In this day and age of bewildering choice of lights, housing, heating, feeding and different opinions on general care, it can be very confusing to anyone looking for their first reptile pet. Equally confusing is the fact that more experienced customers may have had a system that worked for them in years gone by, but are now being told that there are better ways.
Choosing the right equipment and care routine isn’t just about buying what looks good or what someone online recommends. Modern reptile husbandry has changed dramatically over the last decade. We now understand far more about how reptiles behave in the wild, how they use light, heat and space, and how their welfare improves when we recreate those natural conditions properly. As knowledge has grown, so have the standards — and that can leave both new keepers and long‑time hobbyists feeling overwhelmed.
This is exactly why our approach at Evolution Reptiles is different.
We work very, very hard to make sure that the advice we give to customers is the very best; we regularly liaise with specialist vets and competent, forward‑thinking breeders to keep our knowledge up to date. We read scientific papers and we study the wild lives of the species that we are privileged enough to be able to keep as pets in this country.
Our team invests countless hours into understanding not just what works, but why it works. We look at natural habitats, seasonal changes, behaviour patterns, UV exposure, diet, enrichment, and stress reduction. We test equipment, compare brands, and constantly update our recommendations as new research becomes available. When we advise you, we’re not repeating outdated care sheets — we’re giving you the most current, evidence‑based guidance available.
We also strongly believe that when you are selling live animals, you have a responsibility to that animal. That responsibility includes making sure that its new owner will be able to use the knowledge and experience we have built up over many, many years to give that animal the best life possible.
Our duty of care doesn’t end when you leave the shop. It begins the moment you show interest in an animal. We want every reptile, amphibian or invertebrate we sell to go into a home where it will thrive — not simply survive. That means making sure the enclosure is appropriate, the heating and lighting are correct, and the keeper understands how to monitor and adjust conditions. It also means being honest when something needs improving.
We very rarely flat out refuse a sale, but we are prepared to ask that conditions are upgraded before we will transfer ownership of an individual animal.
This isn’t about being awkward or gatekeeping the hobby. It’s about welfare. If an animal is going into a setup that we know will limit its behaviour, restrict its movement, or fail to meet its biological needs, we will always ask for changes. Our goal is to set you — and your new pet — up for success from day one.
Yes, we absolutely agree that animals will survive in lower specification housing than the standards we insist on. But that’s our point; if it’s just surviving, that’s no life for a pet. It’s battery farming for reptiles, and best left in the past.
Reptiles deserve environments that allow them to express natural behaviours: basking, climbing, burrowing, exploring, thermoregulating, and feeling secure. A bare minimum setup may keep an animal alive, but it will never allow it to flourish. We want your pet to thrive — to be active, confident, healthy, and behaviourally fulfilled.
So here are the basic requirements we insist on for the species we sell most often. Obviously, we very much prefer if these standards are exceeded – so does your new pet!
Unless specified, all these animals are happiest living alone.
Bearded Dragon
120 x 60 x 60cm vivarium. T5 UVB lighting, a white basking spot controlled by a thermostat, digital thermometer, and a clear understanding of day and night temperatures.
Leopard Gecko
85 x 49 x 50cm wooden vivarium or 90 x 45 x 45cm glass vivarium. Basking bulb controlled by thermostat, supply of UVB light, digital thermometer, and knowledge of basking spot, day and night temperatures.
Crested Gecko
45 x 45 x 60cm tall glass terrarium. White basking bulb controlled by thermostat, UVB source (compact bulbs acceptable), digital thermometer, and knowledge of day and night temperatures.
Corn Snake
120 x 60 x 60cm wooden vivarium. White basking light controlled by thermostat, UVB lighting, digital thermometer, and knowledge of day and night temperatures.
Royal Python
120 x 60 x 60cm wooden vivarium. White basking light controlled by thermostat, UVB lighting, digital thermometer, and knowledge of day and night temperatures.