That’s right! 16th July is World Snake Day! Why or how we’re not really sure, but we’re going to enjoy it whilst it’s here!So what happens on World Snake Day? As you would expect, there is lots of conservation awareness around on the day, highlighting particular species that really require the hobby’s attention. It’s a great way to really highlight snakes in our world, from enormou...
UVB Lighting Part 2 Sunbeam or Shaded?In our last post, we talked about methods of lighting your reptile enclosure. These came down to two main focuses – the Sunbeam method or Shaded method. It was seen from the work done by Frances Baines and co, in their latest publication on Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, that reptiles can be categorised into Ferguson Zones, as originally laid out ...
UVB lighting is something that has advanced more than anyone could have imagined over the last few years. The basic information that reptile keepers had was used well, but it’s now obvious that this is out dated, and though often repeated through to new hobbyists, is more often than not incorrect these days.There are many aspects of lighting that we have learnt more information about, and ca...
So, to set the scene for those that missed it. A new trait has been discovered in Ball Python genetics in Iowa, US. A designer Python breeder, JD Constriction.com, hatched out a baby Royal that had something extra to it, something they were yet to identify.They posted a picture of their newest discovery, “The Pastel Axanthic “Thing””, which went viral – how do you think we heard abou...
Many care sheets and information pages talk about using custodians to create a nice natural bio-active set up - but what is that, and why should you want to do it? Let’s look into it, and see what all the fuss is about.Custodians are small creatures that live in your reptile enclosure, and basically break down the waste that is produced there. That’s right. They break down and consume all ...
Thermostats are a vital piece of equipment for keeping reptiles – not every species will require one, but most do. They will allow you to control the heat that is created in the environment, which means not only will you be able to set the temperature and know it’s perfect for your pet, but it’s also a safety feature – it can’t over heat and cause and stress to your pet, or do any da...
The unexpected encounter happened whilst workman, Celfyn Chappell was checking over an empty flat in Ebbw Vale.While opening the attic, a three foot snake fell on his head!Mr Chappell recalls his surprise: “It was the last thing I expected to happen. At first I thought it was a toy snake. I realised it was real when it curled up.”The RSPCA were informed and the snake, later identif...
Still an up and coming star in the reptile keeping world, getting your Tokay Gecko habitat and diet just right is incredibly important for the health and well-being of your reptile.Fortunately, both the Tokay gecko habitat and diet are pretty easy to cater for, ensuring that barring any genetic problems or accidents, your gecko should live happily to the full 8-10 years of their lifespan under...
Still one of the most popular reptiles to keep in the UK, and still growing too, at Swell UK we get plenty of calls about what the ideal heating setup for a leopard gecko looks like.Fair enough! It's an important question, so let's run through the basics.Leopard Geckos and heating equipmentLike most reptiles, leopard geckos originate from much warmer climates than can be regularly fo...
As the addition of live plants in reptile terrariums and vivariums continues to grow in popularity, we thought it was about time Swell Reptiles took a look at the ways you can keep them and your reptiles healthy with the right humidity and lighting.Choosing your reptile live plantUnless your terrarium is to be set up to exclusively house live plants and nothing else, then the first thing y...