Author: Critter Corner Staff

Care level: Beginner

Temperament: Generally docile

Minimum enclosure size: depending on species, 4’×2’×2’ (1.2m×.6m×.6m) up to 4’ (1.2m), add a foot (30cm) in length for each foot in snake length

Basking spot temp (surface): 90-95°F (32-35°C)

Warm side temp: 80-85°F (27-29°C)

Cold side temp: 75-80°F (24-27°C)

UVB: UVI zone 0.5-1/Ferguson zone 1 (Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at 18+” (45+cm) with no mesh or at 12+” (30+cm) over typical mesh)

Humidity: 40-60%

Diet: Carnivorous; primarily mammals as well as occasional lizards, avians and eggs

Size: varies, 24-60” (.6-1.5m)

Common hobby species: Lampropeltis getula getula (eastern kingsnake or common kingsnake), L. g. brooksi (Brooks’ kingsnake), L. g. splendida (desert kingsnake), L. g. meansi (Apalachicola kingsnake), L. g. nigrita (Mexican black kingsnake), L. g. holbrooki (speckled kingsnake), L. g. californiae (California kingsnake), L. pyromelana pyromelana (Arizona mountain kingsnake), L. p. knoblochi (Chihuahua mountain kingsnake or Madrean mountain kingsnake), L. nigrita (eastern black kingsnake), L. alterna (grey-banded kingsnake), L. calligaster calligaster (prairie kingsnake), L. c. occipitolineata (south Florida kingsnake), L. leonis / L. mexicana thayeri (variable kingsnake or Nuevo Leon kingsnake), L. ruthveni (Ruthven’s kingsnake), L. mexicana mexicana (Mexican kingsnake or San Luis Potosi kingsnake)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Kingsnake

Dubia.com Guide – Kingsnake

ADW – Lampropeltis calligaster

ADW – Lampropeltis getula

Care level: Intermediate/advanced 

Temperament: display pet; often very shy 

Minimum Enclosure Size: 24”×18”×18” (120cm×45cm×45cm)

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 82-85°F (28-29°C)

Warm Side Temp: 77-82°F (25-28°C)

Cold Side Temp: 72-75° F (22-24° C)

UVB: UVI zone 0.5-1/Ferguson zone 1 (Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at distance of 12”+(30cm+) with no mesh or 18”+(45cm+) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 70-80% during the day, 80-100% at night

Diet: insectivores

Size: 6-8″(16-20cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Red-Eyed Crocodile Skink

Dubia.com Guide – Red-Eyed Crocodile Skink

Care level: Intermediate

Temperament: interactive, but not handleable; can be trained to walk onto your hand/arm and take food from tongs/fingers but should not be grabbed due to their fragile skin

Minimum Enclosure Size: 12”×12”×18” (30cm×30cm×45cm) for 1; 18”×18”×24” (45cm×45cm×60cm) for 2, opposite sex pair or 2 females

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 90°F (32°C)

Cool Side Temp: 80-82°F (27-28°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3 (Arcadia T5HO 6% at 8-13”(20-33cm) away with no mesh or 6-10”(15-25cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 60-80%

Diet: omnivorous; crested gecko diet and insects

Size: 3.25-3.75″(8.3-9.5cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Neon Day Gecko

Care level: Intermediate

Temperament: interactive, but not handleable; can be trained to walk onto your hand/arm and take food from tongs/fingers but should not be grabbed due to their fragile skin

Minimum Enclosure Size: 2’×2’×4’ (.6m×.6m×1.2m) for 1; 3’×2’×3’ (1m×.6m×1m) for 2, opposite sex pair or 2 females

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 90-95°F (32-35°C)

Cool Side Temp: 75-88°F (24-31°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 6% at 8-13”(20-33cm) away with no mesh or 6-10”(15-25cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 40-75%

Diet: omnivorous; crested gecko diet and insects

Size: 8-10″(20-25.4cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Standing’s Day Gecko

Care level: Intermediate

Temperament: interactive, but not handleable; can be trained to walk onto your hand/arm and take food from tongs/fingers but should not be grabbed due to their fragile skin

Minimum Enclosure Size: 2’×2’×4’ (.6m×.6m×1.2m) for 1; 3’×2’×3’ (1m×.6m×1m) for 2, opposite sex pair or 2 females

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 85-90°F (29-32°C)

Cool Side Temp: 77-82°F (25-28°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3 (Arcadia T5HO 6% at 8-13”(20-33cm) away with no mesh or 6-10”(15-25cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 40-75%

