THE GEAR LIBRARY Gear with
Gear with
a purpose.
Understand what equipment needs to do before deciding what belongs in the enclosure.
START EXPLORING LIGHT IS PART
LIGHT IS PART
OF THE HABITAT.
A guide to UVB formats, setup questions and the information to check before buying.
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Gear guides
172 published guides, from the essentials to advice for individual species.
General guides
- Best Ceramic Heat Emitter for Bearded Dragons: 5 Picks and How to ChooseCeramic heat emitters, fixtures, and thermostats for safe nighttime and supplemental heat, not daytime basking.Read the guide
- Best Deep Heat Projector: 4 Picks and How to ChooseDeep heat projectors for daytime basking heat, matched to the right fixture and thermostat.Read the guide
- Best Reptile Heat Mat: 5 Picks for Leopard Geckos and Safety RulesThe heat mats and thermostats worth pairing, and the coverage and placement rules that keep belly heat safe.Read the guide
- Best Reptile Hygrometer: 3 Picks and How to ChooseAccurate humidity readings without the guesswork.Read the guide
- Best Reptile Light Timer: 4 Picks and How to ChooseDigital timers, smart plugs, and timer thermostats compared for reptile lighting schedules.Read the guide
- Lizard GearThe complete reptile supplies checklist, from enclosures and heating to lighting and substrate.Read the guide
- Reptile Heat Lamps: Bulb Types, Wattage, and SafetyHow to pick the right bulb, wattage, and fixture for a safe basking spot.Read the guide
- Reptile Thermometers and Hygrometers: A Buyer’s Guide to Accurate ReadingsThe right thermometer, hygrometer, and UV meter turn enclosure guesswork into confirmed numbers.Read the guide
- Reptile Thermostats: Types, Probe Placement, and SafetyHow to pick the right reptile thermostat and place the probe correctly for a safe enclosure.Read the guide
- Reptile UVB Light: Bulb Types, Strength, and ReplacementHow to pick the right UVB bulb, strength, and replacement schedule for a pet reptile.Read the guide
Ackie Monitor
Species overview- Ackie Monitor Basking Temperature, Heat and UVBBasking surface heat, day and night air zones, UVB strength, and the gear that keeps an ackie monitor's gradient safe.Read the guide
- Ackie Monitor Enclosure: Size, Deep Substrate and HeatHow to size, dig out, and heat a real ackie monitor enclosure.Read the guide
African Fat-Tailed Gecko
Species overview- African Fat Tailed Gecko Enclosure: Tank Size and SetupA practical tank size, heat, humidity, and substrate guide for an African fat tailed gecko enclosure.Read the guide
- African Fat Tailed Gecko Heating and LightingWarm hide floor temperature, night drops, belly heat vs overhead heat, thermostats, and low UVB guidance for Hemitheconyx caudicinctus.Read the guide
Alligator Lizard
Species overviewArgentine Black and White Tegu
Species overview- Tegu Enclosure: Size, Setup, and Materials for a Secure Tegu CageEverything a keeper needs to size, build, and secure a tegu enclosure from hatchling tank to full grown adult cage.Read the guide
- Tegu Lighting: Basking Temperature, UVB, and PhotoperiodThe full tegu lighting setup: basking heat, UVB strength, gradient, and photoperiod done right.Read the guide
Argus Monitor
Species overviewArmadillo Lizard
Species overviewAsian Water Monitor
Species overviewAustralian Water Dragon
Species overviewBarking Gecko
Species overviewBearded Dragon
Species overview- Automatic Feeder for Bearded DragonsWhy automatic feeders fall short for bearded dragons and what to automate instead.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Accessories: The Functional Gear Your Tank Actually NeedsThe functional gear every bearded dragon tank needs, and how to place it correctly.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon BackgroundsWhat backgrounds do for a bearded dragon, the material options, safety rules, and how to install one.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon BlanketsWhat a bearded dragon blanket can and cannot do, from safe sleeping drapes to the burn risks of unscreened heated pads.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Branches and LogsWhat makes a branch, log, or piece of driftwood safe and useful in a bearded dragon enclosure.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Ceramic Heat EmitterInfrared heat with no light, sized to the enclosure and wired to a thermostat.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Clothes and CostumesAn honest look at what clothing does to a bearded dragon's thermoregulation, plus safer ways to enrich and bond.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Cricket FeederHow to pick and set up a cricket feeder that keeps crickets contained and a bearded dragon safe.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Dome Lights and Light FixturesDome lamps, UVB reflector hoods, stands, and mounting rules for bearded dragon lighting fixturesRead the guide
- Bearded Dragon Enclosure Guide: Types, Materials, and VentilationHow to choose the right enclosure type, material, and airflow setup for a bearded dragon.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Food BowlChoosing, placing, and cleaning a bearded dragon's food dishRead the guide
- Bearded Dragon Hamster Ball: Why It Is a Bad IdeaWhy a closed rolling sphere is wrong for a basking desert lizard, and what to use instead.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Heat LampBulb types, wattage, distance, timers, and safety for a bearded dragon heat lamp setup.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Heating Pads (Heat Mats)Why belly heat alone fails a basking lizard, and how to use an under tank heat mat safely if you need one.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon IncubatorWhat a bearded dragon incubator needs to hatch a clutch safely: temperature, humidity, medium, and why it must never turn the eggs.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon PoolWhat a bearded dragon pool should look like, how deep is safe, and why a shallow dish beats a deep tank feature.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Red LightWhy red and infrared basking bulbs are the wrong pick for bearded dragon night heat, and what to use instead.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Tank DividerWhy divided tanks fail and what to use instead.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Temperature Guide: Basking to NightBasking, gradient, and night temperature numbers for a healthy bearded dragon tank, and how to measure them.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon ThermometersA practical guide to choosing and placing a bearded dragon thermometer.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon UVB Light: T5 HO Setup, UVI, and Replacement ScheduleT5 HO tubes, UVI zones, distance, mesh, and replacement timing for bearded dragon UVB.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Water BowlA bearded dragon water bowl should be shallow, wide, placed on the cool side, and cleaned more often than a fixed schedule suggests.Read the guide
- Bearded Dragon Water FountainWhy moving water is not the standard hydration setup for this arid species, and what to use instead.Read the guide
- Best Bearded Dragon Basking Platform: 5 Picks and How to ChoosePick a stable bearded dragon basking platform, sized and placed to hit the right UV Index every day.Read the guide
- Best Bearded Dragon Carrier: 4 Picks and How to ChooseSizing, ventilation, and temperature rules for safe bearded dragon transport, plus our top carrier picks.Read the guide
- Best Bearded Dragon Hammock: 4 Picks and How to ChooseHammocks and loungers sized and mounted to fit an adult bearded dragon safely.Read the guide
- Best Bearded Dragon Harness: 3 Picks and a Safety First Fit GuideHonest picks and a safety first fit guide for bearded dragon harnesses and leashes.Read the guide
- Best Bearded Dragon Hides: 5 Picks and How to ChooseWarm side, cool side, and humid bearded dragon hides sized right and placed safely.Read the guide
- Best Bearded Dragon Starter Kit: 6 Picks and How to Build OneWhy a bearded dragon starter kit built from separate pieces beats a boxed tank combo, and the six pieces worth buying.Read the guide
- Best Bearded Dragon Toys: 4 Picks and How to ChooseToys and enrichment bearded dragons actually use.Read the guide
- Best Heat Lamp for Bearded Dragons: 5 Picks and How to ChooseHalogen basking bulbs and dimming thermostats that hold a safe, steady basking temperature for bearded dragons of any age.Read the guide
- Best Substrate for Bearded Dragons: A Complete GuideA practical, life stage guide to choosing safe bearded dragon substrate.Read the guide
- Deep Heat Projector for Bearded DragonsDark heat for cold nights, not a basking lamp.Read the guide
