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The Future of

Bearded Dragon Care

Is HerpCare.

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Let's Talk Diet.

What Makes a Diet Plan Healthy?

Diversity

A diverse diet is the only way to provide the nutrients a dragon needs to thrive.

Proper Quantity

Reptile obesity is real. Without carefully balanced quantities, you risk over or under feeding.

The Right Insects

Not all feeder insects are considered equal. Some provide certain nutrients others don't.

Nutritional Balance

Depending on a dragons age, their nutritional balance varies. The right plan takes this into account.

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Experts Consulted and Studied To Build Our Plans

Cameron Young

Founder - Center For Snake Conservation

Cameron has 30+ years experience with reptiles. He's personally reviewed our feeding plans and guided us to research well beyond other companies.

Ken Naggy

PhD - UCLA

We've utilized Ken's years of research to help establish the proper feeding quantities for captive reptiles. His work in the energetics of all animals was immensely helpful.

Wageningen University Team

A four person team did an in depth analysis of the diet of wild bearded dragons. This research is incredibly helpful to inform what is important for captive dragon's diets.

VCA Animal Hospitals

This group has written helpful feeding guides for well intending owners based on their knowledge and experience in the field.

Paul Raiti

Beverlie Animal Hospital

Paul's work in the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery provided us insight into well backed expert opinions on proper feeding and care.

Joeke Nijboer

PhD

With the help of Joeke's work, we built foundational elements of a proper reptile diet, and how to fine tune it for certain species.

Mark Mitchell

PhD

Mark has written well thought out guides outlining how important diversity is to pet diet. His work provided the cornerstone of our methodologies here.

Clifford Paul Warwick

PhD

Dr. Warwick has written extensively on the short comings of the pet trade and the needless death many pets face. He inspired much of our work in enabling better care for all owners.

Feed the Optimal Diet in a Snap.

Have Confidence In Your Care

With HerpCare, you'll know you're giving your pet the best care available. The hard work is done.

Save Time. Do it Better.

All the results, none of the effort. We've spent long hours researching the right care plan so you don't have to.

It's so easy.

Here's how it works.

Two Minute Sign Up.

We’ll gather some basic details about your dragon and where we should ship your deliveries. It’ll take you less than 2 minutes.

Weekly Deliveries.

Every week, you’ll receive a delivery for all your insect needs, including the following:

  • 4+ different types of insects
  • A detailed feeding plan and instructions
  • The perfect food quantity customized to your pet
  • Live arrival guarantee 

Deliver Top Tier Care.

Follow your provided feeding plan, and spend the time you save where it matters: enjoying your pet. It’s that simple.

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You Can't Put a Price on a Healthy Reptile, but We Tried.

Explore our plans

Bearded Dragon

Starting at just...

$13.99

per week

Leopard Gecko

Starting at just...

$10.99

per week

Crested Gecko

Starting at just...

$10.99

per week

All plans include free shipping!

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Need Other Care Help?

What’s my home’s humidity level – and why does it matter?

Author: saveonenergy.ca

This energy company writes an article describing the average humidity of homes. The article was not intended for reptile care use, but provides a good benchmark for your likely humidity levels inside your home. 

Behavior of the terrestrial nocturnal lizards Goniurosaurus kuroiwae kuroiwae and Eublepharis macularius (Reptilia: Eublepharidae) in a thigmothermal gradient

Authors: Yehudah Werner, William Mautz, Hiroo Takahashi, Hidetoshi Ota

This paper describes the behavior of leopard geckos when given the freedom to thermoregulate their internal temperature on a wide temperature gradient. Their results provide an estimate average temperature of the leopard gecko. 

Guidelines for Inspection of Companion and Commercial Animal Establishments

Authors: Clifford Warwick, Mike Jessop, Phillip Arena, Anthony Pilny and Catrina Steedman

This source, written by a team of veteran reptile researchers, outlines a guideline and system for establishing the minimum enclosure size for a variety of exotic animals. The authors note that this system is just an estimation. The estimation provided by their system is fairly in line with a number of anecdotal sources/best practices from other care authorities.

Natural history and biology of hobbyist choice leopard gecko

Author: Muhammad Sharif Khan

This source, written by a researcher at a Herpetological Laboratory in the leopard geckos native habitat of Pakistan provides a detailed account of the leopard geckos natural habit and behavior. Due to the political environment that has surrounded the country for many years, we are very grateful for Muhammad’s research.

Conversation and study with Cameron Young

Author: Cameron Young

This source is not a documented research paper. Rather it’s information provided direct from an expert. Cameron is the founder and executive director of The Center For Snake Conservation, and their educational wing My Nature Lab. He and his team have personally cared for thousands of reptiles with impressive effectiveness. They have a wealth of knowledge on the biology and proper care of reptiles. 

Does Loose Substrate Cause Impaction in Bearded Dragons and Other Reptiles?

