HVR&R Presents:

The Anti-List

The Intro Section

The best place to start this list is to mention the dreaded..

Starter Kits

Problem

1. Starter kits are often marketed as everything you need to start up an enclosure, even including the enclosure itself. The items included are often either insufficient for the species they are targeted for, or dangerous.

2. Unfortunately, most starter kits contain a lot of the items on this list.

3. When someone purchases a starter kit to save money, eventually they realize that almost everything included in the kit needs to be replaced for the sake of their animal.

Solution

A good mantra when buying equipment for your reptile is: Buy once, cry once!

Spend the money on good equipment that will last, instead of buying inexpensive equipment that will eventually need to be replaced with the higher quality equipment.

Colored lights

Problem

1. These include the red and blue lights marketed as night lights for reptiles. Reptiles need darkness and a cooldown period at night to regulate their day/night cycle.

2. Colored lights are thought to damage some animals’ eyes.

Solution

Use a Deep Heat Projector or Ceramic Heat Emitter if their environment gets dangerously cold at night. There should be zero visible light in your reptile’s enclosure at night.

Adhesive-backed thermometers and hygrometers

This one isn’t a specific product, but a category of products.

1. If the device falls off the enclosure wall, the adhesive can get stuck to your reptile and cause injury and damage to their scales.

2. These devices often are not accurate

Solution

Purchase a battery powered digital device that sits in the enclosure rather than being stuck to a wall. They are more accurate and will not cause injury.

The “This May Cause Burns” Section

There are countless items marketed towards reptiles that have the potential to cause severe burns to your new pet.

Heat rocks

Problem

1. Heat rocks get dangerously hot and can cause severe burns.

2. Oftentimes heat rocks are offered as a replacement for providing a proper basking spot, and the reptile loses all the benefits of having a basking spot.

Solution

A properly set up basking spot in an enclosure should be established by an overhead heat source over a flat, level surface that absorbs heat. Examples of good basking surfaces include slate tiles or bricks.

Coil UVB

Problem

1. The UVB produced by this style of bulb is too concentrated and can cause burns

Solution

Provide the appropriate stripe-style UVB such as a T5 or T8.

The appropriate strip UVB type varies on the reptile you are purchasing it for. Please do research on the species you have before selecting this extremely important component.

Mercury Vapor Bulbs

Problem

1. Similar to coil UVB bulbs, mercury vapor bulbs produce very concentrated light and can cause burns.

2. Mercury vapor bulbs are notorious for exploding.

3. Mercury vapor fumes are extremely toxic. These bulbs are being phased out around the world and being replaced by more efficient, less toxic alternatives.

Solution

Use a more practical visible light heat source such as a Par38 Halogen bulb. Halogen bulbs produce heat closest to the sun’s and have a broad spread which allows the heat to be more evenly distributed in the enclosure. They’re less expensive, too!