FAQ: Enclosures for reptiles

Yes, live plants usually need brighter light than UVB and basking lamps alone provide, so a plant-friendly LED lamp is often added. Without enough light plants grow leggy and die back.

A hide gives the reptile a sense of security, so it is less stressed, eats better and stays healthier. Without hides reptiles feel constantly exposed to predators and may become restless or refuse food.

At least two hides are recommended, one on the warm and one on the cool side, so the reptile can hide whatever temperature it needs. Many species also benefit from a third, humid hide.

A humid hide is an enclosed hide with damp moss or coconut fibre that is more humid than the rest of the terrarium. It helps the reptile shed more easily and matters even for desert species such as leopard geckos.

A hide should fit the whole reptile with its body touching the walls, as it feels safer in a snug space. A hide that is too large feels less secure, and one that is too small does not let it hide comfortably.

Hides come in resin, ceramic, bark, cork, plastic or imitation stone. What matters is that the material is easy to clean, free of sharp edges and stable, so the reptile cannot tip it over onto itself.

Yes, cork bark tubes and flats are light, natural and moisture-resistant, so they work for hides and climbing. They are easy to fit into a terrarium and have no sharp edges.

A simple hide can be made from an upturned plastic container with a hole cut in it, a clay pot or flat stones. The opening must have smooth edges, and stones must be fixed so they cannot collapse onto the reptile.

A newly arrived reptile often hides for the first days, and some species, such as ball pythons, naturally spend a lot of time hiding. If the reptile never comes out and does not eat for longer, check the temperature and see a vet if needed.

Many snakes feel more secure in enclosed hides with one small opening, as they resemble a burrow. It is worth having such a hide on both sides of the terrarium so the snake does not have to choose between warmth and safety.

Hides go in the warm and cool zones, and the humid hide often in the middle or on the warmer side. Avoid putting a hide directly under the basking lamp so it does not overheat inside.

Yes, but their hides are higher up: dense plants, cork tubes or hanging hides on the wall. Crested and day geckos often hide among leaves or behind the background during the day.

Yes, hides should be checked and cleaned regularly, as droppings, shed skin and mould build up in them, especially in humid hides. The moss in a humid hide is worth replacing every few weeks or when mould appears.

Branches must be sturdy, free of mould and sap, and roughly thick enough for the reptile to grip comfortably. Tree-dwellers need branches of various thicknesses at various angles, while ground-dwellers manage with a few low branches or roots.

Yes, if they are from deciduous trees, free of sap, mould and rot, and from places far from roads and sprayed fields. Before use, scrub and rinse the branches and treat them with hot water or in the oven to kill pests.

Roots and grapevine wood are sturdy, keep their shape for a long time and create interesting spaces to climb and hide. They are sold already treated, so they are convenient to use without worrying about pests or sap.

Yes, artificial plants need no care, do not go mouldy and are easy to clean, so they suit many terrariums. Choose sturdy ones without small detachable parts, as a reptile could swallow them.

Pothos, snake plants, bromeliads, ficus and some ferns are commonly used, but safety also depends on the species, as herbivorous reptiles eat plants. Before planting, check the plant is non-toxic and wash off fertiliser.

They can, but herbivores such as iguanas or tortoises will quickly eat them, so the plants must be edible and non-toxic. Many keepers plant edible grasses or plants for such animals that can be replaced.

A background hides cables and the wall behind the terrarium, gives a natural look and a sense of security to the reptile. Textured backgrounds also add climbing space for tree-dwelling species.