You want to take good care of your pet reptile. A big part of this is making sure his home is correct. You’d never bring a snake home and put it in a fish bowl… because that’s not its ideal habitat, it would be way too small, and he’d probably climb right out!
There are several factors you need to consider when setting up your reptile’s home. Probably one of the most important is getting the temperature right. You see, reptiles are “cold blooded.” While a person can sweat and a dog can pant, a reptile has no way to adjust their body temperature if the outside air is making them too hot or too cold. They need their environment to be just right. In a situation where they aren’t living in their natural habitat, you need to do this for them.
Here are a few examples:
Snakes
Boa Constrictor– Your boa requires a heat gradient inside its enclosure with a hot side of ~85 degrees, hot spot of ~90 degrees, and a cooler side in the high 70’s.
Ball Python– They need a hot spot of 90-95 degrees and a cooler side of 80-85 degrees.
Corn Snake– Your corn snake’s enclosure should have an ambient temperature of ~75 degrees, with a hotspot of 85-90 degrees.
California Kingsnake– Enclosure temperatures should run from the low 70’s on the cool end to 80-85 on the warm end.
Lizards
Bearded Dragon– Their tank requires a hot side at 85-100 degrees and the cool side at 70-85 degrees. The hot side should also have a basking spot that is 100 degrees.
Panther Chameleon– Their needs change as they age, but their tank should never be below 68 degrees or above 95 degrees.
Leopard Gecko– Tank temperatures should stay around 80 degrees, with a hot spot of 95 degrees.
Tortoises
Redfoot Tortoise– Your Redfoot’s enclosure should have a nice heat gradient ranging from 68 degrees on the cool end to 80 on the warm end, plus a basking spot of ~90 degrees.
These are a few popular pet options, but not an exhaustive list. You can browse our website for specific information about your reptile. You can also ask us directly! We are located at 157 Main Street Stoneham, MA 02180, and you can always come in and speak to us in person. If it’s more convenient, you can also call our store at (781) 729-0135 or email us at JabberwockReptiles@gmail.com.
Making sure your snake, tortoise, or lizard is living in the right temperature is an important way to keep him happy, healthy, and thriving. Jabberwock Reptiles carries a number of reptile species for sale. Our list of available animals is always changing so be sure to visit the store or contact us for current availability. Once you have your new reptile picked out, make sure to put together the perfect home for him!
