidity. A step-by-step setup guide.

• Feeding an uromastyx: a desert herbivore unlike most other lizardsFood

  Unlike most terrarium lizards, the uromastyx is almost exclusively herbivorous as an adult. Which plants to favour, how often, and the pitfalls to avoid.

• Feeding a ball python: prey size and how oftenFood

  How often to feed a ball python, what prey size to pick and when to space meals by age: the concrete pointers for a diet suited to this slow-metabolism snake.

• Feeding a Pacman frog: prey, size and frequencyFood

  An ambush predator with a huge mouth, the horned frog swallows large prey but gains weight fast. What prey, how much and how often, to avoid obesity.

• Tropical terrarium humidity: measuring and holding the right levelBedding & habitat

  Too dry, a tropical terrarium's air dehydrates the animal and hampers shedding; too damp and poorly ventilated, it breeds mould. How to measure and stabilise humidity at the right level.

• Taming a snake: how often to handle it without stressing itCare & grooming

  Handling a snake too soon or too often stresses it; never touching it doesn't help tame it either. The right rhythm, precautions and signals to respect for a beginner snake.

• Feeding a bearded dragon: the right insect-to-greens ratio by ageFood

  Very carnivorous when young, more herbivorous as an adult: the bearded dragon changes diet as it grows. How to adjust the insect and plant share from juvenile to adult to avoid deficiencies and obesity.

• Green anole: a good reptile to start with? What to know before adoptingAccessories

  Small, active and affordable, the green anole appeals to beginners. But it is a lizard to watch more than to handle, with real UVB, heat and humidity needs. Is it right for you?

• Green anole budget: how much does the first year cost?Accessories

  The green anole is cheap to buy, but its setup is the heaviest cost: tropical terrarium, UVB, heating, misting. The first-year budget broken down line by line.

• Stressed green anole: reading the signs of stress and good healthCare & grooming

  Colour turning brown, throat fan flaring, an animal permanently hidden: in the green anole, colour and behaviour reveal its state. The signals to read so you can react in time.

• Chinese water dragon terrarium: what size and setup for an adult?Bedding & habitat

  Tall, spacious and humid: the Chinese water dragon's enclosure must match its arboreal, semi-aquatic lifestyle. Dimensions, planted walls and swimming basin, item by item.

• Feeding a Chinese water dragon: from insectivorous juvenile to omnivorous adultFood

  Crickets, roaches, a little fish and some greens: the water dragon's diet changes with age. Frequency, calcium-D3 and prey variety to avoid deficiencies.

• Transporting a Chinese water dragon without stress: the right gearTravel & safety

  A rigid, dark, padded box, never a clear container: how to move a nervous, bolting lizard like the Chinese water dragon without injury or panic.

• Chinese water dragon enrichment: branches, plants and a diving basinToys & enrichment

  Sturdy angled branches, planted walls, a large basin to dive into: how to set up a terrarium that welcomes the water dragon's natural behaviours instead of frustrating them.

• Feeding a green iguana: which greens for a strict herbivore?Food

  Dark leafy greens, edible flowers, a little fruit: an adult green iguana's diet is almost entirely plant-based. What to favour, classic pitfalls, and calcium-phosphorus ratio pointers.

• A growing terrarium for a green iguana: planning for growth to 1.5 mBedding & habitat

  A young green iguana of 20 cm can reach 1.5 m as an adult. Why the starter terrarium quickly becomes obsolete, and how to plan housing that truly tracks its growth.

• Handling a green iguana: seasonal aggression and socializationCare & grooming

  A puffed dewlap, head bobbing, tail whips: adult green iguanas often become more aggressive during the breeding season. Understanding the phenomenon and adapting handling.

• Perches and branches for a green iguana: setting up an arboreal terrariumToys & enrichment

  The green iguana lives in the canopy in the wild. Branch diameter, tiered layout, safe materials: how to structure the vertical space of its terrarium.

• Feeding a Greek tortoise: which wild plants to favour?Food

  Dandelion, plantain, clover: the Greek tortoise is a strict herbivore that copes poorly with excess protein and fruit. What a wild-diet study reveals about feeding one in captivity.

• Deworming a Greek tortoise: why regular vet checks matterCare & grooming

  Pinworms, roundworms, protozoa: Greek tortoises very often carry intestinal parasites, even when they look perfectly healthy. What a Moroccan prevalence study shows.

• Transporting a Greek tortoise to the vet without stressing itTravel & safety

  Even a short trip durably raises corticosterone levels in tortoises, according to a reference study. Carrier, temperature and duration: how to limit transport stress.

• Enriching a Greek tortoise's outdoor enclosure: terrain, digging zones and complexityToys & enrichment

  A flat, bare enclosure is not enough for an active Greek tortoise. What a home-range study on Hermann's tortoise reveals for building a genuinely stimulating space.

• Leopard gecko or bearded dragon: which should you choose first?Bedding & habitat

  Leopard gecko or bearded dragon as a first reptile? Budget, space, upkeep and handling compared so you pick the species that fits your home.

• Glass or OSB terrarium: which should you choose?Bedding & habitat

  Glass or OSB terrarium? Insulation, price, weight, upkeep and suitable species compared to pick the right enclosure between 100 and 400 €.

• Halogen bulb or ceramic emitter: which heating for your terrarium?Accessories

  Halogen or ceramic to heat a terrarium? Heat, light, lifespan and price (10 to 40 €) compared for daytime and night-time use.

• Live or freeze-dried insects: what should you feed your reptile?Food

  Live or freeze-dried insects for reptiles? Nutritional value, appeal, price per kilo compared, and when dried feeders can fill a gap.

