🦎Reptiles buying guides

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.