- Heat Rocks and Bearded DragonsWhy hot rocks burn bearded dragons and what to use instead.Read the guide
- Heating and Lighting for Bearded Dragons: The Complete Setup GuideThe complete bearded dragon lighting setup: bulbs, fixtures, placement, and daily cycle explained.Read the guide
- Humidifier for Bearded DragonsWhether an arid, desert adapted lizard actually needs added humidity, and safer alternatives when it does not.Read the guide
- Hygrometer for Bearded DragonsChoosing, placing, and calibrating a humidity gauge for a bearded dragon enclosure.Read the guide
- Incandescent Bulb for Bearded Dragons: Can You Use a Regular Bulb?Household bulbs give heat, not UVB.Read the guide
- LED Lights for Bearded DragonsWhat LED daylight and grow lights add to a bearded dragon tank, and why they never replace UVB or basking heat.Read the guide
- Mercury Vapor Bulbs for Bearded DragonsHow all in one UVB and heat bulbs work, whether they suit a bearded dragon, and safer setups for smaller tanks.Read the guide
- Stackable Bearded Dragon EnclosuresSizing, heat, ventilation, and lighting for stacked bearded dragon cages, tier by tier.Read the guide
- Thermostat for Bearded DragonsWhy a bearded dragon needs a thermostat on every heat source, which type fits which fixture, and where the probe goes.Read the guide
- UVB Meter for Bearded DragonsHow to measure UVB at your dragon's basking spot and when to replace the lamp.Read the guide
- What Size Tank Does a Bearded Dragon Need? Minimum and Ideal SizesMinimum and ideal bearded dragon tank sizes by age, and why 120 gallons became the standard.Read the guide
Blue Tailed Skink
Species overviewBlue Tongue Skink
Species overview- Best Substrate for Blue Tongue Skinks: 5 Picks and How to ChooseCypress mulch, coconut fiber, and bioactive soil, matched to Northern and Indonesian blue tongue skink humidity needs.Read the guide
- Blue Tongue Skink Enclosure: Size, Setup, and Substrate GuideHow big, what materials, and what substrate a healthy blue tongue skink enclosure actually needs.Read the guide
- Blue Tongue Skink Lighting: Temperature, UVB, and PhotoperiodHow to set up temperature, UVB, and photoperiod for a healthy blue tongue skink.Read the guide
- Blue Tongue Skink Substrate: What to Use and WhyChoose a floor your skink can dig into and safely live on.Read the guide
- Blue Tongue Skink Tank Size: Minimums by AgeFloor area minimums worked from the Merck rule, by length and age.Read the guide
Brown Anole
Species overviewCarpet Chameleon
Species overviewChahoua Gecko
Species overviewChameleons
Species overview- Best Chameleon Cage: 3 Picks and How to ChooseThe best chameleon cage picks and the size, mesh, and humidity rules that make an enclosure actually work.Read the guide
- Best Heat Lamp for Chameleons: 6 Picks and How to ChooseLow wattage basking bulbs, matched to species, run on a dimming thermostat above screen. The best heat lamp for chameleons stays sized to the species, not…Read the guide
- Best Misting System for Chameleons: 5 Picks and How to ChooseAutomatic misters, drippers, and hand sprayers that keep a chameleon hydrated the way it actually drinks.Read the guide
- Best UVB Light for Chameleons: Picks and Buying GuideForest strength T5 HO kits, tubes, and fixtures sized for chameleon basking zones.Read the guide
- Chameleon Enclosure Setup: Size, Screen vs Glass and LayoutChameleon enclosure size, materials and layout by species, with basking, UVB and humidity targets.Read the guide
- Chameleon Lighting and Heating: UVB, Basking and Night DropsA species by species guide to UVB, basking temperature, and safe night drops for pet chameleons.Read the guide
Chinese Water Dragon
Species overview- Chinese Water Dragon Basking Temperature, Heat and UVBThe exact basking, ambient and night temperatures a Chinese water dragon needs, plus UVB strength, distance and thermostat setup.Read the guide
- Chinese Water Dragon Enclosure: Size, Water and HumidityHow to size, heat, and humidify a Chinese water dragon enclosure without causing rostral injuries.Read the guide
Common Chuckwalla
Species overviewCrested Gecko
Species overview- Best Crested Gecko Hides: 5 Picks and How to ChooseA humid chamber, cork, and cover at every level of the tank.Read the guide
- Best Crested Gecko Starter Kit: 5 Top PicksVertical tanks, bioactive kits, and the UVB, diet, and humidity gear that make a crested gecko setup complete.Read the guide
