Your Starter Guide
for Purchasing a Reptile

There are a few requirements to consider before purcahsing a reptile

Type of Reptile

There are a few reptiles available to us here in New Zealand. We have Blue Tongue Lizards, Bearded Dragons, Water Dragons, Leopard Geckos and Turtles such as Red Earded Sliders and Snake Necks. When deciding on the species of reptile you are wanting, it is always important to consider what that specific animal requires - the enclosure size, heating, lighting, decorations etc.

Enclosure (habitat/husbandry)

It's important to provide the proper living environment for your reptile. Vivarium’s need to be escape-proof, have good ventilation, enough space for mobility and all the accessories you will need inside the enclosure. You also need to consider factors like cleaning, sanitizing, routine maintenance and where you will place the enclosure.

Feeding and nutrition needs

Each lizard has their own type of nutritional needs/diets. Lizards such as Leopard Geckos eat live insects only, Bearded dragons can eat live insects along with some fruits/vegetables, the same with a Blue Tongue Lizard.
One thing they do have incommon is their need for calcium, this can be bought as a powder or a liquid concentrate. Calcium with D3 should be dusted onto their food and a small lid filled with calcium without D3 can be left inside their enclosure for them to consume when they want. Calcium without D3 should be the only calcium left in their enclosure, too much D3 in their diet can cause health issues. Lack of calcium can cause Metabolic Bone Disease.

Temperature

Being cold-blooded, a captive reptile doesn't have the luxury of maintaining its body temperature within the range that it needs. It has to rely on you to provide an environment that allows it to stay healthy. There are different varieties of heating such as Deep Heat Projector, Ceramic Heat Lamps, Halogen Heat Lamps, Solar Basking Floodlights and Solar Basking Spotlight.
 

Leopard Gecko warm side: 30-32 cool side: 22-25

Blue Tongue warm side: 30-35 cool side: 22-25 

Bearded Dragon warm side: 40-45 cool side: 22-26   

Water Dragon (aus) warm side: 32-38 cool side:20-25 

Lighting

UV Lighting is required for all reptiles, they each have their own percentage of UV requirements. A UV lamp converts natural cholesterol in the skin of reptiles to pre-vitamin D3. The warmth from the heat lamp then coverts the pre-vitamin D3 into vitamin D3. This vitamin is used to help the lizard store and absorb the calcium from the digestive system. 

Humidity

Humidity is important for lizards as it plays a significant role in their skin health and shedding. They all require a different percentage of humidity.

Leopard geckos and Bearded Dragons enclosure humidity of  30-40%.
Blue Tongues enclosure humidity of 40-60%

Water Dragons enclosure humidity of 40-70% 

Amount of care

 You must be prepared to commit the time and energy required for keeping a lizard. For example, when Bearded Dragons are juveniles they need to be fed 3-5 times per day, would you have the time to do so? If you travel a lot, who will be the one to care for the lizard while you're away?
Keeping a hygienic enclosure is a must! Spot cleaning can be done daily with full clean outs being done fortnightly or monthly depending on the species of reptile and the substrate in the enclosure.

Be prepared for emergencies like equipment failure and illness. Find out where your local Exotic vet is so you have their details on hand just in case you need them.

Handling

Reptiles can be great additions to the family. Lizards such as Blue Tongue Lizards and Bearded Dragons are great for those with kids as they're calm, friendly and enjoy human interaction. It's important that you handle your lizard properly, they should never be picked up their tails.

Instore Reptile Area

We have recently finished building our lizards their new enclosure and have given the area a little makeover! If you haven't seen it yet, pop in and check it out at 521 Kamo Road and say hello to Nubs our Leopard Gecko, Mango our Bearded Dragon and Leonard & Max our Blue Tongue Lizards :)