1. The terrarium and where to place it
Setting up a terrarium starts with the enclosure: it has to suit the size and way of life of your species and leave room for lighting, heating and measuring equipment. The Reptile Nova RNT is a terrarium made for keeping reptiles, and according to the manufacturer its design makes lighting, ventilation and everyday care easier. The models are the RNT-60 (600 × 450 × 450 mm) and the RNT-90 (900 × 450 × 600 mm), given as length × depth × height.
A metal mesh on top provides air exchange, and openings at the sides and top take electrical cables, so lamps and probes can be connected without keeping the door open. The doors are lockable and the removable top cover makes feeding and maintenance easier. According to the manufacturer the waterproof lower part also allows more elaborate layouts, and you assemble the terrarium yourself using illustrated instructions.
If you want a glass container for plants instead, the AquaEL Selva is a small glass terrarium for growing exotic plants, with a WRGB LED light and ventilation in the lid. Choose a terrarium for animals only once you know the requirements of your species: floor area, height and ventilation have to match them. Place the terrarium where direct sun and draughts do not affect the conditions inside.
2. UVB light: Tropical or Desert
Many reptiles need UVB in the terrarium, but the need varies a great deal between species. So before choosing a lamp, check the requirements of your species in a reliable care guide and choose the lamp to match. The Reptile Nova range has two compact fluorescent lamps, both in 13 W and 25 W versions.
The Reptile Nova UVB 5.0 Tropical gives a medium level of UVB and, according to the manufacturer, imitates the light of tropical areas. It is meant for animals that in nature live in tropical forests and places sheltered from direct sun. The Reptile Nova UVB 10.0 Desert gives a high level of UVB and, according to the manufacturer, imitates the light of steppes and semi-deserts, for animals that live in semi-arid areas.
Both lamps also emit UVA. The manufacturer advises keeping at least 15 cm between the lamp and the animal and gives the lamp's range as up to 40 cm, so take the height of the terrarium and the position of the basking spot into account when fitting it. The radiation weakens with use, and the manufacturer recommends replacing the lamp every 12 months.
3. Heat: basking spot and heat mat
A heat source creates a warm and a cooler zone in the terrarium, and the animal moves between them by itself. The number of warm spots and their temperature depend on the species, so check them in the requirements of your species rather than in general advice. Heat can come from a lamp above, a mat below, or both.
The Reptile Nova UVA Solar Basking Spotlight is a warm-light basking lamp whose internal focus gives a tight, intense heat beam on the basking spot. It has an E27 screw base and is made in 75 W, 100 W and 150 W. According to the manufacturer the lamp raises the ambient temperature, and the manufacturer advises using it with a thermostat where possible.
The Reptile Nova Heating Mat with Thermostat is a thin mat supplied with a thermostat and a temperature sensor. The smallest mat is 15 × 14 cm at 5 W and the largest is 42 × 28 cm at 20 W or 40 W. According to the manufacturer, the smallest mats are meant for animals with small heating needs, such as spiders. According to the manufacturer the mat heats evenly over its whole surface, but check how to fit it in the manufacturer's instructions.
4. Lamp holder, reflector and thermostat
Heat bulbs and UV lamps need a holder that withstands heat. The Reptile Nova Reflector Lamp is a deep reflector lampshade with a ceramic E27 socket that suits both bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps. The smaller shade is 14 cm across and 13 cm deep, the larger 20 cm across and 18 cm deep, and the pendant and the cable with a switch are 180 cm long in total.
The reflector directs the light downwards and, according to the manufacturer, raises UVA and UVB intensity, so check the distance to the animal again after fitting it. If you do not need a shade, the Reptile Nova Ceramic Socket takes heat bulbs up to 250 W. It comes with a 2 m cable with a switch.
The Reptile Nova Temperature Controller runs both heating and cooling devices; according to the manufacturer its control range is −10 °C to +110 °C, and devices up to 1500 W can be connected. Choose the set temperature according to the requirements of your species and check the result with a separate meter. The cable is 1 m long with an EU plug.
5. Humidity, measuring and bedding
Humidity and temperature in a terrarium change during the day and differ from one end to the other, so they cannot be judged by feel alone. The Repti-Zoo SH124 continuously monitors temperature and humidity inside and outside the terrarium: with two probes on cables and built-in sensors you can follow conditions in several places at once. It takes a reading every 10 seconds, with a temperature range of 0–70 °C and a humidity range of 20–99 %.
The memory keeps the minimum and maximum readings separately for the internal and external sensors until you clear them, so you also see changes during the night. The probe cables are 90 cm long and are fixed with suction cups where you want them, for example near the basking spot and at the cooler end. Find the right humidity in the requirements of your species; ventilation, substrate and misting all affect it.
Choose the bedding by species as well. Aventerra Celluloz Baby is a soft bedding of pure cellulose intended for nesting and hatching and for young reptiles, and according to the manufacturer it quickly absorbs moisture and unpleasant odours. In the 15 l pack the bedding is pressed into one large block, so pull it apart thoroughly before use.
Basic terrarium equipment according to the manufacturers
| Device | What it is for | Manufacturer data |
|---|---|---|
| Reptile Nova UVB 5.0 Tropical | Medium UVB, species from tropical areas | 13 W or 25 W; at least 15 cm, range up to 40 cm |
| Reptile Nova UVB 10.0 Desert | High UVB, species from semi-arid areas | 13 W or 25 W; at least 15 cm, range up to 40 cm |
| Reptile Nova UVA Solar Basking Spotlight | Heat on the basking spot | 75 W, 100 W or 150 W; E27 base |
| Reptile Nova Heating Mat with Thermostat | Even heat over the whole mat | 15 × 14 cm to 42 × 28 cm; 5 W to 40 W |
| Reptile Nova Temperature Controller | Control of heating and cooling | −10 °C to +110 °C; devices up to 1500 W |
| Repti-Zoo SH124 | Monitoring temperature and humidity | 0–70 °C, 20–99 %; a reading every 10 seconds |
Checklist
- Check the requirements of your species: heat, UVB and humidity.
- Choose a terrarium whose ventilation and cable openings suit the equipment.
- Choose the UVB 5.0 Tropical or the UVB 10.0 Desert according to the species.
- Keep at least 15 cm between the UVB lamp and the animal.
- Connect the heat source to a thermostat or temperature controller.
- Fix the meter's probes at the warm and the cooler end of the terrarium.
- Note down the UVB lamp change after the 12 months the manufacturer recommends.
Products for this guide
Frequently asked questions
Which lamp should I choose for a terrarium?
It depends on the species. The UVB 5.0 Tropical is meant for species from tropical areas and the UVB 10.0 Desert for species from semi-arid areas; for heat on the basking spot use a separate heat lamp such as the UVA Solar Basking Spotlight.
How often should a UVB lamp be replaced?
The radiation of the Reptile Nova UVB lamps weakens with use, and the manufacturer recommends replacing them every 12 months.
Do a heat mat and a heat bulb need a thermostat?
The Reptile Nova heat mat comes with a thermostat and a sensor. For the heat bulb the manufacturer advises using a thermostat where possible, for example the Reptile Nova Temperature Controller.
What temperature and humidity should a terrarium have?
They depend on the species, so check the requirements of your species. Follow the actual values with a meter such as the Repti-Zoo SH124, whose probes show different parts of the terrarium.