- Best Humidifier for Crested Geckos: 6 Picks and How to ChooseAutomatic misters, hand sprayers, and foggers for crested gecko humidity, compared honestly.Read the guide
- Best Substrate for Crested Geckos: 6 Picks and How to ChooseSubstrates that hold humidity, resist mold, and never cause a blockage.Read the guide
- Crested Gecko Enclosure Setup: Size, Substrate and Layout GuideHow to size, furnish and set up a crested gecko enclosure at every life stage.Read the guide
- Crested Gecko Lighting: Heat, UVB and Photoperiod GuideThe full guide to safe crested gecko heating, lighting, and UVB, without overheating a room temperature species.Read the guide
Crocodile Gecko
Species overviewCuban False Chameleon
Species overviewDay Geckos
Species overviewEastern Collared Lizard
Species overviewElectric Blue Day Gecko
Species overviewEmerald Tree Skink
Species overviewFire Skink
Species overviewFlying Gecko
Species overviewFrilled Lizard
Species overviewGargoyle Gecko
Species overview- Gargoyle Gecko Lighting and HeatTemperature zones, night drops and low UVB done right for Rhacodactylus auriculatus.Read the guide
- Gargoyle Gecko Tank: Enclosure Size and SetupTank size by age, temperature, humidity, lighting, and substrate for a gargoyle gecko enclosure that actually works.Read the guide
Geckos
Species overview- Gecko Light Needs: Heat and UVB by SpeciesWhat gecko heat lamps, heat mats, and UVB actually need to do for nocturnal, crepuscular, and diurnal species.Read the guide
- Pet Gecko Habitat: Enclosure Setup by SpeciesEnclosure size, substrate, and hides for every common pet gecko, from ground dwellers to giants like the leachianus gecko.Read the guide
Giant Day Gecko
Species overviewGlass Lizard
Species overviewGold Dust Day Gecko
Species overviewGreen Anole
Species overview- Heat Lamp for Green Anole: Temperature, UVB, and Lighting GuideBasking heat, nighttime drop, and UVB placement for a green anole, explained with real temperature ranges.Read the guide
- Pet Anole Enclosure: Sizing, Setup, and Substrate GuideHow to size, ventilate, and plant a green anole terrarium that actually works for a climbing lizard.Read the guide
Green Iguana
Species overview- Best Calcium for Iguanas: 5 Picks and How to ChooseOur picks for the best calcium and vitamin supplements to keep a pet iguana's bones strong.Read the guide
- Green Iguana Heat and Lighting: UVB Bulb, Temperature, and PhotoperiodHow to set up UVB lighting and a safe temperature gradient for a pet green iguana.Read the guide
- Iguana Enclosure: Size, Setup, and Safety GuideWhat a green iguana enclosure needs at every stage, from juvenile housing to a full size adult setup.Read the guide
Hainan Cave Gecko
Species overviewHorned Lizard
Species overviewIndonesian Blue Tongue Skink
Species overviewJackson’s Chameleon
Species overview- Jackson Chameleon Lighting and HeatCool basking, real night drops, and forest strength UVB for a montane chameleon.Read the guide
- Jackson’s Chameleon Cage Setup: Size and LayoutHow to size and lay out a screen or hybrid cage for a Jackson's chameleon, from basking and cool zones to UVB, drainage, and misting.Read the guide
Kimberley Rock Monitor
Species overviewLeachianus Gecko
Species overviewLeaf Tailed Geckos
Species overviewLeopard Gecko
Species overview- Aquarium for Leopard Gecko: Sizes, Setup, SubstrateSizing, substrate, hides, and bioactive setups for a leopard gecko aquarium that actually works.Read the guide
- Best Calcium for Leopard Geckos: 6 Picks and How to ChooseOur picks for leopard gecko calcium and multivitamin powders, plus how to dust feeders by age and lighting setup.Read the guide
- Best Heat Lamp for Leopard Geckos: 3 Picks and How to ChooseWhy a heat mat comes first, when a bulb actually helps, and the safest picks for backup daytime and night heat.Read the guide
- Best Leopard Gecko Hides: 5 Picks and How to ChooseWarm, cool, and humid hide picks for leopard geckos, with the numbers each one needs.Read the guide
- Best Leopard Gecko Starter Kit: Top Picks and How to ChooseThe gear that makes up a real leopard gecko starter kit, and the boxed kit shortcuts worth skipping.Read the guide
- Best Leopard Gecko Toys: 3 Enrichment Picks That WorkEnrichment ideas that match how leopard geckos actually behave, backed by research, not gimmicks.Read the guide
- Best Substrate for Leopard Geckos: 5 Picks and How to ChooseA vet informed breakdown of solid, bioactive, and loose substrates for leopard geckos, with clear guidance on impaction risk by age.Read the guide
