How to Start Keeping Reptiles: A Beginner's Checklist

How to Start Keeping Reptiles: The Complete Beginner Checklist

Getting your first reptile is exciting — and a little overwhelming. This checklist covers everything you need to know before, during, and after bringing your new animal home.

Step 1: Choose Your Species

Not all reptiles are equal for beginners. Start with a hardy, well-established species. Our Best Reptiles for Beginners (2026) guide covers the top choices in detail. Quick recommendations:

• #1 Beginner lizard: Bearded dragon — personable, hardy, handleable
• #1 Beginner gecko: Leopard gecko — simple setup, strict insectivore
• Easiest reptile overall: Crested gecko — room temperature, powdered food
• #1 Beginner snake: Corn snake — calm, easy to feed, beautiful morphs

Step 2: Set Up Before You Buy

Never buy the animal first. Set up the enclosure, dial in temperatures, and let it stabilize for 24-48 hours before adding your reptile. You need:

• Enclosure: Appropriate size for your species (40-75+ gallons for most lizards, 20+ for geckos)
• Heating: Basking lamp, heat mat, or ceramic heat emitter (species-dependent)
• Thermometer: Digital, not adhesive strips (they are inaccurate)
• UVB lighting: T5 HO linear bulb for most diurnal species (beardies, chameleons). Not needed for most nocturnal geckos (though increasingly recommended).
• Hides: Minimum two — warm side and cool side
• Water dish: For species that drink from dishes
• Substrate: Species-appropriate (paper towel for beginners, bioactive for advanced)

Step 3: Stock Up on Feeders

Have feeders ready before your animal arrives. The four premium feeders we recommend:

• Discoid roaches — daily protein staple (silent, odorless, escape-proof)
• Silkworms — premium low-fat supplement (1% fat, zero chitin)
• BSFL — calcium powerhouse (no dusting needed)
• Hornworms — hydration treat (85% moisture)

Plus calcium + D3 powder and a multivitamin supplement.

Step 4: Bring Your Reptile Home

• Minimize handling for the first 3-5 days — let your animal acclimate
• Offer food after 24-48 hours of settling in
• Verify temperatures are in the correct range
• Begin supplementation from the very first feeding

Step 5: Establish a Routine

• Feeding schedule appropriate for species and age
• Calcium + D3 dusting per the supplement schedule
• Spot-clean enclosure daily, deep clean monthly
• Replace UVB bulb every 6-12 months
• Monitor body condition — weight, activity, shed quality

Welcome to the hobby — it is one of the most rewarding animal-keeping experiences available. Browse our complete feeder insect selection to get started.

— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures