Category: Reptile Basic Care Guides

Red-Tailed and Common Boa (Boa constrictor, B. imperator and select other Boa spp.)

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 27, 2022

Care level: Intermediate

Temperament: Generally docile and handleable

Behavior: crepuscular, semi-arboreal, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: Smaller adults under 6’ (2m) – 6×3×3’ (2×1×1m); larger adults 6-8’ (2-2.5m) – 8×4×4’ (2.5×1.2×1.2m); add 1′ (30cm) of enclosure length for each additional 1′ (30cm) in length of snake over 8’ (2.5m)

Basking spot temp (surface): 86-90°F (30-32°C)

Cold side temp: 75-80°F (24-26°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 68°F (20°C)

UVB: UVI 2-3/zone 2 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 6% at 11-16” (28-41cm) away with no mesh or 7-11” (18-28cm) over typical mesh)

Humidity: 55-75% (75-85% when shedding)

Diet: Carnivorous, mainly feeding on mammals and birds

Adult size: 5-12′ (1.5-3.5m) depending on species/subspecies

Wild Distribution: primarily rainforests throughout Central and South America as well as various islands in the Pacific and the Caribbean

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Boa Constrictor

Dubia.com – Boa Constrictor

ADW – Boa constrictor

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Chinese Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus)

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 27, 2022

Care level: Advanced

Temperament: Can be friendly and personable with regular handling/interaction

Behavior: diurnal, arboreal/semi-arboreal, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: 6×3×6’ (2×1×2m)

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

Cold side temp: 78-85°F (26-29°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 70-77°F (21-25°C)

UVB: UVI 3-4/Ferguson zone 3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 12% at 16-18” (40-46cm) away with no mesh or 12-15” (30-38cm) over typical mesh)

Humidity: 80%

Diet: Mainly insects with a small amount (10-15%) of vegetables

Adult size: 2-3′ (0.6-1m)

Wild Distribution: lowland/highland forests of southern China and other parts of southeastern Asia

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Chinese Water Dragon

Dubia.com Guide – Chinese Water Dragon

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Australian Blue Tongue Skink

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 27, 2022

Species: Eastern and Northern (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides and T. s. intermedia)

Care level: Intermediate

Temperament: Depends on species; usually fairly docile and handleable

Behavior: diurnal, terrestrial, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: 6×3×3’ (2×1×1m)

Basking spot temp (surface): 105-115°F (40-46°C)

Cold side temp: 70-80°F (21-27°C)

UVB: UVI 2-3/Ferguson zone 3 (e.g. Arcadia 12% at 12-18” (30-45cm) away with no mesh or 7-11” (18-28cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 40-60%

Diet: Omnivorous; meat, insects, and plant matter

Adult size: Up to 24” (60cm)

Wild Distribution: semi-desert, scrubland and mixed woodland areas of Northern and Eastern Australia and New Guinea

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Blue Tongue Skink (general all species)

Reptifiles Guide – Eastern Blue Tongue Skink

Reptifiles Guide – Northern Blue Tongue Skink

Happy Dragons Guide – Blue Tongue Skink (all species)

Dubia.com Guide – Blue Tongue Skink (all species)

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 27, 2022

Species: Indonesian, Halmehara, Tamimbar, Irian Jaya, Kei Island and Merauke (Tiliqua gigas ssp. including Tiliqua gigas gigas, T. g. keyensis, T. g. evanescens, and Tiliqua scincoides chimaera)

Care level: Intermediate

Temperament: Depends on species; usually fairly docile and handleable

Behavior: diurnal, terrestrial, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: 6×3×3’ (2×1×1m) for most subspecies; 5x3x3’ (1.2×0.6×0.6m) for species under 24” (30cm) such as T. scincoides chimaera; 7x4x3 (2.1×1.2x1m) for T. gigas evanescens

Basking spot temp (surface): 100-110°F (37-43°C)

Cold side temp: 70-80°F (21-27°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 65°F (18°C)

UVB: UVI 2-3/Ferguson zone 2-3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 6% at 12-15”(30-40cm) away with no mesh or 12% at 9-14”(23-26cm) with typical mesh)

Humidity: 60-80%, 80-100% for Halmehara T. gigas gigas

Diet: Omnivorous; meat, insects, and plant matter

Adult size: Varies by species; around 18-30” (45-75cm)

Wil Distribution: rainforests and other tropical areas throughout various islands in southeast Asia

(care guide written with contributions by mandi #6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Blue Tongue Skink (general all species)

Reptifiles Guide – Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink

Reptifiles Guide – Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skink

Reptifiles Guide – Tamimbar Blue Tongue Skink

Happy Dragons Guide – Blue Tongue Skink (all species)

Dubia.com Guide – Blue Tongue Skink (all species)

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 25, 2022

Care level: Intermediate

Temperament: Docile, although handling should be kept to a minimum

Behavior: diurnal, terrestrial, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: 6.5×3.5’ (2×1m) with sides at least 18” (45cm)

Basking spot temp (surface): 85-90°F (30-32°C)

Cold side temp: 70-75°F (21-24°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 60°F (15.5°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: 60-80%, never below 50%

Diet: Plant matter and animal/insect protein

Brumation: in the wild, will brumate underground from October/November to April (shorter in the southern regions of their range)

Adult size: 5-7” (13-20cm)

Wild Distribution: open woodlands, pastures and meadows throughout the eastern United States

