Your Reptile's Environmental Needs

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Reptile - Care

Your Reptile's Environmental Needs

Since reptiles live in vastly different climates around the world, there is no single ideal environment for your pet. Be sure to research your snake, lizard or turtle of choice so you can design a vivarium to suit his particular needs.

To keep your reptile happy and healthy, pay attention to the following aspects of his environment.

Space

Overcrowding your pets nearly guarantees you'll fail as an amateur herpetologist. Although it may seem more economical to keep as many reptiles as possible in a single cage or tank, the problems associated with overcrowding will far outweigh any initial savings. The larger the cage, the better. A more effective thermal gradient can be created in a larger cage.

Temperature

Because reptiles rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperatures, your pet needs your help to stay as warm or cool as necessary. The preferred temperature varies among reptiles, but it's usually 70 to 85 degrees F (higher for some desert species). Variations based on time of day and season make this aspect of environmental control even more complicated.

You may find it best to arrange the vivarium with cooler and warmer areas, and let your pet choose between them. For example, you can create a warmer area under a basking light at one end of the cage, or in the case of arboreal lizards perhaps atop a branch, and create a cooler area at the other end.

A wide range of heating devices including light bulbs, pads, tubular heaters, ceramic heating elements and basking lights are available to recreate the perfect temperature environment for your pet. However, hot rocks are not recommended.

You'll need to research your particular species to determine his optimal requirements. Most "basking" reptiles make a habit of moving in and out of sunlight to gain the heat they need, this is termed "thermoregulation." These reptiles will be happy with an overhead, heat-producing light bulb.

Position the heat source at one end of the cage, so your reptile can move into and out of the "hot spot" when needed. Generally, the low ambient temperature shouldn't fall below the low end of the animal's ideal temperature range even with all the lights off. That's the real advantage of using ceramic heating elements and under-the-tank heating.

Humidity

The amount of moisture in the air of the vivarium is controlled by ventilation, temperature and the introduction of water into the atmosphere. Some herps, chameleons for example, have very specific ventilation needs. To raise the humidity, you can either introduce a source of standing or running water into the vivarium, or spray the air with water frequently.

Standing water alone is usually not enough to keep humidity at a desired level so put a hygrometer in your pet's cage to track humidity. Some reptiles, like Tropical Iguanas, require high humidity to maintain their health. Other species, such as many species of geckos, will not normally drink from standing water but rely on droplets of water on foliage or the sides of their cages.

Light

Reptiles that bask in the sun, such as Collared Lizards and Green Iguanas, require special attention to the amount of light exposure they get each day. Nocturnal reptiles require more subdued lighting.

Another requirement of basking species is vitamin D3, normally obtained from sunlight. The vitamin D3 obtained through these lights helps aid the absorption of calcium in the stomach. Typical household incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs do not emit ultraviolet B rays, so you'll need to provide a special ultraviolet B light for this purpose. For best results, position the light so each pet can get within 30 centimeters (12 inches) of it.

Remember, the needs of each species vary. Before bringing home a new reptile companion, investigate his special requirements. Ask for help at your local pet shop, or research the literature available on individual species of lizards, turtles and snakes.