Care guides

Know your species before you buy.

21 species care sheets and 10 in-depth guides, checked against current husbandry guidance. Temperatures are in °C with °F alongside.

Species care sheetsCare guides

Species care sheets

A crested gecko held in a handLizards

Crested gecko

Correlophus ciliatus
Beginner15–20 years
Lucifer, an orange stripe gargoyle geckoLizards

Gargoyle gecko

Rhacodactylus auriculatus
Beginner15–20 years
A leopard gecko resting in a handLizards

Leopard gecko

Eublepharis macularius
Beginner15–20 years
An African fat-tailed gecko on coco fibre substrateLizards

African fat-tailed gecko

Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
Beginner15–20 years
An orange bearded dragon resting on a rockLizards

Bearded dragon

Pogona vitticeps
Intermediate10–15 years, sometimes 20+
A blue tongue skink flicking its blue tongueLizards

Northern blue tongue skink

Tiliqua scincoides intermedia
Beginner–Intermediate15–20 years, sometimes much longer
A male veiled (Yemen) chameleon with a tall casque on a rockLizards

Veiled (Yemen) chameleon

Chamaeleo calyptratus
Intermediate6–8 years; females usually shorter
A green casque-headed iguana among leavesLizards

Casque-headed iguana

Laemanctus spp.
IntermediateAround 5–7 years reported
An ackie monitor resting along a keeper's armLizards

Ackie monitor

Varanus acanthurus
Intermediate15+ years
An orange and black uromastyx held in a handLizards

Uromastyx

Uromastyx spp.
Intermediate25+ years
A young corn snake coiled on cork barkSnakes

Corn snake

Pantherophis guttatus
Beginner15–25 years
A royal python with its tongue outSnakes

Royal python (ball python)

Python regius
Beginner–Intermediate15–30 years
A western hognose snake resting in a handSnakes

Western hognose

Heterodon nasicus
Beginner–Intermediate10–15+ years
A Kenyan sand boa's head emerging from woodSnakes

Kenyan sand boa

Eryx colubrinus
BeginnerUp to 30 years
A red, black and cream banded milk snake, a type of kingsnakeSnakes

Kingsnake

Lampropeltis spp.
Beginner20+ years
A small Hermann's tortoise walking over soilTortoises

Hermann's tortoise

Testudo hermanni
Intermediate50+ years
A young Horsfield's tortoise on gravelTortoises

Horsfield's tortoise

Testudo horsfieldii
IntermediateUp to about 50 years
A White's tree frog sitting on a branchAmphibians

White's tree frog

Ranoidea caerulea
Beginner15–20+ years
A green and brown pacman frog with its mouth openAmphibians

Pacman frog

Ceratophrys spp.
Beginner10+ years
A Chilean rose tarantula on a rockInvertebrates

Chilean rose tarantula

Grammostola rosea / G. porteri
BeginnerFemales up to 20 years; males much shorter
A Mexican red knee tarantula on bark, seen from aboveInvertebrates

Mexican red knee tarantula

Brachypelma hamorii
BeginnerFemales 15+ years; males about 10

Care guides

Advice that applies whatever you keep.

Getting started

Choosing your first reptile

What to think about before you bring a reptile home, and which species suit first-time keepers.

Husbandry

UVB lighting explained

Why reptiles need UVB, what UVI means, and how much each species needs.

Husbandry

Heating, thermostats and temperature gradients

How to set up safe heating and a proper warm-to-cool gradient.

Diet

Feeder insects, gutloading and supplements

Choosing, sizing, gutloading and dusting insects so your reptile gets the nutrition it needs.

Health

Quarantining a new reptile

How and why to keep new arrivals separate before they meet the rest of your collection.

Health

Shedding and stuck shed

What a healthy shed looks like and what to do when shed gets stuck.

Health

Health checks and when to see a vet

Signs of a healthy reptile, warning signs, and how to find an exotic vet.

Seasonal

Brumation and hibernation

Which reptiles slow down in winter, and how to keep them safe.

Getting started

Handling and taming

How to build trust with a new reptile and handle it safely.

Seasonal

Winter prep and emergency kits

Getting your setup ready for cold weather and power cuts.

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