Reptile Lighting

One of the most important things a reptile needs is correct lighting. It not only regulates their photo period and provides essential UVB rays, it also allows them to see there environment. Now this last one sounds pretty obvious but what most people don't realize is that most reptiles can see into the UV range and some into the IR range. So providing a UV light is important for them to feel more at home and can stimulate better appetite and activity. Some of their food sources would faintly glow in UV light and that will make it more appealing to your reptile. There can also be too much UV though. so I recaomend not using a light higher than 8% UV.
One major concern is the use of compact coil lights. They produce too high of concentration of UV light and can cause blindness if the reptile can get too close to the light.
Bearded Dragon Care Sheet

Herp Supplies

I've been raising reptiles for about fifteen years. It has been quite an interesting hobbie. I 've had turtles, iguanas, monitors and geckos. Presently I have bearded dragons, ball pythons, frilled dragons and a tegu. Caring for all of these critters has become time consuming but it is something I enjoy. It also was getting expensive. When I found a reptile supply store that carried everything I had been buying at pet stores but cheaper I started saving alot of money. Now I order just about all of my supplies from this store.
Bearded Dragon Care Sheet

More Advanced Needs of a Reptile

In my last blog I talked about the basics of reptile care. Their more advanced needs involve the processes of their metabolism and stimulating their natural behaviors. All reptiles need vitamin D3, phosphorous and calcium among other vitamins and minerals. They use the calcium to build their bones. They use the D3 and phosphorous to absorb the calcium from their blood into their bones. Depending on what kind of reptile you have will determine how your give them the amount of these needed. They all should have a 2:1 ratio of Ca and Ph in their diet. You'll have to do research on how much of these are in their diet to determine how much to give them. To get the D3 you can use a powder or liquid supplement or use a UVB light in order to stimulate the production of D3. I prefer using the light because that also gives them a more natural looking enclosure. Most reptile can see in the UV spectrum and it can help stimulate them to be more active and have a better apatite.
In order to help your pet feel more at home in his or her natural environment it will be necessary for you to research where he or she is from in the wild. If it is a desert animal you can use sand or slate tiles as a substrate with rocks to climb on. If it is from a tropical area coconut bark or jungle bark would be better with branches or vines to climb on. You can use naturalistic food and water bowls for a better appearance. After you've done all of that you'll want to get the light cycle right and possibly change it during the year if your pet would usually brumate during the winter months.
Bearded Dragon Care Sheet
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Basic Needs of Reptiles

There are a few basic needs all reptiles have. Food, water and heat are the first three. I'm just going to talk about these in this blog; and I'll talk about more advanced needs in another.
There is a wide variety of diets for reptiles from herbavore to carnivores to omnivores to insectavores. Depending on which one your reptile is there are a variety of prepared diets for them. For example bearded dragons eat fust about anything they can fit in their mouths. They like dragon pellets as well as freeze dried crickets or meal worms. They'll also eat fresh fruit, veggies and lettuces. I give mine all of these and sometimes pinkies or live crickets, meal worms or cockroaches as a treat. The best thing to do is read a book about the reptile you have or are going to get to find out what is the best for him or her.
Everything needs water of coarse but depending on what kind of reptile you have will determine how much. Some species of desert reptile will get all their water from the food they eat. It still is a good idea to keep fresh water in with your reptile just in case it gets thirsty. I will soak mine weekly so they can drink and get dirt and shed off. Some turtles and amphibians will need to be able to completely submerge themselves; but will also need to be able to dry completely when they want to. It's good to have a basking light on one end where your pet will be able to climb out of the water and get close to.
Which brings me to my next topic of heat. There are many different ways of heating a cage. The easiest of corse is a basking light as I mentioned before. Under tank heaters, Heat tape, aquarium heaters are also good sources. It's best if your reptile can get in and out of the heated side of the terrarium so he or she can thermo regulate.
Bearded Dragon Care Sheet
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Reptile Terrariums

If you want to create an artificial environment for a pet reptile there are a few things you should think about.

• Where is it found in the wild?
• What does it eat?
• How big will it get?
• Will you be housing more than one together?

The first of these points is the most important, in order to replicate your pet's natural habitat. When you're designing the terrarium think about eases of cleaning as well as what looks nice. Plastic plants are easier to keep especially of your pet would eat live ones. Some substrates are also easier to clean than others. You will also need to know what temperature to have the terrarium at. You can adjust this with heat rocks, heat tape or basking lights. A timer on your light would help regulate your reptiles day cycle. You will also need to determine your pet's need for UVB. You can provide this with lighting or supplements.

What it eats will determine what you can put in with it as far as live or plastic plants or another companion. You will also need to think about availability and expense of food like crickets, meal worms, lettuce, rodents or even other reptiles.

How big it will get will help you decide how much time and money to spend on a cage that your reptile might outgrow. Also if you will be housing more than one you will need to know how much space each one will need. Here is a good book about building reptile vivaria.

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You can find all of your reptile needs at Reptile Supply.

Bearded Dragon Care Sheet