• Bioactive terrarium or simple substrate: which to choose?Toys & enrichment

  Bioactive terrarium or simple substrate? Upkeep, cost (30 to 150 €), enrichment and suitable species compared before you take the plunge.

• First terrarium: the 7 mistakes you absolutely must avoidBedding & habitat

  Undersized enclosure, unregulated heating, forgotten UVB: the 7 first-terrarium mistakes that cost dearly and how to dodge them from day one.

• Heating a terrarium without a thermostat: why it's dangerousAccessories

  Heating a terrarium without a thermostat risks burns and lethal overheating. Real dangers, thermostat types and a budget of 30 to 80 €.

• Heat rocks for reptiles: good or bad idea?Accessories

  Heat rocks for reptiles are best avoided: belly burns and unregulated heating. The safe alternatives from 15 to 60 €.

• Two reptiles in one terrarium: why it's almost always a mistakeToys & enrichment

  Housing two reptiles in the same terrarium is discouraged: stress, injuries, competition. The rare exceptions and the real solutions.

• Calcium sand for reptiles: the false good idea to avoidCare & grooming

  Calcium sand for reptiles promotes intestinal impaction: why this so-called edible substrate is a trap and what to replace it with.

• How much does a bearded dragon cost per month? Electricity, insects, the real budgetFood

  A bearded dragon costs 40 to 70 € per month: insects, greens, electricity, UVB consumables. The line-by-line breakdown and ways to save.

• Corn snake budget: how much does the first year cost?Bedding & habitat

  First year with a corn snake: 450 to 800 € all in. Breakdown of setup, frozen prey, electricity and vet costs.

• Second-hand reptile equipment: bargains and pitfallsCare & grooming

  Buying a terrarium or reptile gear second-hand can halve the bill: what to check, disinfect or walk away from.

• Terrarium electricity bill: how much does it cost and how to cut it?Accessories

  A terrarium uses 10 to 25 € of electricity per month. The line-by-line calculation and 6 practical levers to cut the bill safely.

• Feeder insect prices: how to feed a reptile without going broke?Food

  Crickets, roaches, worms: the real prices of feeder insects and 5 ways to halve the bill, from bulk buying to home breeding.

• Going on holiday with a reptile at home: how to organise it?Travel & safety

  Holidays with a reptile at home: how long it can stay alone, what to automate (30 to 100 €) and what to hand over to a sitter.

• Reptiles and children: what hygiene and safety rules?Care & grooming

  A reptile in a family with children is possible: anti-salmonella hygiene rules, suitable species, supervised handling and the parents' role.

• Heatwave and terrarium: how to protect your reptile from overheating?Travel & safety

  In a heatwave, a terrarium can turn deadly above 35-38 °C ambient. The immediate steps and anti-overheating gear from 10 to 60 €.

• Winter power outage: how to keep the terrarium warm?Travel & safety

  A winter power outage: a terrarium holds 2 to 6 hours before the critical threshold. Emergency plan, hand warmers and backup gear from 10 €.

• From juvenile to adult terrarium: when and how to upgrade?Bedding & habitat

  When to move your reptile to its adult terrarium, which gear to rebuy or keep, and how to manage the transition: the upgrade guide.

• Hermann's tortoise or Greek tortoise: which one to choose?Bedding & habitat

  Adult size, home range, protected status: the two most popular tortoises in Europe look alike but are not equivalent. What a ten-year Bulgarian field study reveals.

• Ball python and UVB: do you really need a UVB lamp?Accessories

  A secretive, burrowing, mostly crepuscular species, the ball python was long kept without any UVB at all. What a landmark study on snakes' voluntary UVB exposure in the wild actually shows.

• Veiled chameleon budget: how much does the first year really cost?Accessories

  Mesh cage, powerful UVB, drip system, varied insects: the veiled chameleon needs specific equipment and close veterinary follow-up. A realistic first-year budget, health surprises included.

• What's the best reptile for a 10-year-old child?Bedding & habitat

  A docile leopard gecko, a calm ball python, or species to avoid altogether: the right choice depends as much on temperament as on health risk. What an English study on childhood salmonellosis makes clear.

• Adopting your first reptile early in your career: check exotic vet access firstCare & grooming

  Before falling for a terrarium, one criterion gets skipped too often: is there a competent exotics vet near you? What an Irish study on access to veterinary care for exotic pets reveals.

• Red-eared slider: should you cut back on animal protein as it ages?Food

  Crickets, fish, carnivore pellets: a juvenile red-eared slider needs a lot of protein. What a landmark US study on growth and nutritional energetics in the species actually shows.

• Green anole: what happens if it loses its tail — does it grow back?Care & grooming

  Unlike the crested gecko, the green anole can regenerate part of a lost tail. What a landmark review on lizard caudal autotomy reveals, and why the new tail is never quite the same.

• Chinese water dragon rubbing against the glass: stress or normal behaviour?Toys & enrichment

  A bruised snout, repeated attempts to push through the glass: this behaviour is far from harmless in the Chinese water dragon. What a landmark veterinary review on reptile welfare says about it.

• Bearded dragon: why the basking lamp's position matters as much as its wattageBedding & habitat

  A bearded dragon that always faces its lamp isn't a coincidence. What a Canadian study on the species' thermal orientation preference shows, and how to factor it into your terrarium layout.

• Ball python: does the transport container stress it more than handling does?Travel & safety

  Manual restraint, gentle handling, or a closed container: not every transport method affects a ball python the same way. What a comparative study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science reveals.

• Leopard gecko: which enrichments actually make a difference?Toys & enrichment

  Heat, hidden food, scents, objects, visual stimuli: a US study tested five types of enrichment in the leopard gecko. Only one turned out to do nothing.

