Table: Important Husbandry Requirements for Selected Reptiles-MSD Veterinary Manual

Important Husbandry Requirements for Selected Reptiles

Species	Habitat / Vivarium Type	POTZ^a (°C)	Humidity %	Lighting^b	Hibernation	Diet^c
Corn/rat snake	Terrestrial, scrubland	25–30	30–70^d	NS	Yes	C
Boa constrictor	Terrestrial, rain forest (semi-arboreal/aquatic)	28–31	70–95	NS	No	C
Ball python	Terrestrial, scrubland	25–30	50–80	NS	No	C
Leopard gecko	Terrestrial, arid scrub	25–30	20–30^d	NS	No	I, c
Green iguana	Arboreal, rain forest	29–33	60–85	BS	No	H
Bearded dragon	Terrestrial, desert	25–32	20–30^d	BS	No	I, c, h
Water dragon	Arboreal, rain forest	24–30	80–90	BS	No	I, c, h
Savannah monitor	Terrestrial, arid scrub	25–32	20–40^d	BS	No	C, i
Greek tortoise	Terrestrial, temperate to subtropical	20–28	30–50	BS	Yes	H, c
Box tortoise	Terrestrial, temperate to subtropical	22–28	50–80	BS	Yes	H, I, c
Leopard tortoise	Terrestrial, tropical	25–30	30–50	BS	No	H, c
Red-footed tortoise	Terrestrial, tropical	25–30	50–90	BS	No	H, c
Red-eared slider	Temperate to subtropical gravel bottom or bare, water depth 30 cm min, land area ⅓ of tank	22–27	Aquatic	BS	Possible	H, I, c
^a POTZ = preferred optimal temperature zone. Temperature requirements shown are air temperature gradients. In general, basking temperatures should be 5°C warmer, whereas at night these temperatures should fall by 5°C.
^b BS = broad-spectrum lighting (UVB 290–300 nm) essential, NS = no special lighting requirements, although broad-spectrum lighting is still recommended because it is likely to have health benefits.
^c I or i = insectivorous, H or h = herbivorous, C or c = carnivorous; upper case indicates major food preference, lower case minor food preference.
^d Humidity requirements are significantly greater during ecdysis.

Species

Habitat / Vivarium Type

POTZ^a (°C)

Humidity %

Lighting^b

Hibernation

Diet^c

Corn/rat snake

Terrestrial, scrubland

25–30

30–70^d

Yes

Boa constrictor

Terrestrial, rain forest (semi-arboreal/aquatic)

28–31

70–95

Ball python

Terrestrial, scrubland

25–30

50–80

Leopard gecko

Terrestrial, arid scrub

25–30

20–30^d

I, c

Green iguana

Arboreal, rain forest

29–33

60–85

Bearded dragon

Terrestrial, desert

25–32

20–30^d

I, c, h

Water dragon

Arboreal, rain forest

24–30

80–90

I, c, h

Savannah monitor

Terrestrial, arid scrub

25–32

20–40^d

C, i

Greek tortoise

Terrestrial, temperate to subtropical

20–28

30–50

Yes

H, c

Box tortoise

Terrestrial, temperate to subtropical

22–28

50–80

Yes

H, I, c

Leopard tortoise

Terrestrial, tropical

25–30

30–50

H, c

Red-footed tortoise

Terrestrial, tropical

25–30

50–90

H, c

Red-eared slider

Temperate to subtropical gravel bottom or bare, water depth 30 cm min, land area ⅓ of tank

22–27

Aquatic

Possible

H, I, c

^a POTZ = preferred optimal temperature zone. Temperature requirements shown are air temperature gradients. In general, basking temperatures should be 5°C warmer, whereas at night these temperatures should fall by 5°C.

^b BS = broad-spectrum lighting (UVB 290–300 nm) essential, NS = no special lighting requirements, although broad-spectrum lighting is still recommended because it is likely to have health benefits.

^c I or i = insectivorous, H or h = herbivorous, C or c = carnivorous; upper case indicates major food preference, lower case minor food preference.

^d Humidity requirements are significantly greater during ecdysis.