Reptile pet habitat recommendations? The Russian tortoise is one of the more popular tortoise breeds in the trade. Spend a few minutes with one and you’ll see why! These creatures are rather active compared to other species. Not only that, but they are easy to care for. Pair that with their beautiful appearance and choosing this species is a no-brainer for both beginners and experienced owners! The shell of the Russian tortoise features shades of olive green, tan, black, and brown. While most tortoises have dark scutes with a lighter center, the scutes of the Russian tortoise are the opposite. The ridges are lighter in color while the raised portion is darker. Another distinct feature is the claws. This species is sporting four sharp claws on each foot. They help the tortoise burrow in the substrate and climb on obstacles. Needless to say, creating a secure environment for this reptile is a must! They can live inside an appropriately sized terrarium or vivarium. Or, you can keep them outside. Whatever you choose, it’s important to make sure that the enclosure has tall walls that penetrate deep into the substrate to prevent escape. Can you guess what the most defining characteristic of this species is? It has an elongated shell, making it look more oval than other species.
Some snakes will need an ultraviolet-B (UVB) light. Some won’t. Some will get along nicely with half an hour of unfiltered sunlight each day. Investigate the details of your variety’s needs. All snakes will require a basking light. Position it over a nice basking rock or branch. You’ll need an assortment of thermometers and hygrometers (devices that measure humidity): some for the floor and some for the walls of the terrarium. Never, ever believe the thermostats. All snakes should also have some under-tank heating. You need to be careful here: You don’t just stick a heating pad under the tank, turn it on, and ignore it. It needs to be small enough to provide heat to only part of the floor, under part of the hidey-home. The idea is to provide what is called a “heat gradient”. That means that one section of the floor under a hidey-home should be a specific temperature. Let’s say, for example, that the ideal temperature for your snake is 85F. Another spot on the floor under the hidey-home should be a little warmer, at 87F, and still another should be 82F or 84F. Yet another section of the floor outside the hidey-hole, should be as cool as 71F-75F, and unheated. This way, the snake can regulate her body temperature by moving around. Her ideal temperature should be available in her hidey-hole.
It’s going to be very important to have at least one thermometer in your lizard’s enclosure. This is because you are going to need to maintain a temperature gradient within the enclosure, and using several thermometers will ensure that you are getting the temperatures just right. For your basking area, all you really need is a low watt bulb that is placed outside of the enclosure. Overheating your Mexican alligator lizard can be very dangerous, so make sure that the basking area is not getting above the required temperature. If you are not able to expose your Mexican alligator lizard to natural sunlight, you’ll need to provide supplemental UVB lighting. This can be done using a tubular or a coil UVB bulb. In our opinion, the tubular kind seems to work better, but either one is fine. Use a 12 hours on, 12 hours off schedule for your lighting. This can be ensured quite easily with the use of a timer. Read even more details on reptile pet enclosures.
My friend can’t care for their bearded dragon any longer and gave him to me. I want to keep him, but I don’t know what he’ll need to be healthy. Any tips on how to start taking care of a bearded dragon? Bearded dragons can make a good first-time reptile pet. They are generally easy to care for and can live up to 10 years of age. Make sure the enclosure is as big as possible and able to be easily disinfected. Heat lamps and external heat sources are required to maintain health and support their immune system. Make sure the temperature is 80-85 degrees on one side and 90-95 on the other so there is a temperature gradient in his enclosure. Always use temperature readers on both ends to ensure proper temperature. A basking light is also needed with a metal reflector so the dragon can warm itself.
Considered a medium-sized tortoise, marginated tortoises reach lengths of 12 to 15 inches when fully grown. Like other species of this size, these pet tortoises require sizable enclosures. They do fine indoors or out, but they require some extra security to stay safe. The most recognizable trait of this reptile is the arrangement of the scutes. The outermost scutes on the perimeter of the carapace, called the marginal scutes, flare out. This gives the tortoise a unique silhouette that almost looks like it’s wearing a skirt! The wild distribution of this tortoise breed is relatively limited. It’s mostly found in isolated populations throughout Southern Greece and Italy. However, this species is prolific in captivity. Thanks to the success of breeders, it’s readily available across the globe. Find more information at https://reptilehq.com/.