• Bearded dragon: can it learn to open a feeder by watching another dragon?Accessories

  Can a bearded dragon imitate another lizard to solve a problem? What a landmark Austrian study on social learning in the species reveals.

• Veiled chameleon: why it should never see another chameleonCare & grooming

  A veiled chameleon changes colour just from spotting another chameleon. What a US study reveals about visual communication and aggression in the species.

• Hermann's tortoise inactive in midsummer: warning sign or normal behaviour?Care & grooming

  A Hermann's tortoise that vanishes at midday in summer isn't necessarily sick. What a French study using implanted temperature probes shows about its thermoregulation.

• Blue-tongued skink: does handling actually stress it out?Travel & safety

  Gentle handling, manual restraint, or a closed box: a comparative study found no significant rise in stress in the blue-tongued skink, unlike the ball python.

• Green iguana: why a perch in the travel carrier lowers its stressTravel & safety

  Five minutes of daily handling or no perch at all: a study on fecal glucocorticoids in the green iguana reveals two clearly distinct sources of stress.

• Red-eared slider: interest in a coloured object depends on the individualToys & enrichment

  Yellow, red, white or green: a study at a public aquarium found that a red-eared slider's interest in a coloured object mainly comes down to its own temperament.

• Corn snake: does enrichment help it recognise its keeper by scent?Toys & enrichment

  A corn snake raised in an enriched terrarium tells a familiar handler's scent from a stranger's — one housed in a standard tank does not, a UK study finds.

• Royal python or boa constrictor: which to choose as a first snake?Bedding & habitat

  A tank twice as big, a much higher running budget: a boa constrictor isn't just a bigger ball python. The full comparison for choosing your first snake.

• Crested gecko or leopard gecko: which to choose as a first gecko?Bedding & habitat

  UVB required or not, different stress levels found in a 2023 study: the full comparison between crested gecko and leopard gecko for beginners.

• Blue-tongued skink budget: what does the first year really cost?Accessories

  Setup, food, electricity: the real first-year budget for a blue-tongued skink, running between 450 and 650 € all in.

• Red-eared slider grown too big: the mistakes to never makeBedding & habitat

  An undersized tank, releasing it into the wild: the classic mistakes once a red-eared slider outgrows its setup, and what a 2017 study reveals.

• Reptile with roommates: what rules to set before installing a terrariumCare & grooming

  Off-limit zones, handwashing, a backup caretaker: the hygiene rules to set with roommates before adopting a reptile, backed by a 2017 study.

• Pacman frog terrarium: how deep should the substrate be for burrowing?Bedding & habitat

  5 to 10 cm isn't always enough: what a study on pacman frog estivation reveals about the risks of substrate that's too dry or too shallow.

• Chinese water dragon: positioning heating and lighting for real thermal choiceAccessories

  A 1999 study on the Chinese water dragon in a naturalistic setting shows the animal doesn't just endure heat, it chooses it: how to equip the terrarium accordingly.

• Red-eared slider: why a too-cold basking spot weakens its immune systemCare & grooming

  A 2020 study on the red-eared slider's immune response to a virus shows just how much basking temperature shapes its ability to fight disease.

• Veiled chameleon enrichment: why perches and foliage beat toysToys & enrichment

  A 2014 study on early social isolation in juvenile veiled chameleons explains why a setup rich in perches and foliage matters more than any toy.

• Transporting a crested gecko: why its tail forgives no mistakesTravel & safety

  Unlike the leopard gecko, a crested gecko's tail never grows back: what a scientific review of caudal autotomy means for how you transport it.

• Bearded dragon: why the insects' calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is never enough on its ownFood

  Crickets at 1:10, dubia roaches at 2:3: a 2024 veterinary review explains why no single feeder insect covers a bearded dragon's calcium needs on its own.

• Corn snake: what a terrarium large enough to stretch out in actually changesBedding & habitat

  A 2021 study comparing two enclosure sizes for corn snakes shows the real effect of enough room to stretch out on the animal's activity levels.

• Blue-tongued skink: how long does vitamin D last after UVB is switched off?Accessories

  A 2025 study measured how long it takes a blue-tongued skink to return to its baseline vitamin D level after a UVB lamp is removed.

• Leopard gecko: why keeping an eye on tail diameter tells you a lot about its healthCare & grooming

  A 2025 study on wasting syndrome in leopard geckos shows that a shrinking tail diameter is an early, measurable warning sign.

• Hermann's tortoise: what a study on tortoise spatial memory changes about enrichmentToys & enrichment

  A landmark study on the red-footed tortoise reveals an unexpected spatial memory, with concrete cognitive enrichment ideas for Hermann's tortoise.

• Ball python: what a study comparing rack and enriched terrarium housing revealsBedding & habitat

  A 2021 German study compared ball python behaviour in rack versus enriched terrarium housing: the species' normal behaviours barely appeared in the rack system.

• Pacman frog: what a study on the diversity of its wild diet revealsToys & enrichment

  A 2019 study on stomach contents of the Pacific horned frog shows a far more opportunistic ambush diet than the mouse-heavy routine typical in captivity.

• Crested gecko: what a study on jumping changes about choosing perchesAccessories

  A 2021 study on crested gecko landing biomechanics shows that the incline of the landing surface changes the whole impact received on landing.

• Veiled chameleon: what a study on preventing metabolic bone disease revealsFood

  A Swiss study split 56 juvenile veiled chameleons into six supplementation groups to identify the combination that actually prevents metabolic bone disease.

• Hermann's tortoise: what a study on its seasonal hormones changes about health monitoringCare & grooming

  A 2024 study tracked cortisol-family and thyroid hormones in Hermann's tortoises across all four seasons: juveniles do not respond like adults, a useful marker before hibernation.

