Reptile Care Guide
Bearded Dragon
Exercise:
A 120x60x60cm terrarium minimum for adults. Requires a basking spot of 38-42°C and a cool side of 26-28°C. UVB lighting is essential — replace the bulb every 6 months even if it still lights up.
Grooming:
Bathe in shallow warm water 2-3 times per week for 10-15 minutes. This aids shedding and hydration. Never lift or tilt their head while drinking — they store water in their throat and can inhale it into their lungs.
Diet:
Juveniles eat 70% live insects and 30% vegetables. Adults eat 70% vegetables and 30% insects. Staple insects include dubia roaches and crickets. Dust all food with calcium powder 5 days a week and a multivitamin twice a week.
Leopard Gecko
Exercise:
A 60x45x30cm terrarium minimum. Ground dwellers so floor space matters more than height. Require a warm hide at 28-32°C, a cool hide at 24-26°C, and a moist hide for shedding. Low-level UVB is beneficial.
Grooming:
Mist the moist hide regularly to aid shedding. Never pull shedding skin — soak in shallow warm water if shed gets stuck on toes as retained shed can cut off circulation.
Diet:
Insectivores — feed dubia roaches, crickets, and mealworms. Dust with calcium without D3 five times a week and multivitamin once a week. Adults feed every 2-3 days.
Ball Python
Exercise:
Minimum 120x60x60cm enclosure for adults. Ambient temperature 27-30°C with warm spot of 32-35°C. Humidity 60-80%. Provide two hides — one warm side, one cool side.
Grooming:
Soak in shallow warm water during shedding to help loosen skin. Never handle during shedding as their eyecaps are impaired and they may become defensive.
Diet:
Feed pre-killed or frozen-thawed mice or rats every 10-14 days for adults. Prey size should be no wider than the widest part of the snake's body. Never feed live prey.
Tortoise
Exercise:
Outdoor enclosures are ideal in the UAE climate. Minimum 2x1 metre enclosure for most species. Provide a shaded area, a shallow water dish for soaking, and a hide. Indoor setups require UVB lighting and a basking spot of 30-35°C.
Grooming:
Soak in shallow warm water 2-3 times per week for 15-20 minutes to aid hydration and digestion. Clean the enclosure weekly. Check shell regularly for signs of rot, pyramiding, or injury.
Diet:
Primarily herbivores — feed dark leafy greens, weeds like dandelion, and grasses. Avoid fruit except occasionally. Calcium supplementation is essential for healthy shell development. Never feed dog or cat food.
Blue Tongue Skink
Exercise:
Minimum 120x60x45cm enclosure. Basking spot of 38-40°C and cool side of 24-26°C. UVB lighting essential. Use a loose substrate like topsoil or coconut coir as they love to burrow.
Grooming:
Bathe in shallow warm water weekly to aid shedding and hydration. Check for stuck shed around toes and tail tip. Keep humidity at 40-60% — higher during shedding.
Diet:
Omnivores — diet should be 50% vegetables, 40% protein (lean meat, insects, snails), and 10% fruit. Dust food with calcium 3 times a week. Feed adults every 2-3 days.
Chameleon
Exercise:
Screen enclosures are essential for ventilation — minimum 60x60x120cm for adults. Require a temperature gradient of 24-30°C with a basking spot of 32-35°C. High-quality UVB lighting is critical. Chameleons are arboreal so height matters more than floor space.
Grooming:
Never house in glass tanks — poor ventilation causes respiratory infections. Mist the enclosure 2-3 times daily as chameleons drink water droplets off leaves, not from bowls. Maintain humidity of 50-70%.
Diet:
Insectivores — feed varied insects including crickets, dubia roaches, hornworms, and silkworms. Gut-load all insects before feeding. Dust with calcium without D3 five times a week and multivitamin twice a week.