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A guided introduction to Reptile Grove and the four areas of reptile care it covers, from lizards and snakes to turtles and shared basics.
Welcome to Reptile Grove, a research-based guide to keeping common pet reptiles healthy in US homes. The site is written for owners of leopard geckos, bearded dragons, ball pythons, tortoises and similar species, along with hobby breeders who want to think carefully about welfare and genetics. Its central idea is simple: most reptile health problems trace back to enclosure conditions, lighting or diet, so understanding those three things prevents far more trouble than any treatment can fix.
How the site is organized
The guides are grouped into four categories, and each one opens with an overview of its main sub-topics. If you already know your species, jump straight to its category. If you are still deciding, begin with the basics.
The four categories
The Lizards category covers pet lizard selection, housing, lighting, nutrition, behavior, health, longevity and breeding. It is where you will find guidance on geckos, bearded dragons, chameleons, blue tongue skinks and larger lizards such as tegus and iguanas.
The Snakes category covers enclosures, temperature and humidity, feeding, handling, health, morphs and breeding. Ball pythons get the deepest coverage, alongside corn snakes, kingsnakes, hognose snakes, rat snakes and other popular pets.
The Turtles category covers aquatic turtles and terrestrial tortoises, including housing, diet, shell health, growth, outdoor setups and seasonal dormancy. It explains how sliders, box turtles and tortoises such as Russian, sulcata and red-footed tortoises have very different needs.
The Reptile Basics category covers the decisions and principles that apply to every reptile. It includes choosing and acquiring an animal, biology, shared equipment and feeder insects, finding a veterinarian, quarantine, hygiene, travel, US ownership requirements, breeding ethics and rehoming.
A note on how to use what you read
These articles are researched summaries, not hands-on tests and not veterinary advice. When an animal looks unwell, stops eating, struggles to shed or behaves differently from usual, a qualified reptile or exotics veterinarian is the right next step. To learn who writes the site and how articles are built, read the About page, and if you have a question or correction, visit the Contact page.
What are you looking for?
Choose the topic that fits your next step.
Lizards
Pet lizard selection, housing, lighting, nutrition, behavior, health and breeding, from geckos and bearded dragons to chameleons, skinks and larger species.
Browse Lizards →Snakes
Pet snake selection, enclosures, temperature and humidity, feeding, handling, health, morphs and breeding, with deep coverage of ball pythons.
Browse Snakes →Turtles
Care for pet turtles and tortoises, including aquatic and outdoor housing, diet, shell health, growth, seasonal dormancy and reproduction.
Browse Turtles →Reptile Basics
Ownership decisions and husbandry principles shared across pet reptiles, including choosing an animal, equipment, feeders, vet care, hygiene, travel, US rules and breeding ethics.
Browse Reptile Basics →Find a starting point
Lizards
Pet lizard selection, housing, lighting, nutrition, behavior, health and breeding, from geckos and bearded dragons to chameleons, skinks and larger species.
Snakes
Pet snake selection, enclosures, temperature and humidity, feeding, handling, health, morphs and breeding, with deep coverage of ball pythons.
Turtles
Care for pet turtles and tortoises, including aquatic and outdoor housing, diet, shell health, growth, seasonal dormancy and reproduction.
Reptile Basics
Ownership decisions and husbandry principles shared across pet reptiles, including choosing an animal, equipment, feeders, vet care, hygiene, travel, US rules and breeding ethics.