• Hermann's tortoise: what a UVB lamp study changes about your lighting choiceAccessories

  A 2012 study compared vitamin D3 levels in Hermann's tortoises exposed to sunlight, a mercury-vapor lamp or a fluorescent tube over 35 days, with sharply different results.

• Green iguana: UVB or dietary vitamin D3, what a comparative study revealsAccessories

  A study compared growth in young green iguanas given dietary vitamin D3, UVB exposure, or both, to settle whether full-spectrum lighting is truly necessary.

• Ball python: what a nidovirus study changes about respiratory monitoringCare & grooming

  A 2018 study experimentally infected ball pythons with the nidovirus behind their main respiratory disease, pinning down the very first signs to watch for.

• Corn snake: what an ophidiomycosis study changes about shedding and temperatureCare & grooming

  A 2020 study explored the links between brumation, temperature and the progression of ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) in corn snakes, with direct implications for shedding frequency.

• Green anole: what a study on a tropical cousin reveals about its cognitive abilitiesToys & enrichment

  A 2012 study tested problem-solving in a tropical anole closely related to the green anole, with results that challenge the idea of a lizard with limited cognitive abilities.

• Veiled chameleon: what a tongue study changes about setting the basking spotAccessories

  A study measured tongue-strike speed in veiled chameleons across a range of body temperatures, with results that weigh directly on how the basking spot should be set.

• Leopard gecko: what a study on the detached tail changes about your reactionCare & grooming

  A study filmed the behaviour of a leopard gecko's tail once separated from the body, revealing complex movement patterns that help explain why the animal reacts the way it does after autotomy.

• Greek tortoise: what a study on a cousin tortoise reveals about its learning abilityToys & enrichment

  A study showed that a tortoise species considered largely unsocial can still learn a task by watching another individual, a finding that reshapes what enrichment might mean for the Greek tortoise.

• Blue-tongue skink: what a study on an Australian cousin changes about the idea of solitudeBedding & habitat

  Decades of research on an Australian skink closely related to the blue-tongue skink document unusually strong pair fidelity for a lizard, with implications for scent recognition in captivity.

• Ball python: what a python digestion study changes about feeding frequencyFood

  A landmark study showed that pythons' digestive organs remodel dramatically after every meal, a mechanism that explains why spacing out prey matters so much for the ball python.

• Corn snake or ball python: which should you choose first?Bedding & habitat

  Corn snake or ball python for a first snake? Budget, adult size, temperament and feeding compared so you pick the right species.

• Which plants should you choose for a bioactive terrarium?Toys & enrichment

  Plants for a bioactive terrarium: which ones handle humidity, foot traffic and UVB light, and which ones to avoid altogether.

• How much does a red-eared slider cost per year? Real budgetAccessories

  Yearly budget for a red-eared slider turtle: filtration, heating, UVB and food. What it really costs, item by item.

• What size insects should you feed your reptile at each age?Food

  Cricket and worm size by reptile age: the rule of the eye gap, and why an oversized insect is dangerous.

• Moving house with a terrarium: how do you transport and resettle your reptile?Travel & safety

  Moving house with a reptile: how to take the terrarium apart, transport the animal safely and resettle it without unnecessary stress.

• Leopard gecko: what a study on incubation temperature changes about the sex of hatchlingsAccessories

  A landmark study showed that incubation temperature determines the sex of leopard geckos, with a peak in females at the warmest temperatures — a useful benchmark before any home breeding attempt.

• Uromastyx: what a digestion study changes about setting the basking spot after mealsFood

  A study showed that uromastyx seek out a higher temperature after eating, a postprandial thermophily behaviour that sheds light on how to manage the basking spot around feeding times.

• Tokay gecko: what a study on pair housing changes about setting up the terrariumBedding & habitat

  A study tracked enclosure use and thermoregulation behaviour in Tokay geckos housed as pairs, with results worth knowing before attempting this notoriously tricky cohabitation.

• Tokay gecko: what a study on handler recognition changes about handlingCare & grooming

  A study tested whether Tokay geckos respond differently to a familiar handler versus a stranger, with results that shed light on day-to-day handling of this notoriously difficult species.

• Bearded dragon: what a landmark study changes about how reliable sexing really isAccessories

  A study showed that a high incubation temperature can reverse the genetic sex of bearded dragons, a finding that puts the reliability of early sexing in this species into perspective.

• Red-eared slider: what a study on capture and handling changes about how long to keep contactTravel & safety

  A study measured corticosterone in wild red-eared sliders after capture and handling: the sharpest rise happens within the first 30 minutes, a useful benchmark for limiting direct handling time.

• Corn snake: what a study on handling duration changes before a tripTravel & safety

  A Thai study compared five and ten minutes of handling in corn snakes, with and without an extra hide in the terrarium: the results shed light on the duration worth favouring before transport.

• Green anole: what a study on routine handling changes about fear of transportTravel & safety

  A Belgian study handled green anoles twice a day for three weeks without triggering any measurable chronic stress, a reassuring result before occasional trips to the vet.

• Corn snake: what a study on the metabolic cost of digestion changes about meal sizeFood

  A study measured the specific dynamic response of corn snakes after a meal: an individual's response is remarkably repeatable from one meal to the next, with implications for choosing prey size.

• Blue-tongued skink: what a study on prey capture changes about how it eatsFood

  A study filmed slow-motion capture of mealworms and crickets in the blue-tongued skink: the tongue and jaws are not used the same way depending on the prey, a useful benchmark for varying feeding.

• Crested gecko: what a study on dominance between females changes about cohabitationBedding & habitat

  A US study filmed female crested geckos cohabiting for two months: a dominance hierarchy forms, with concrete implications for setting up a shared terrarium.