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Eastern Box Turtle

Dubia.com Guide – Eastern Box Turtle

ADW – Terrapene carolina

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris)

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 25, 2022

Care level: Beginner

Temperament: Very fast and jumpy; handling isn’t recommended due to size

Behavior: crepuscular, arboreal, social

Minimum enclosure size: 2-3 geckos in 12×12×18” (30×30×45cm); some form of population control will be needed or upgrades as population grows

Basking spot temp (surface): 80-85°F (26-29°C)

Cold side temp: 70-75°F (21-24°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 65-72°F (18-22°C)

UVB: UVI zone 0.5-1/Ferguson zone 1 (e.g. Arcadia Shadedweller Arboreal 2.5% at 2-4″ (5-10cm) with no mesh or Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at 12+” (30+cm) with typical mesh)

Humidity: 60-70% average with spikes up to 80-90% and dips to 50-60% before misting

Diet: Powdered crested gecko diet and live insects (fruit flies, small crickets, small roaches, etc.)

Adult size: Up to 4” (10cm)

Wild Distribution: various tropical habitats and urban areas throughout multiple islands in the Asian/Oceania regions with invasive populations in other areas such as Hawaii and Central America

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Mourning Gecko

Dubia.com Guide – Mourning Gecko

NEHERP Guide – Mourning Gecko (good hatchling care info)

ADW – Lepidodactylus

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Argentine Tegu (Salvator merianae & S. rufescens)

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 23, 2022

Care level: Advanced

Temperament: can be friendly and very personable if socialized from a young age

Behavior: diurnal, terrestrial, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: 8×4×4’ (2.5×1.2×1.2m)

Basking spot temp (surface): 125-135°F (52-57°C)

Cold side temp: 75-85°F (24-29°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 70°F (21°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 6% at 12-15”(30-40cm) away with no mesh or Arcadia T5HO 12% at 15-24” (40-60cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 70-80%

Diet: Omnivorous; eats a wide range of plant and animal matter

Adult size: 3-5’ (1-1.5m)

Wild Distribution: tropical rainforests, savannas, and semi-deserts of eastern/central South America

(written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Argentine Tegu

Dubia.com Guide – Argentine Tegu

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Colombian Tegu (Tupinambis teguixin and other Tupinambis spp.)

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 23, 2022

Care level: Advanced

Temperament: tend to be more defensive than Argentine tegus, but can become tame with socialization

Behavior: diurnal, terrestrial, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: 6×3×3’ (2×1×1m)

Basking spot temp (surface): 125-135°F (52-57°C)

Cold side temp: 75-85°F (24-29°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp: 70°F (21°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 6% at 12-15”(30-40cm) away with no mesh or Arcadia T5HO 12% at 15-24” (40-60cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 70-80%

Diet: Carnivorous (90% protein, 10% vegetables)

Adult size: 2-5’ (0.6-1.5m)

Wild Distribution: tropical forests of northern and central South America

(written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Colombian Tegu

Dubia.com Guide – Colombian Tegu

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 22, 2022

Care level: Advanced

Temperament: Defensive, can be more handleable with work but will often be territorial

Behavior: diurnal, arboreal, solitary

Minimum enclosure size: 12×6×6′ (3.5×2×2m); this will vary based on sex, adult size, etc.

Basking spot temp (surface): ~120°F (~50°C)

Cold side temp: 75-85°F (24-29.5°C)

Minimum/nighttime temp: 73-84°F (23-28°C)

UVB: UVI 2.9-7.4/Ferguson zone 3-4 (e.g. Arcadia T5HO 12% at 17-18″ (43-45cm) away with no mesh or 12-15″ (30-31cm) away with typical mesh)

Humidity: 65-80%, nighttime spikes up to 100%

Diet: Herbivore (plant matter only)

Adult size: Up to 7′ (2.2m), males larger than females

Wild Distribution: forests and other habitats through south and central America, as well as islands throughout the Caribbean

(written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Guide by Mandi – Green Iguana

Reptifiles Guide – Green Iguana

Dubia.com Guide – Green Iguana

ADW – Iguana iguana

Reptile Basic Care Guides

Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans [also applies to other Trachemys spp.])

Post author By Critter Corner Staff
Post date November 19, 2022

Care level: Intermediate-Advanced

Temperament: Usually fairly personable and friendly although it’s best to handle them as little as possible

Behavior: diurnal, semi-aquatic, semi-social (can live together and often will live in large groups in the wild, but do fine housed alone)

Minimum enclosure size: 10 gallons of water per inch(40L per 2.5cm) of shell length, recommended at least 100 gallons (400L) for adults regardless of size

Basking air temp: 85-90°F (30-32°C)

Basking surface temp: 104°F (40°C)

Nighttime/minimum temp (air): 65-75°F (18-24°C)

Water temp: Hatchlings – 78-82°F (24-29°C); juveniles – 74-76°F (23-24°C); adults – 70-88°F (21-31°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)

Diet: vegetables, proteins (turtle pellets, insects, safe fish, crustaceans, snails, etc); protein more frequently for babies/juveniles

Adult size: up to 12″ (30cm)

Wild Distribution: various permanent bodies of freshwater throughout large range of southeastern/central United States

(written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Other Resources:

Reptifiles Guide – Red-Eared Slider

Dubia.com Guide – Red-Eared Slider

ADW – Trachemys scripta

Safe Feeder Fish