Reptiles come in all shapes and sizes, and their basic needs vary significantly from species to species. It's essential that you tailor your shopping list to meet the specific requirements of the reptile you've chosen. Here are items, grouped by category, that you should purchase before you bring your new reptile home. Of course, you can always add items as time passes and you become more familiar with your pet's needs.
Housing for Terrestrial Reptiles
You will need a cage or terrarium with:
A cover
Substrate
An incandescent basking light or ceramic heater
An undertank heater
Shallow food and water dishes
A terrarium stand
A full-spectrum fluorescent light
A thermometer and humidity gauge
A misting bottle
Decor
A hide box or log
Non-toxic plants, branches, log and cork back
Housing for Semi-Aquatic Reptiles
You will need:
A part water and part dry vivarium
An undertank heater
A filter system
Decor
Shallow food and water dishes
A vivarium stand
Full-spectrum fluorescent lighting
A thermometer and humidity gauge
An incandescent basking light or ceramic heater/li>
Substrate
Hiding area
Housing for Aquatic Reptiles
You will need:
An aquarium with cover
Water heater
Filter system
Substrate
Full-spectrum fluorescent light
An incandescent basking light or ceramic heater
Basking rock or log
A thermometer and humidity gauge
Smooth rock or drift wood
Decor
Aquarium stand
Food
You will also need commercially-prepared food, designed specifically for the kind of reptile you have. If your reptile requires live food, you must identify a reliable, high-quality source. PETCO strongly recommends feeding your reptile frozen thawed food. Depending on the species, your pet may need a multi-vitamin/mineral and calcium supplements. Your pet reptile may also need fresh greens or fruit. Some reptiles require large amounts of dark leafy greens. Consult your exotic veterinarian and a PETCO reptile specialist for your animal's specific dietary needs.
Miscellaneous
More items that may be useful are tweezers for removing ticks, a thermostat and timer (optional), treatments and prescriptions from your reptile veterinarian, as required, for internal or external parasites, forcepts or other tools for feeding.