• Chinese water dragon: what a study on parthenogenesis changes for a solo femaleCare & grooming

  A study genetically confirmed eggs laid by an isolated female Chinese water dragon with no male ever present: a finding that explains an unexpected clutch and clarifies when to actually worry.

• Greek tortoise: what a study on the cost of righting itself changes about enclosure terrainBedding & habitat

  A study measured the metabolic cost of self-righting in the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise: getting back on its feet costs roughly twice as much energy as walking, a benchmark for thinking through enclosure terrain.

• Reptiles and CITES: traveling or moving abroad with a protected speciesTravel & safety

  Green iguana, chameleon, tortoise: many pet reptiles fall under the CITES convention. What to check before an international trip or move.

• Uromastyx: what enrichment fits a burrowing desert lizard?Toys & enrichment

  In the wild, uromastyx spend much of their life digging a burrow: what research on burrowing reptiles shows, and how to adapt enrichment in a terrarium.

• Transporting a Tokay gecko: managing the stress and bite risk of a territorial geckoTravel & safety

  Known for its powerful bite and unsociable temperament, the Tokay gecko calls for special preparation before a vet visit or a move.

• Uromastyx: what a study on microbial digestion changes about its fiber-rich plateFood

  An Israeli study measured how a uromastyx digests cellulose thanks to gut bacteria. Reason enough to rethink dry fiber versus waterlogged salad greens.

• Pacman frog: what a study on its opportunistic diet changes about handlingTravel & safety

  An Ecuadorian study analyzed the gut contents of wild pacman frogs, revealing a far broader opportunistic diet than expected. Reason enough to understand why it bites so readily.

• Tokay gecko: what a study on its distress calls changes about daily careCare & grooming

  A study recorded the calls a Tokay gecko makes during routine handling, revealing three call types tied to its larynx. Reason enough to rethink how often it's restrained.

• Blue-tongue skink: what a study on aversion learning changes about its enrichmentToys & enrichment

  An Australian study measured how fast a blue-tongue skink learns to avoid a food after a single bad experience. Reason enough to rethink its feeding enrichment.

• Boa constrictor: what a study on thermal aggregation changes about terrarium heatingBedding & habitat

  A classic study measured how young boa constrictors cluster together depending on ambient temperature. Reason enough to rethink the size of the basking spot and the sharpness of the thermal gradient.

• Sulcata tortoise: what a study on captive growth changes about the equipment to plan forAccessories

  A German study tracked sulcata tortoise growth for nearly 18 years and compared it to wild tortoises. Reason enough to plan well ahead for enclosure and equipment size.

• Green tree python: what a study on perch color changes about its enrichmentToys & enrichment

  An American study tested young green tree pythons' preference between light and dark perches. Reason enough to rethink which branches go into the terrarium.

• Panther chameleon: what a study on UVB dose changes about female reproductionCare & grooming

  An American study tracked female panther chameleons across nine different UVB environments. Reason enough to choose your lamp more carefully for both health and fertility.

• Uromastyx: what a study on road noise changes about transporting the animalTravel & safety

  A Tunisian study measured higher corticosterone in uromastyx living near roads and urban areas. Reason enough to rethink the calm you preserve during transport.

• Boa constrictor: what a study on capture stress changes about handling timeTravel & safety

  A study on the Hog Island boa measured a sharp corticosterone rise after just one hour of restraint. Reason enough to limit the length of transport and handling.

• Tokay gecko: what a study on pair housing changes about its enrichmentToys & enrichment

  A study compared the behaviour of tokay geckos housed alone versus in pairs. Reason enough to rethink the social setup of their terrarium.

• Sulcata tortoise: what a study on quantity discrimination changes about mealtimeToys & enrichment

  A Japanese study showed that the sulcata tortoise can tell which of two food piles is larger. Reason enough to enrich its meals with feeding challenges.

• Green anoles: what an incubation temperature study changes about raising juvenilesBedding & habitat

  Green anole eggs incubated at three temperatures produced hatchlings you could not tell apart. The growth gap only shows up eight weeks later.

• Savannah monitor: what a study on its digestion changes about feeding frequencyFood

  A study tracked the savannah monitor's digestive physiology for five days after a meal worth 10% of its body weight. Reason enough to space out its meals.

• Savannah monitor: what a study on its exercise metabolism changes about enrichmentToys & enrichment

  A study measured an oxygen consumption more than eight times higher during activity in the savannah monitor. Reason enough to rethink the space and activity offered in captivity.

• Savannah monitor: what a study on handling heart rate changes about transportTravel & safety

  A study measured an almost doubled heart rate in a large lizard handled for just one minute. Reason enough to limit restraint time during transport.

• Savannah monitor: what a study on pentastomes changes about its quarantineCare & grooming

  A study identified a previously unknown pentastome species in imported savannah monitors. Reason enough to tighten quarantine before introducing one into a collection.

• Day gecko (Phelsuma): what a study on skin fragility in geckos changes about handling itTravel & safety

  A landmark review documents regional skin loss across several island gecko genera, including Phelsuma. Reason enough to rethink how you ever grab a day gecko.

• Day gecko (Phelsuma): what a zoo study on a naturalistic exhibit changes about terrarium setupToys & enrichment

  A study at Zurich Zoo tracked giant day geckos free-ranging in a planted tropical exhibit. Reason enough to rethink the verticality and plant diversity of the terrarium.

• Argentine tegu: what a study on winter brumation changes about its feeding scheduleFood

  A study measured an active rise in the tegu's body temperature during the breeding season, followed by a long winter dormancy. Reason enough to adjust its feeding through the seasons.

