HVR&R Presents:

The Anti-List

What Not To Buy!


So you just got your first reptile, or maybe you’re purchasing items for one you already have. Either way, congratulations! The world of reptile keeping is very exciting and oftentimes people are eager to run to the pet store and buy all of their supplies without first doing some research. Unfortunately, faith can often not be placed in pet stores and companies that make these products to point you in the right direction. Just because a bag of substrate has a leopard gecko on it does not mean it’s suitable for leopard geckos! There are numerous items marketed by pet stores as reptile products that vary from useless to dangerous. The goal of this list is to provide you with information regarding some regularly sold products that are not suitable for your new friend.

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 ‘The Floor is Lava!’ Section - Bad Substrates

Calcium Sand

Quite possibly the most notorious, number one offender on this list.

Problem

  1. Calcium sand is a loose substrate known to frequently cause impaction in reptiles. If ingested, the calcium sand will clump in the reptile’s stomach which can cause blockages in the animal’s digestive tract. This can lead to death.

  2. Reptiles may ingest calcium sand accidentally while eating food. In some cases, reptiles can self-regulate their calcium levels, and will consume this sand if they sense they need more calcium in their diet. The most notable species that does this is the leopard gecko.


Solution

Most reptiles should not be kept on sand exclusively, but when sand is used, children’s play sand (like in a sandbox) is a great option. Play sand is going to be cheaper, too! A great mixture for several species includes mixing organic topsoil with children’s play sand in various ratios.

Reptile Carpet

Although not as offensive to most as calcium sand, reptile carpet is still not an appropriate substrate.


Problem

  1. Reptile carpet is near impossible to completely sanitize

  2. Animals can get their toenails caught in the fibers, which can cause injuries. We have even seen reptiles losing entire toes.


Solution

If a non-loose substrate is your objective, alternatives include non-adhesive shelf liner, slate tile, or regularly-replaced paper towels.


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!

The “Don’t Eat That!” Section

Companies make products marketed towards specific reptiles that claim they meet all nutritional requirements of the animal. On top of this not being the case, a varied diet is key in the case of most species.

Freeze-dried Insects

Problem

  1. These offer little to no nutritional value after being freeze dried.

  2. The reptile will lose the enrichment and natural behavior of catching insects.


Solution

Only purchase the appropriate live insects for your reptile. Providing a variety of appropriate insects will create a balanced diet for your animal.

Pellets

There are few species besides turtles where pellets are ever appropriate. But even for species where pellets may be appropriate, they should not make up the animal’s entire diet.


Problem

  1. These offer little to no nutritional value in the case of most species

  2. There is no such thing as an all-in-one food option for reptiles. Variety is an absolute must in their diet.


Solution

Research the specific species you are feeding and purchase appropriate foods for them.

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