No one likes plastic grass...

 ok, let me dive right in...

Bearded dragons, leopard geckos and other lizards that are kept in indoor style enclosures, do not need plastic astroturfing grass!

They also do not need, reptile carpet.

Both of those hold so much bacteria. Unless you are switching it out daily and washing it in hot water and soap or at the least hot water & vinegar every time....

You are not going to get the bacteria out and I feel bad for your pet!

any type of animal that is dragging its butt on carpet all day, is also leaving its bacteria in there as well. With loose substrate, it tends to be a little different. So understand that if you are dead set on getting carpet or astroturf for your reptile enclosure know exactly what you're getting into first. It's going to need to be cleaned daily and disinfected at least once a week possibly twice. And needs to be changed at the end of each day or beginning of each day because of bacteria. You do not want your reptile getting some type of infection because you chose plastic as a substrate alternative.

DONT GET COLORED SAND

JUST 💯% BAD IDEA

Make sure that you know what type of environment your specific lizard or monitor species requires. Obviously if it's a desert dwelling species you'll want more of a sandy texture. If it's going to be something that is terrestrial Then make sure you have enough floor space for it to roam around and adequate hides.

If it's something that is more arboreal or prone to climb, make sure you have branches that are secured safely. Make sure that you have an adequate height of enclosure. And make sure that you can provide and maintain the gradient levels of humidity and temperatures that that species requires.

You cannot house geckos, crested geckos, bearded dragons, uromastics, Savannah's, anoles, or tegus, the same way.

an absolute amount of research needs to be done prior to getting any pet and reptiles are absolutely no different. In fact I would suggest doing more research for a reptile than I would a domestic species of dog or cat.

Loud & Automatic, OUT!

It's Not "Bald" Python...and No, That's Right Either

 What were GONNA do today..... 

So, with keeping snakes, comes all the questions and all the learning.....

Do me a favor and do not come to me with issues like;

->"My ball python won't eat and I have its enclosure set up perfect!"-<

And then tell me that your highest temps are in the mid-70s during the day and you drop them 10° at night. And there is only a 20% humidity at the highest.

Clearly we all know good and well why, your snake will not eat and is stressed.

First off, I do hope your snake survives!

Secondly, I hope you step on Legos & there's no cool side when you flip your pillow over!

I don't want to hear about the reasoning why you think you're 2-year-old snake hasn't eaten in a year when you can't get its habitat set up properly and you can't figure out that it needs a larger enclosure than a 10 or 20 gallon. Tanks honestly are not the ideal enclosure for a ball python anyhow. Much less any snake, but if you work to set them up they can maintain the temps and humidity needed, in d a pinch.

Why spend the money on an animal and an enclosure if you're not going to spend the time getting to know what it needs to Not just survive but over time continue to thrive...

While we are on the topic, I'm really sad to hear and correct so many people that want mice for their ball pythons specifically, but for any species of snake, when clearly that snake should have never been on mice at all. 

Yes there are many species of snakes that do eat mice and can live on mice or do live on mice in the wild. And in captivity. So when getting a snake, learn about that snake, research that snake. Ask people in reptile communities about that snake, it's habitat, husbandry & feeding..... BEFORE HAVING THE SNAKE END UP WITH A HEALTH ISSUE YOU CAN'T FIX!!

Ball pythons don't eat mice after they are a couple weeks old. Some breeders don't even offer mice because ball pythons will stick to mice and are hard to switch off to rats. 

If your ball python is over 2 months old, it should be on rats. If you are unsure the size of rat you need for a ball python specifically, grab a scale that does grams. Weigh the snake, and the feeder prey item should be roughly 10% of the body weight. This does not work with all species, BUT again, #REASEARCH!!!!

*not my pix but it does get you going in the right direction*

On to other things today!

Loud & Automatic, OUT!