• Argentine tegu: what a study on scent trails changes about its enrichmentToys & enrichment

  A study showed that skin lipids alone are enough for a tegu to follow a fellow tegu's trail. Reason enough to enrich its terrarium with simple scent trails.

• Vertical or horizontal terrarium: how do you choose by species?Bedding & habitat

  Vertical or horizontal terrarium: which orientation to pick depending on whether your reptile climbs, burrows, or mostly stays on the ground.

• Calcium and vitamins for reptiles: how do you dose the powder correctly?Food

  Calcium and vitamin powder for reptiles: how often to dust prey depending on age and species, and the dosing mistakes to avoid.

• Incomplete shed in reptiles: causes and fixesCare & grooming

  Incomplete shed in reptiles (retained rings, skin stuck on toes or eyes): the main causes and the steps to take without stressing the animal.

• Should you regularly rearrange the terrarium decor?Toys & enrichment

  Rearranging terrarium decor: which reptiles benefit from it, how often to do it, and the precautions to take so you don't stress the animal.

• Reptile first aid kit: what should you keep at home?Accessories

  Reptile first aid kit: what to keep on hand for a minor wound, a burn, or skin stuck on a toe after shedding, while waiting for the exotic pet vet.

• Your snake does not hear your television — it feels your floorBedding & habitat

  The ball python detects vibration at an extremely low threshold while being nearly deaf to airborne sound. What that means for the furniture the terrarium stands on.

• Leopard gecko: why offering tiny insects can nearly double its activityToys & enrichment

  A German study tracked leopard geckos for eleven months: swapping large prey for tiny insects almost doubled how often they showed active behaviour. A free, risk-free way to enrich its routine.

• Bearded dragon: why a UVB fixture needs to cover far more than the basking spotAccessories

  A Canadian study tracked bearded dragons across a UV gradient: counterintuitively, they were exposed to the most UV while in the cool zone, not while basking under the heat lamp.

• Hermann's tortoise: how long does transport stress stay measurable?Travel & safety

  An Italian study measured a 286% rise in cortisol after handling and transport in young Hermann's tortoises, a level that stayed elevated for over four weeks. Reason enough to truly space out avoidable trips.

• Panther chameleon: a study showing it adjusts its own UV exposureAccessories

  A now-classic American study found that panther chameleons expose themselves to more UV when their diet is low in vitamin D3. Reason enough to rethink how you set up its UVB lamp.

• Box turtle: at what exact point during capture does stress peak?Travel & safety

  A US study tracked corticosterone in 92 wild box turtles from capture to release: the stress peak doesn't come right away, but around the fifty-minute mark of handling.

• Hognose snake: playing dead doesn't mean less stressedTravel & safety

  A US field study measured corticosterone in hognose snakes based on their reaction to capture: fleeing, active defence, and death-feigning all triggered a comparable stress rise.

• Western hognose snake: its preference for an enriched terrarium grows stronger over timeToys & enrichment

  A Canadian study let hognose snakes choose between a plain compartment and an enriched one: their preference for the enriched side grew even stronger after six days.

• Cryptosporidium in leopard geckos: a negative faecal test proves nothingCare & grooming

  In one breeding colony, only a single gecko out of forty could be confirmed negative after repeated faecal exams and histology. Enough to rethink the quarantine protocol.

• Red light at night: what bearded dragon sleep recordings actually showBedding & habitat

  The "reptiles can't see red" argument doesn't survive brain recordings: in bearded dragons it is red and white light that shift the sleep cycle, not blue.

• Handling a European pond turtle triggers a real fever, with no infection at allTravel & safety

  In the European pond turtle, handling alone raises the preferred body temperature and heart rate, like a fever — without any infectious agent involved.

• Recognizing stress in a reptile: the checklist from a veterinary reviewCare & grooming

  Gaping, flight distance, tonic immobility: a veterinary review lays out behavioural signals common to most reptiles for catching distress before it worsens.

• Enriching a ratsnake's terrarium reshapes its behaviour, lastinglyToys & enrichment

  In ratsnakes (genus Elaphe), adding enrichment elements shifts the animal's overall behavioural profile, not just its momentary interest in one object.

• First year of ownership: 3.6 % mortality in reptiles, 28 % in chameleonsCare & grooming

  A survey of 6,689 reptiles quantifies reported mortality in the twelve months after acquisition. The gap between species groups is the real lesson.

• Reptile pain: what the research says, and what it has stopped sayingCare & grooming

  The painkiller long most used in reptiles is now recommended in no species at all. The questions to ask before a procedure.

• Transporting a veiled chameleon: what a study on its stress hormone revealsTravel & safety

  Veiled chameleons are handled as little as possible day to day. A study on wild chameleons shows their accumulated stress hormone rises with body size — a useful cue when a trip becomes unavoidable.

• Transporting a sulcata tortoise: what a study on a giant cousin reveals about stressTravel & safety

  In radiated tortoises, a giant cousin of the sulcata, only about half of individuals react strongly to handling with a hormonal spike — the other half barely moves. A useful cue against trusting appearances.

• Transporting an Argentine tegu: why its heart takes longer to recover than it seemsTravel & safety

  In the Argentine tegu, a study shows heart rate returns to normal well before its variability — a finer marker of recovery — is restored after handling.

• Crested gecko or leopard gecko: which one handles an unfamiliar object best?Toys & enrichment

  A Spanish study compared how crested geckos and leopard geckos react to a novel object and measured their fecal glucocorticoid levels: the two species don't respond the same way.

• Bearded dragons: does naturalistic enrichment really change their behaviour?Toys & enrichment

  A UK study compared bearded dragons in standard versus enriched terrariums: enriched individuals are more active, interact less with the enclosure walls, and clearly prefer naturalistic decor.