- Ceramic Heat Emitter for Leopard GeckosInfrared night heat, wattage and safe placement.Read the guide
- Leopard Gecko Heat Mat: Setup and SafetySizing, placing and running an under tank heater safely.Read the guide
- Leopard Gecko Lighting and Heating: Temperatures, UVB, and SetupThe exact temperatures, heat sources, and low level UVB a leopard gecko needs, and why nocturnal does not mean no light at all.Read the guide
- Leopard Gecko Substrate: Safe Options and What to AvoidWhich floors are safe for a leopard gecko, and which to avoid.Read the guide
- Leopard Gecko Tank Size Guide by AgeFloor space, not gallons, sets the right home for a leopard gecko.Read the guide
- UVB Light for Leopard Geckos: Optional or Recommended?What the research says about UVB for leopard geckos, and how to set it up safely.Read the guide
Mangrove Monitor
Species overviewMonitor Lizards
Species overview- Monitor Lizard Enclosure: Sizing, Materials, and Setup by SpeciesSizing, materials, and setup for a monitor lizard enclosure at every species scale.Read the guide
- Monitor Lizard Lighting Setup: Heat, UVB, and PhotoperiodHeat, UVB, and photoperiod for a healthy monitor lizard enclosure.Read the guide
Monkey Tailed Skink
Species overviewMourning Gecko
Species overviewNeon Day Gecko
Species overviewNile Monitor
Species overviewNorthern Blue Tongue Skink
Species overviewNorthern Caiman Lizard
Species overviewPanther Chameleon
Species overview- Panther Chameleon Cage SetupCage size, screen or hybrid choice, temperature, UVB, humidity, and layout for a panther chameleon, with a setup checklist and buying picks.Read the guide
- Panther Chameleon Lighting and HeatingUVB, basking heat, and night temperature for Furcifer pardalis, set to its native Madagascar climate.Read the guide
Peach Throat Monitor
Species overviewPictus Gecko
Species overviewPink Tongue Skink
Species overviewRankin’s Dragon
Species overviewRed Tegu
Species overviewRed-Eyed Crocodile Skink
Species overviewSailfin Dragon
Species overviewSatanic Leaf Tailed Gecko
Species overviewSavannah Monitor
Species overview- Savannah Monitor Basking Temperature, Heat and UVBThe full basking, gradient, and UVB setup a savannah monitor needs, with sourced numbers for every zone.Read the guide
- Savannah Monitor Enclosure: Size, Substrate and HeatThe full setup guide for adult savannah monitor housing, from floor space to burrow depth.Read the guide
Schneider’s Skink
Species overviewSkinks
Species overview- Skink Enclosure Setup: Tank Size and Habitat by Skink TypeHow to size and set up a skink enclosure for terrestrial, burrowing, humid forest floor, and arboreal skink species.Read the guide
- Skink Heat Lamp and Lighting Guide by SpeciesWhich heat lamp, basking temperature, and UVB level each pet skink species actually needs.Read the guide
Smooth Knob-Tailed Gecko
Species overviewStanding’s Day Gecko
Species overviewTimor Monitor
Species overviewTokay Gecko
Species overview- Tokay Gecko Enclosure: Size, Setup, and Humidity GuideHow big a tokay gecko enclosure needs to be and how to set up vertical space, substrate, and humidity.Read the guide
- Tokay Gecko Lighting: Temperature, Night Drop, and UVBWhat tokay gecko lighting needs for a nocturnal species: daytime and night temperatures, low level UVB, and safe heat sources.Read the guide
Uromastyx
Species overview- Best Substrate for Uromastyx: 5 Picks and How to ChooseExcavator clay, bioactive desert mixes, and tile, matched to how uromastyx actually dig and stay dry.Read the guide
- Best Uromastyx Enclosure: 3 Picks and Sizing Rules by SpeciesThe best uromastyx enclosure sizes for the species, not a generic tank chart.Read the guide
- Uromastyx Basking Temp, Heating and LightingThe heat and UVB numbers a uromastyx enclosure actually needs, by zone.Read the guide
- Uromastyx Enclosure: Size, Heat and SubstrateUromastyx tank size, basking heat, UVB distance and the substrate debate, by species.Read the guide
Veiled Chameleon
Species overview- Veiled Chameleon Cage: Size and SetupHow big a veiled chameleon cage needs to be, by age and sex, plus temperature, humidity, UVB, and misting targets.Read the guide
- Veiled Chameleon Lighting and HeatUVB tube choice, basking and night temperatures, and heat lamp setup for a healthy veiled chameleon.Read the guide
BRING IT BACK TO THE ANIMAL.
Find the species-specific context for every care decision.