Positioning.
Above: standard melamine enclosure available for
The placement of a reptile enclosure within the
purchase from Amazing Amazon. Note:
house also requires some thought. Enclosures
should not be right next to televisions or sound
Air vents providing flow-through ventilation.
systems as this can cause significant stress to the
Fixtures for heat lights controlled by thermostat.
animals that are often sensitive to vibrations as well
as noise. Natural light is beneficial, however too
Fluorescent batten for UVB light.
much direct sunlight may also overheat an
enclosure. High traffic areas in the home should also
be avoided where possible.
Below: custom display enclosure designed to
Enclosure Fit Out.
Once an enclosure has been selected and a suitable
position chosen, the next step is to add the essential
pieces of equipment required. All enclosures must
have heating and lighting specific to the species
being kept. A thermal gradient (i.e. a warm end and
a cool end) allows the animal to regulate its own
body temperature by moving around the enclosure.
Appropriate UVB lighting is also essential for most
reptiles active during daylight hours. There are
numerous options for heating and lighting that have
been covered in my past articles in iHerp Australia.
Adequate hiding areas as well as climbing and
basking platforms are also required for most species.
With such a wide variety of enclosure options
available to keepers today, careful research and
planning is required to determine the most suitable
alternative for your specific reptiles. If you invest a bit
of time and thought into the process, this should
result in an aesthetically-pleasing and enriching
captive environment for your animals.
accommodate turtles, fish and an arboreal python at
Kellyville Pets.