FAQ: Supplies for reptiles

You can save a lot by comparing prices for the same products across shops, buying larger packs of food and substrate if you will use them up in time, and choosing equipment sized for the adult animal from the start. Do not cut corners on UVB lamps and thermostats.

In Lithuania reptile products are often imported, and shops buy from different suppliers and apply different discounts and delivery terms. So the same lamp or pack of food can cost different amounts, and it is worth comparing prices.

A used terrarium can cut the start-up cost considerably, but it must be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly and checked for gaps and cracks. Used UVB lamps are usually best replaced with new ones because their output is unknown.

zoogidas.lt collects prices from Lithuanian online pet shops and shows them in one place. Prices are updated roughly daily, and each product shows when its price was last checked.

Yes, the product page shows its price history, so you can judge whether the current price is usual or worth waiting on. This is useful when buying pricier equipment such as a terrarium or a UVB lamp.

Yes, products can be compared by price per kilogram or litre. This is especially useful for reptile food and substrates, as their pack sizes vary a lot.

Plug heaters, lamps and timers into a good-quality protected power strip, route cables away from water and leave a drip loop below the socket so drops cannot run into the plug. Replace damaged cables immediately.

If the lamp is inside the terrarium, it must be covered with a mesh guard or cage so the reptile cannot touch it and get burned. This is especially important for climbing species and snakes, which may coil around a heat source.

Many reptile basking and UVB bulbs have a standard E27 screw base, so they need a heat-resistant ceramic holder. Linear UVB tubes go into dedicated fixtures, so check the length and type when buying.

The basking spot is the warmest place in the terrarium, under the lamp, where the reptile warms up to the temperature it needs for digestion and activity. It usually has a flat rock or branch, and the temperature is measured at the surface.

Safe temperature ranges depend on the species, so find them out and check with a thermometer in the warm zone, the cool zone and the basking spot. Behaviour says a lot too: constantly hiding at the cool end or basking non-stop is a sign to recheck conditions.

Bearded dragons usually need a hot basking spot, much warmer than the rest of the terrarium, and a cooler zone at the other end, with a drop at night. Check the exact ranges for its age and keep to them using a thermometer.

A long linear UVB tube with a reflector covers more of the terrarium and creates a more even UVB zone, closer to sunlight. Compact bulbs often produce only a small spot, which may not be enough for a roomy desert terrarium.

Many keepers occasionally bathe bearded dragons in warm shallow water, as it helps them drink, shed and pass droppings. The water should be shallow and not hot, and the dragon must be supervised the whole time.

Digging can be natural behaviour, preparation for brumation or, in females, a search for an egg-laying spot even without a male. If a female digs and acts restless, add a box of deeper moist substrate and talk to a vet.

Leopard geckos are active at dusk and can live without UVB if they get calcium with vitamin D3. Still, many keepers and vets recommend a low-strength UVB lamp with shaded hides, as it benefits health.

Leopard geckos often warm up lying on warm rocks, so a heat mat under part of the terrarium floor with a thermostat suits them. Overhead heat that warms the hide and the air is also increasingly used, but either way a thermostat is needed.

A leopard gecko stores fat in its tail, so a thin tail can mean it is not eating enough, is ill or has parasites. Check temperatures and feeding, and see a vet if the gecko is losing weight.

Two males will fight, and a male with a female often leads to constant breeding and stress. Several females are sometimes kept together in a large terrarium, but many keepers prefer keeping them singly.

Many snakes, even ground-dwelling ones, enjoy climbing, so sturdy branches and platforms add variety to the terrarium and help the snake stay active. Branches must be firmly fixed so they cannot fall on the snake, and not too close to the basking lamp.