Diet: omnivorous; crested gecko diet and insects

Size: 9-11″ (23-28cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Giant Day Gecko

Dubia.com Guide – Giant Day Gecko

ADW – Phelsuma grandis (formerly Phelsuma madagascariensis)

Common hobby species: Uromastyx dispar maliensis (Mali uromastyx or dispar uromastyx), U. geyri (Nigerian uromastyx, yellow/red uromastyx, or Saharan uromastyx), U. ornata ornata (Moroccan uromastyx or ornate uromastyx), U. aegyptia (Egyptian uromastyx), U. ocellata (ocellated uromastyx)

Care level: Advanced

Temperament: generally can be tamed well and can be handled

Minimum Enclosure Size: species vary in size; 4’×2’×2’ (1.2m×.6m×.6m) for most species, 7’×4’×3’ (2.1m×1.2m×1m) for larger species (over 24”/60cm) like U. aegyptia

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 120-130°F (49-55°C)

Cold Side Temp: ~85°F (29°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 70-75°F (21-24°C)

UVB: UVI 4.5-8/Ferguson zone 4 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 12% at 11-16”(28-41cm) away with no mesh or 9-13”(23-33cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 20-30% for most species, with humid microclimates such as a humid hide or burrow

Diet: true herbivores; greens, seeds, flowers and rarely fruit

Size: size varies greatly, 10-36” (25-100cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6470)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Uromastyx

Dubia.com Guide – Uromastyx

Care level: Advanced 

Temperament: display pet, may be interactive through tong feeding but should not be handled

Minimum Enclosure Size: 2’×2’×4’ (.6×.6×1.2m)

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 80-85°F (26-29°C)

Cool Side Temp: 68-75°F (20-24°C) 

Nighttime/minimum temp: 50-65°F (10-18°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 2-3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 6% at 8-13” (20-33cm) away with no mesh or 6-10” (15-25cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 40% during the day, and 75-100% at night; automatic mister is recommended

Diet: insectivore

Size: 7-14” (18-35cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Jackson’s Chameleon

Dubia.com Guide – Jackson’s Chameleon

Chameleon Central – Simplified Jackson’s Chameleon Guide – Nathalie Norris

ADW – Trioceros jacksonii ssp. (formerly Chamaeleo jacksonii ssp.)

Care level: Advanced 

Temperament: display pet, may be interactive through tong feeding but should not be handled

Minimum Enclosure Size: 4’×2’×4’ (1.2m×.6m×1.2m) – should be all mesh

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 85-90°F (29-32°C)

Cool Side Temp: 72-77°F (22-25°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 60-70°F (15-21°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 6% at 8-13” (20-33cm) away with no mesh or 6-10” (15-25cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 50-60% during the day, and 75-100% at night; automatic mister is recommended

Diet: insectivore

Size: 16-20” (40-50cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Panther Chameleon

Dubia.com Guide – Panther Chameleon

Chameleon Central – Panther Chameleon Guide by Nathalie Norris

ADW – Furcifer pardalis

Care level: Advanced 

Temperament: display pet, may be interactive through tong feeding but should not be handled

Minimum Enclosure Size: 4’×2’×4’ (1.2m×.6m×1.2m) – should be all mesh

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 85°F (29°C)

Cool Side Temp: 72-78°F (22-25°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 55-65°F (13-18°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 12% at 14-16″ (36-41cm) away with no mesh or 8-12″ (20-31cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 40-50% during the day, and 80-100% at night; automatic mister is recommended 

Diet: insectivore (adults can eat a small amount of plant matter in the form of live plants)

Size: females – 10-13”(25-33cm); males – 18-24”(45-60cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Veiled Chameleon

Dubia.com Guide – Veiled Chameleon

Chameleon Central – Simplified Veiled Chameleon Guide by Nathalie Norris

ADW – Chamaeleo calyptratus

Care level: Intermediate

Temperament: may be handleable, although generally do not enjoy it

Minimum Enclosure Size: 8’×4’×2’ (2.4m×1.2m×60cm)

Basking Spot Temp (surface): 95°F (35°C)

Cold Side Temp: 75-85°F (24-29°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 70-75°F (21- 23°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 6% at 8-13”(20-33cm) away with no mesh or 6-10”(15-25cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 40-75%

Diet: Herbivorous; high fiber, mainly grasses and greens

Size: generally up to 10” (25cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

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Other Resources:

ReptiFiles Guide – Russian Tortoise

Dubia.com Guide – Russian Tortoise