General Husbandry.
General Husbandry is the term used to encapsulate all things associated with keeping and caring for animals and livestock. In our case, general husbandry refers to all things reptile and that includes everything from their enclosures, to heating, lighting, humidity, substrates, temperature control, food and the specificities and living requirements of each individual species.
The first thing you will need to know is where your reptile originates from and what the environmental requirements are for your species in that location. Recreating the atmospheric environment from that location within your enclosure is the ultimate goal. Before purchasing your reptile, you will need to know precisely what its environmental requirements are and ideally, have an established set up ready to go. Below is a table, as per the Merck Veterinary Manual, showing a variety of commonly kept reptiles and their general husbandry requirements. Knowing these requirements will best inform you of the ideal set up for your reptile.
Once you have a good understanding of the environmental requirements for your reptile, you will be able to make an informed decision as to the kind of enclosure you will need.
Husbandry Requirements for commonly kept reptiles
Species | Habitat/Vivarium Type | POTZ, °C (°F)a | Humidity, % | Lightingb | Hibernation | Dietc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Corn/rat snake | Terrestrial, scrubland | 25–30 (77–86) | 30–70d | NS | Yes | C |
Boa constrictor | Terrestrial, rainforest (semi-arboreal/aquatic) | 28–31 (82–88) | 70–95 | NS | No | C |
Ball python | Terrestrial, scrubland | 25–30 (77–86) | 50–80 | NS | No | C |
Leopard gecko | Terrestrial, arid scrub | 25–30 (77–86) | 20–30d | NS | No | I, c |
Green iguana | Arboreal, rainforest | 29–33 (84–91) | 60–85 | BS | No | H |
Bearded dragon | Terrestrial, desert | 25–32 (77–90) | 20–30d | BS | No | I, c, h |
Water dragon | Arboreal, rainforest | 24–30 (75–86) | 80–90 | BS | No | I, c, h |
Savannah monitor | Terrestrial, arid scrub | 25–32 (77–90) | 20–40d | BS | No | C, i |
Greek tortoise | Terrestrial, temperate to subtropical | 20–28 (68–82) | 30–50 | BS | Yes | H, c |
Box tortoise | Terrestrial, temperate to subtropical | 22–28 (72–82) | 50–80 | BS | Yes | H, I, c |
Leopard tortoise | Terrestrial, tropical | 25–30 (77–86) | 30–50 | BS | No | H, c |
Red-footed tortoise | Terrestrial, tropical | 25–30 (77–86) | 50–90 | BS | No | H, c |
Red-eared slider | Temperate to subtropical, gravel bottom or bare, water depth 30 cm (12 inches) minimum, land area ⅓ of tank | 22–27 (72–81) | Aquatic | BS | Possible | H, I, c |
Abbreviations: BS, broad-spectrum lighting; NS, no special lighting requirements; POTZ, preferred optimal temperature zone. | ||||||
a Temperature requirements shown are air temperature gradients. In general, basking temperatures should be 5°C warmer, whereas at night these temperatures should fall by 5°C. | ||||||
b BS, broad-spectrum lighting (UVB 290–300 nm) essential; NS, no special lighting requirements, although broad-spectrum lighting is still recommended because it is likely to have health benefits. | ||||||
c I or i = insectivorous, H or h = herbivorous, C or c = carnivorous; uppercase indicates major food preference; lowercase, minor food preference. | ||||||
d Humidity requirements are substantially greater during ecdysis. | ||||||