Tortoise tables are a bit different to the standard wooden vivarium set ups, and so the equipment required for them will also be different. Tortoise Tables are brilliant for tortoises, and in most cases work out to be much better than vivariums’ for tortoises, mainly due to the larger floor area, as well as the great ventilation that they provide.If you have purchased your tortoise table, t...
You’ve heard about MBD. It’s bad. But what does it actually do to a reptile’s body, and how can you ensure you will never have to deal with it?MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease, is a disorder caused by the abnormalities of minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and Vitamin D, which causes the bone structure to weaken as the calcium is released back into the bloodstream, to preven...
Horsfield tortoises, also known as Russian tortoises or four-clawed tortoises, originate from central Asia. They typically inhabit hot, dry, arid regions close to the desert and occasionally in mountainous environments. In nature they roam harsh environments for several months of the year, slipping into brumation (reptile hibernation) during the colder season, where they bury down, remaining inac...
Bearded dragons are found throughout Australia. The most common subspecies in captivity are the inland (central) bearded dragons and Rankins Dragons. Both live in a similar habitat of arid woodlands and desert type habitats as well as scrub and grasslands. Bearded dragons are diurnal (active during the day,) in their nature and are commonly found hunting and foraging amongst vegetation a...
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 can ...
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 ...
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...
For anybody with a vague understanding of just what a reticulated python is, should know that undertaking the care of a reticulated python in captivity is no easy task. However, with the right knowledge, equipment and outlook you can make a home for one with you.Reticulated Python biologyOften affectionately called retics by their owners, these large snakes evolved in the jungles and scrubland...
A royal python, or Ball python as our US cousins tend to call them, is a medium sized species of snake that originally evolved in the climates of sub-Saharan Africa. A small snake by python standards, the Royal python is non-venomous and is often called the Ball Python due to it's tendency to wrap itself up into a coil like shape, especially when picked up.Royal pythons smart off small like al...