Care Guides & Resources
Expert guides for keeping healthy reptiles and amphibians
General Care Guides
Universal guides applicable to multiple species
Featured
Dashboard Health Status & Smart Alerts: Monitor Your Pets at a Glance
Understand how the Dashboard's health status scoring, routine streak calculation, and automated health alerts work together to keep your reptiles and amphibians thriving.
Smart Care Reminders: Never Miss a Feeding Again
Learn how Habitat Builder's Care Tasks & My Animals system helps you maintain a consistent care schedule with push notifications, detailed animal profiles, and a reliability score.
All Guides
Example Enclosure Setups: Reference Builds
A curated collection of reference enclosures to help you visualize layout, lighting, and decor choices.
Feeder Insect Sourcing & Storage Guide
Complete guide to buying, storing, and maintaining feeder insects for reptiles and amphibians. Learn where to source crickets, dubia roaches, BSFL, and more, plus proper storage techniques to keep feeders healthy and nutritious.
Ferguson Zones: How Much UVB Does Your Reptile Actually Need?
Ferguson Zones classify reptiles by the UV Index they seek out in the wild. Learn which zone your species falls into, how to pick the right bulb, and why mounting distance matters more than the number on the box.
Substrate Guide: Selection, DIY Mixing & Safety
Complete substrate guide for all reptiles and amphibians: DIY mixing formulas for arid/tropical/semi-desert habitats, commercial options, impaction myths debunked, and bioactive layering systems.
Temperature Monitoring Equipment: Tools & Techniques
Essential guide to temperature monitoring tools: IR thermometers, digital probes, thermostats, hygrometers, calibration methods, and equipment to avoid for accurate reptile enclosure monitoring.
Understanding Thermal Gradients: Essential for All Ectotherms
Master thermal gradient creation for reptiles and amphibians: horizontal vs vertical gradients, heat source placement, surface vs air temperature measurement, and troubleshooting temperature issues.
Complete Bioactive Enclosure Setup Guide
Comprehensive guide to creating self-sustaining bioactive enclosures: layering systems, cleanup crew selection, plant choices, troubleshooting, and long-term maintenance.