Sitting on a hot rock, a heat mat or near a heat panel (RHP) at 40 degrees C (104 Fahrenheit) or more is not basking, it is simply gathering heat to enable the animal to burn energy. Run Ceramics at a higher temperature and you risk burns. All reptiles bask to some extent or another. When they bask, it is not necessarily to just get hot, it is also for good biological and physiological reasons. Basking requires a special wavelength called Near InfraRed as well as UVB and bright light. Here are some reasons why reptiles and even humans bask. • Sheer pleasure. – and a feeling of well-being. DOP ..read more

Recently, PAN (Pet Advocacy Network) came out with new US pet industry standards that now recommend that all suppliers and breeders provide UVB lighting, in all reptile and amphibian enclosures. This in addition to their current standards which recommends that breeders house their adult snakes in suitable sized enclosures with appropriate enrichment, is a very welcome initiative for those of us that want to see these animals cared for at a more advanced level. While the pet industry has advanced considerably over recent years, unfortunately most of the current breeding methods for reptiles ha ..read more

  "The Vivarium itself is as vital to the correct provision of an animal as is the provision of the pertinent heating and lighting systems. These are not just boxes in which an animal is living, but rather they are a core part of the technology needed to ensure high levels of health and well-being. Therefore, choosing the right type and size of vivarium, then installing the correct decoration or naturalistic habitat alongside the correct electronics is as of vital importance to overall health and well being as every other part of the system." John Courteney-Smith MRSB, Head of ..read more

Why do snakes like tight spaces? How does that translate into housing? Well the answer to this, in its very basic form, is to make them feel safe, I’m sure we all know that tight spaces meet their security needs. Many of us have experienced our snake cram itself into the tiniest cork bark tube or under the water bowl. But why tight spaces? Why not any hidden space? Well the answer is something a lot more interesting than “because they do”. Its do to with something called thigmotaxis, and what this means is the movement of an organism toward or away from an object that provides mechanical stimu ..read more

"The Vivarium itself is as vital to the correct provision of an animal as is the provision of the pertinent heating and lighting systems. These are not just boxes in which an animal is living, but rather they are a core part of the technology needed to ensure high levels of health and well being. Therefore, choosing the right type and size of vivarium, then installing the correct decoration or naturalistic habitat alongside the correct electronics is as of vital importance to overall health and well being as every other part of the system." John Courteney-Smith MRSB, Head of Science ..read more

Before you get your pet reptile, it’s important to plan out where it will be living for the next 10 or more years and there are several ways you can setup your reptile’s habitat to care for the lifetime of your pet. Firstly, lets look into where most pet reptiles come from. Minimalistic (Good?)  Most pet reptiles in the USA and many other countries are initially hatched and raised up in minimalistic enclosures called tubs or racks. This setup is also popular with smaller breeders that sell online, at local reptile shows and to other collectors who are usually interested in breeding to c ..read more

All you have to do is type “bearded dragon care” into Google to see that there are hundreds of resources on reptile care out there. So why bother with one particular website or care guide? Don’t they all contain more or less the same information? Not at all. There are a million and three places where you can find information on reptile care — lifestyle sites, breeders, pet stores, blogs, social media groups, forums, etc. And you’ll find that they rarely agree. That’s because most care sheets and guides available today contain information that is either outdated, oversimplified, trying to sell ..read more

  Currently, a percentage of the reptile hobby finds itself tilting towards “industrialized” and “sterilized” care. As a result, you might encounter the commonly spouted myth: “The risk of adding enrichment into your reptile’s enclosure is too high, due to the potential of harmful bacteria growth”. In other words, the claim is— you might as well keep your reptiles in an environment that can be sterilized quickly and easily (i.e. paper towel substrate, plastic tub, etc.) to ensure optimal health. Is that true? Is the risk of environmental enrichment truly higher than the reward? Greater Ri ..read more

In this video tutorial, Stuart Dunne, the creator of Universal Rocks lays out a series of Exo Terra and Zoo Med terrariums while discussing the many options that will help to make your pets habitat something special.  These new background designs are made from a new high density polyurethane foam that is very rigid and perfect for reptiles to climb on and yet, costs less than many of the flexible backgrounds. Because of this, the installation is a little different and so this first video explains how best to install in your terrarium. Installation   While all Universal Rocks pr ..read more

These terrariums feature a unique round shape–the creators of these, at A-Round Nature call it a “Panararium”–enhancing your ability to view your cold blooded friends. This unique shaping allows a full 360 degree view of your pet, as well as providing a unique artistic piece to feature in your home. A-Round Nature Panararium terrariums come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from 15” by 5” all the way up to an extra-large 28” by 36”, and can fit most any home and make the perfect habitats for most geckos, dart and tree frogs and small tropical lizards . All Panarariums include long lasting 1 ..read more