This section will provide some general information on the care of your reptile pet.

I'm sure you have heard that reptiles and amphibians are cold blooded.  This means that they are unable to maintain their body temperature internally, and their body heat must be gained from the outside environment.  If a snake or lizard is too cold, it will not eat, and may become more susceptible to disease.

 Therefore, it is necessary to provide heat for your pet.  The easiest way to do this is to purchase a cheap red light bulb from a hardware store, and place it above one end of the snake or lizard's cage.  A red bulb and clamp light fixture should cost no more than ten dollars.

People who buy their reptiles from a pet store are usually caught up in a buying frenzy, and end up paying much more for the accessories than is usually required.  Generally, you do not need an expensive light fixture, with a "reptile" bulb.  If you want a light on your cage, an inexpensive fluorescent light will do nicely.  Hide boxes can be made out of anything from cardboard boxes to plastic flower pots.  With a bit of imagination, inexpensive alternatives are available for all pet shop accessories.

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