• Hognose snakes: an enriched terrarium can literally change the size of its brainToys & enrichment

  A Canadian MRI study compared the brains of western hognose snakes housed for a year in standard versus enriched terrariums: enriched individuals had significantly larger brain volumes.

• Leaving a reptile in the car: the two figures that settle itTravel & safety

  A car cabin hits 47 °C on a 22 °C day, and 80% of the rise happens in thirty minutes. The leopard gecko fails at 41 °C.

• How deep should reptile substrate be, by species?Bedding & habitat

  Terrarium substrate depth: how many centimetres to provide depending on whether the reptile burrows, needs a thin liner, or lives on a mat.

• Should you vary the insects you feed an insectivorous reptile?Food

  Insect variety for insectivorous reptiles: why sticking to crickets alone falls short, and how to rotate prey without complicating feeding.

• Overgrown claws in reptiles: should you trim them?Care & grooming

  Overgrown claws in bearded dragons, geckos or tortoises: when a trim is actually needed, what tools to use, and how to avoid the quick.

• Feeding enrichment for reptiles: making mealtimes more engagingToys & enrichment

  Feeding enrichment for reptiles: a movable bowl, simulated hunting, scattering prey — simple ways to make mealtimes more stimulating.

• Travelling on holiday with your reptile: what to know before you goTravel & safety

  Taking your reptile on holiday by car, train or plane: carrier, temperature control and paperwork to sort out before the trip.

• Glass terrarium or rack system? What two 2026 studies reveal about snake stressAccessories

  Two studies published in 2026 compare the physiological stress of snakes housed in racks versus enriched terraria — and the result isn't what you'd expect.

• Probiotics in red-eared sliders: what real effect on the shell, according to a studyFood

  A Polish study tested probiotics in young red-eared sliders over 20 weeks, measuring gut microbiota, intestinal histology and shell mineralization.

• Does a bigger terrarium reduce a green anole's stress? What a study showsBedding & habitat

  A Belgian study compared several terrarium volumes in green anoles without finding a measurable effect on physiological stress — a result that nuances the assumption that bigger is always better.

• Why a gecko slips off the glass: what misting really does to its gripBedding & habitat

  A study measures a gecko's clinging force on dry, misted and submerged glass. The result is not the expected one, and it changes how you should mist.

• Green anole: the dominant recovers from stress, the subordinate sinks deeperTravel & safety

  A 2004 study puts green anoles through forced movement before and after a hierarchy forms. Social status radically changes how the animal handles the exact same stressor.

• Feeding a young boa weekly versus every two weeks: the measured growth gapFood

  A study compares two feeding regimes at strictly equal total food mass in juvenile Boa constrictor. Meal frequency, not just volume, changes how fast they grow.

• The leopard gecko is nocturnal, but it still makes vitamin D3 from UVBFood

  A 2020 study measures serum vitamin D3 in young leopard geckos exposed or not to low-level UVB. The result nuances the idea that a nocturnal species only needs dietary supplementation.

• Handling your bearded dragon for 5 or 15 minutes: duration changes its response to noveltyTravel & safety

  A 2020 study compares bearded dragons handled for 0, 5 or 15 minutes before facing an unfamiliar environment. Same gesture, but the duration is not free.

• Leopard tortoise: food or human contact? The test that reveals highly individual preferencesToys & enrichment

  A 2021 study lets five leopard tortoises choose between food, petting and an empty arm in a Y-maze. The outcome is not the same from one individual to the next.

• One basking platform for several red-eared sliders? A study advises against itAccessories

  A study compares basking-site selection in the red-eared slider and the European pond turtle in experimental ponds. In a group, competition for the best spot is real.

• UVB LED lamps: 18 models through the spectrometer, none matches the sun’s spectrumAccessories

  Sold since 2019 as the successor to UVB tubes, UVB-emitting LEDs have been analysed. All depart from the solar spectrum, and all are missing the same band.

• The ball python detects heat up to 30 cm, no further: what the study measuresTravel & safety

  We picture snakes spotting a heat source from a distance. The only threshold study run on the ball python gives a far shorter range than people assume.

• Green iguana: why a hatchling eats an adult's droppings, according to a studyFood

  An adult green iguana digests grass thanks to bacteria it doesn't have at birth. A landmark study explains how a hatchling acquires them, and why.

• Does a tokay gecko prefer bigger prey? What a two-choice study foundFood

  Small cricket or large one: a study placed tokay geckos in front of a prey-size choice. The result nuances the idea of a predator that always calculates the best meal.

• Sulcata tortoise: does pyramiding really come from protein? What a study foundFood

  Excess dietary protein is often blamed for shell pyramiding in the sulcata tortoise. A landmark study points to a different, more decisive factor.

• Leopard gecko in a rack or a terrarium: which one engages faster with enrichment?Accessories

  A Polish study compared leopard geckos housed in racks and in terrariums when faced with the same enrichment items. The result flips a common assumption.

• Is the ball python actually a social snake? What a group-living study foundToys & enrichment

  A Canadian study tracked juvenile ball pythons living in groups for ten days. The result challenges the image of the naturally solitary snake.

• Day gecko: why nectar colour matters more than taste, according to a studyFood

  A South African study tested the artificial nectar preferences of the giant day gecko. Colour carries more weight than expected, and a trace of toxin does not always put it off.

• Salmonella linked to bearded dragons: a US outbreak shows risk without direct contactCare & grooming

  A US public health investigation into a 2024 Salmonella outbreak linked to bearded dragons found young children infected without ever touching the animal themselves.

