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How to Set Up a Terrarium for Arboreal Species
Exotic

How to Set Up a Terrarium for Arboreal Species

Arboreal terrarium setup for arboreal reptiles and amphibians like frogs, geckos and anoles. Use a tall, vertical glass or PVC enclosure with good front and top ventilation and plenty of branches, vines and textured backgrounds for climbing and hiding. Create a drainage layer and use moisture-retentive substrates such as coconut fibre, orchid bark and leaf litter, add live plants for cover and humidity, and mist daily or use an automatic mister. Provide warm upper zones and cooler lower zones, shallow water dishes, low-level UVB and safe heat sources, and consider a bioactive setup with springtails and isopods for natural waste breakdown. Check temperature and humidity daily, clean and trim plants regularly, avoid short tanks, overcrowding and unsafe treated wood, and only add animals once the terrarium is fully stable.

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  • Brown Basilisk: The Water-Running Dragon of Central America
    Exotic

    Brown Basilisk: The Water-Running Dragon of Central America

    Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus), the "Jesus lizard", is a fast, water-loving reptile best suited to experienced keepers. Native to Mexico and Central America, it needs a large, tall tropical vivarium with a deep pool, lots of climbing branches and strong UVB light. Housing for one adult should be about 180 x 90 x 180 cm. Temperatures: basking 32–35°C, daytime 26–29°C, cool 24–25°C and night 22–24°C. Keep humidity at 60–80% with daily misting and good ventilation. Diet is omnivorous: insects and protein items with leafy greens, squash and occasional fruit; use calcium and multivitamin supplements to avoid metabolic bone disease. Handle very little because they stress easily and may drop their tail. Lifespan in captivity is 8–12 years and breeding needs space and experience. This guide covers key care points for Brown Basilisk housing, heating, lighting, water, diet, handling and health.

  • Setting Up an Environment for Semi-Aquatic Juvenile Amphibians: A Complete Guide
    Exotic

    Setting Up an Environment for Semi-Aquatic Juvenile Amphibians: A Complete Guide

    This guide shows how to set up a safe home for semi-aquatic juvenile amphibians like newts, salamanders and some frogs. Use a low, wide tank: about 30 litre for a few juveniles and 60 litre or larger for groups. Aim for a roughly 50:50 land and water split, with water 4–8 cm deep and easy ramps or cork bark for access. Keep water clean with a gentle sponge or low-flow filter and change 25–50% twice weekly. Use dechlorinated water and remove uneaten food. Keep daytime temperatures about 20–24°C for temperate species, up to 26°C for tropicals, and humidity at 70–90% with regular misting. Feed small live prey daily or every other day, dust with calcium twice weekly and give multivitamin every 1–2 weeks. Spot clean land daily and replace substrate every few weeks. Avoid stagnant water, strong currents, poor land access and oversized prey. This setup helps juveniles grow healthy and show natural behaviour.

  • The Complete Guide to Keeping Dwarf White Isopods
    Exotic

    The Complete Guide to Keeping Dwarf White Isopods

    Dwarf White Isopods (Trichorhina tomentosa) are small soil-dwelling crustaceans known for their role in bioactive enclosures. Originally from tropical regions, they help maintain ecosystems by decomposing organic matter. They thrive in warm, humid environments and reproduce rapidly, making them a practical addition to reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate habitats. These isopods prefer burrowing and require specific substrate conditions, such as a mix of coco fibre, decaying leaves, and sphagnum moss. Ideal temperatures range from 20–26°C with 70–90% humidity. Their diet includes decaying leaves and wood, with additional calcium sources like eggshells. Often part of bioactive setups, they aid in waste breakdown without troubling other tank mates. Easy to breed and care for, they are perfect for creating a self-sustaining enclosure.

  • Blue-Headed Anole: The Sapphire Jewel of the Caribbean
    Exotic

    Blue-Headed Anole: The Sapphire Jewel of the Caribbean

    The blue-headed anole (Anolis allisoni) is a colourful lizard, native to Cuba and parts of the Caribbean. Known for its turquoise-blue head and green body, it prefers warm, humid environments. These lizards are mainly arboreal, spending time in trees. Males are territorial, using their vivid colours for displays. Blue-headed anoles require captive care with vertical, plant-filled enclosures, suitable temperatures and humidity, and proper lighting. They mainly eat insects, needing a varied diet with supplements. Best for experienced keepers, these lizards are admired through observation, not frequent handling. With care, they can live 5-8 years and are engaging with their active, expressive behaviour.

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