• Sick bearded dragon: what a review of 724 dragons seen in clinic revealsCare & grooming

  An Australian study covering 724 bearded dragons and 1000 vet visits ranks the most common health problems seen in the species, based on real clinical records.

• Leopard gecko: a 214-animal study links its health problems to husbandry setupBedding & habitat

  A UK study of 214 leopard geckos seen in clinic finds dysecdysis topping the diagnosis list, with specific husbandry factors linked to several disorders.

• Blue-tongued skink: cold during transport is more stressful than being handledTravel & safety

  An Australian study simulated real transport conditions (noise, vibration, cold) in the blue-tongued skink: cold alone clearly cut its activity and lengthened its retreat to shelter.

• Does a corn snake's terrarium need a hide box?Accessories

  Eight corn snakes observed without, then with, a simple hide box: adding it markedly cut their locomotion, digging and soaking, a 2025 Thai study finds.

• Box turtle: does an enriched enclosure really lower its stress?Toys & enrichment

  Thirty-eight box turtles split between a barren and an enriched enclosure for a month: the enriched group showed a lower blood stress ratio and far less escape behaviour.

• Green tree python: why its diet shifts along with its colourFood

  An Australian study links the green tree python's colour change at adolescence to a dietary shift, from cold-blooded prey to warm-blooded prey.

• Uromastyx: the hidden risk of housing it with a bearded dragonCare & grooming

  A Belgian study finds that bearded dragons, healthy carriers of the bacterium Devriesea agamarum, can trigger severe dermatitis in uromastyx sharing their collection.

• Argentine tegu: why it needs less heating during the breeding seasonBedding & habitat

  A Canadian study finds that the Argentine tegu raises its own body temperature several degrees above ambient air during the breeding season.

• Quarantining a new reptile: how long and what setup do you need?Care & grooming

  Quarantining a reptile joining the household: how long to isolate it, with what simplified terrarium, to protect animals already settled in.

• How often should you replace a terrarium's UVB bulb?Accessories

  UVB bulb lifespan for reptiles: why the light still looks normal long after usable UVB output has dropped, and when to actually replace it.

• Choosing a terrarium thermostat: which type fits your setup?Accessories

  On/off, proportional or dimming thermostats for terrariums: how each one works and which type to pick depending on your heating method.

• Shed skin stuck around a reptile's eyes: what should you do?Care & grooming

  Skin left stuck around the eyes of a gecko or snake after shedding: causes linked to humidity and safe steps to remove the residue.

• Should you raise humidity at night for a desert species?Bedding & habitat

  Nighttime humidity for bearded dragons or desert geckos: why some species benefit from a slight overnight humidity spike despite their arid origin.

• Reptile refusing to eat: common causes before you worryFood

  Reptile refusing to eat: the most common causes (temperature, shedding, brumation) before you worry, and when to see an exotics vet.

• Screen cage for a chameleon: which model to choose?Bedding & habitat

  Screen cage for a chameleon: why ventilation matters more than air-tightness, what size fits each species, and setup mistakes to avoid.

• Chameleon drip system: hydrating an animal that won't drink from a bowlCare & grooming

  Chameleon drip system: why a water bowl isn't enough, how to set up a dripper or mister, and how often to run it.

• Feeding a chameleon: insects, gut-loading and carotenoid intakeFood

  Feeding a chameleon: which insects to offer, why gut-loading is essential, and the role of carotenoids in coloration and health.

• Transporting a chameleon to the vet without stressing it outTravel & safety

  Transporting a chameleon: which box to use, how to limit the stress of a highly handling-sensitive animal, and temperature precautions on the road.

• Which terrarium for a leopard gecko or a bearded dragon? Size, glass or OSBBedding & habitat

  Minimum dimensions, glass or OSB, ventilation, budget: the Planète Pets guide to choosing the right terrarium for a leopard gecko or a bearded dragon.

• UVB lamps for reptiles: UV index, percentage and lifespan explainedAccessories

  UVB 5.0 or 10.0, T5 tube or compact bulb, replacement every 6 to 12 months: understanding UVB lighting for leopard geckos, bearded dragons and tortoises.

• Terrarium heating: mat, cable or ceramic, and why a thermostat is non-negotiableAccessories

  Heat mat, cable or ceramic lamp: pros, prices and dangers of each option, and why a thermostat is essential in any terrarium.

• Safe terrarium substrate: which to choose, which to avoid at all costsBedding & habitat

  Paper towel, soil-sand mix, coconut fibre, beech chips: which substrates are safe for leopard geckos, bearded dragons or corn snakes, and which to ban.

• Terrarium hygrometer and thermometer: how to choose and position themAccessories

  Analogue or digital, remote probe, infrared thermometer: how to measure temperature and humidity accurately inside a terrarium.

• Feeding a leopard gecko: crickets, worms, calcium and D3 done rightFood

  Which insects to feed a leopard gecko, how often, and how to dose calcium and vitamin D3: the feeding guide for insectivorous reptiles.

• Terrarium hides and decor: the enrichment that transforms your reptile’s lifeToys & enrichment

  Warm, cool and humid hides, branches, backgrounds: how to set up a stimulating terrarium for a leopard gecko, bearded dragon or corn snake.

• Terrarium misting: hand sprayer or automatic system?Care & grooming

  Hand sprayer, automatic misting system or fogger: how to manage terrarium humidity, at what price, and the mistakes that encourage mould.

• Water bowls and soaking dishes for reptiles: size, material and upkeepFood

  Which water bowl for a leopard gecko, a corn snake or a tortoise? Size, material, placement and upkeep for consistently clean water.

• Transporting a reptile safely: box, heat pack and rules to knowTravel & safety

  Transport box, cloth snake bag, heat pack, car journeys and regulatory basics: the guide to moving a reptile without stress.