Author: Mariah Healey

This blog post breaks down the common myth that loose substrate can cause impaction. There are a couple of points to this issue. Impaction is caused by improper care, not the loose substrate we advocate here. 

THERMOREGULATION IN REPTILES, A FACTOR IN EVOLUTION

Author: CHARLES M. BOGERT

This paper describes the thermoregulation of reptiles. By providing a basis and explanation of the adaptation from an evolutionary point of view, we quickly see the importance for captive care. 

Temperature and respiratory function in ectothermic vertebrates

Authors: Glauber S.F. da Silva, Mogens L. Glass, Luiz G.S. Branco

This paper describes the importance of proper thermoregulation in reptiles. It explores the biological processes in vertebrates that are impacted by internal temperature. With this research a strong case is made for the impotence of temperature in proper husbandry. 

Multiple Sources Used

Authors: N/A

We used a multi-source approach to ensure this temperature recommendation was spot on. We consulted My Nature Lab, who cares for hundreds of reptiles, including quite a few leopard geckos. Utlizing their guidelines,  research on their wild habitat, and their ideal temperature, we landed on this gradient as optimal. In theory, a different gradient could be just as successful at enablding proper theormoregulation. It should be well back and based in the research.

Lighting, Temperatures & Humidity Levels

Author: Mariah Healey

This blog style care guide pulls in various research and expert opinions. This page specifically reviews the author’s care guidelines for leopard gecko’s regarding lighting, temperature, and humidity. 

Temperature preference in geckos: Diel variation in juveniles and adults

Author: Yehudah Werner

This paper looks into the temperature preferences of leopard geckos throughout the entire day. They offered the animals a strong temperature gradient enabling the animals complete freedom to move around as they desired. The witnessed behaviors provide insight into the needs of geckos in captivity.

Guidance from My Nature Lab

Author: N/A

My Nature Lab is an educational non-profit that cares for well over 100 reptiles. Their team has more than 50 years of collective experience researching and caring for reptiles.  Through conversations with their animal care team and founder, we’ve learned from the very best. 

Effects of different vitamin D sources on blood biochemistry of bearded dragons (Pogona spp) and Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni)

Author: Nikoletta Hetényi, Zsolt Lang, Tamás Sátorhelyi, István Hullár

This research paper analyzes the effects of various Vitamin D sources and their effects on bearded dragons and tortoises. While this research is specific to these species, it does provide a well crafted overview of the risks of low Vitamin D in all reptiles.

The nocturnal leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) uses UVb radiation for vitamin D3 synthesis

Authors: D.G.A.B. Oonincx, J.J.E. Diehl, M. Kik, F.M. Baines, A.C. Heijboer, W.H. Hendriks, G. Bosch

This research paper analyzes the effects of UVB exposure to Vitamin D3 synthesis in leopard geckos. The results suggest minimal UVB exposure, only 2 hours a day, is sufficient for a significant increase in Vitamin D3 synthesis. The results also suggest dietary Vitamin D3 can be sufficient, with a couple of caveats.

Effects of vitamin D3 supplementation and UVb exposure on the growth and plasma concentration of vitamin D3 metabolites in juvenile bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

Authors: D.G.A.B. Oonincx, Y. Stevens, J.J.G.C. van den Borne, J.P.T.M. van Leeuwen, W.H. Hendriks

This research paper analyzes the effects of different Vitamin D sources in a common pet, the bearded dragon. This source was used however to determine the likelihood that feeder insects can provide adequate Vitamin D strictly from diet absorption. The source is very clear: many common feeder insects are lacking in Vitamin D. 

Insectivorous reptile nutrition and disease (Proceedings)

Author: Ryan S. De Voe, DVM, MSpVM, DACZM, DABVP

This article written by an experienced reptile vet, discusses the basics of insectivorous reptile nutrition, paying particular attention to the role vitamin A and Vitamin D play in a healthy diet. The author notes a handful of challenges in using supplementation to combat malnutrtional disorders. Notably, the varying quality, and possiblity of vitamin and mineral toxicity causes by overuse of supplements. 

Evaluating the Physiologic Effects of Short Duration Ultraviolet B Radiation Exposure in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Authors: Amelia Gould, DVM, Laure Molitor, MS, DVM, Kelly Rockwell, MZ, DVM, Megan Watson, DVM, MS, Mark A. Mitchell, DVM, MS, PhD, DECZM (Herpetology)

This research study seeks to determine if leopard geckos are able to synthesize Vitamin D with use of UVB like other reptiles. The study results found that leopard geckos exposed to only 2 hours of UVB are able to synthesize a significant amount of Vitamin D without dietary supplementation. The authors additional share some concerns over exposing leopard gecko’s to 12 hours of UVB, especially if the animal does not have access to shelter. 

SOURCE NAME

Explanation of how we used the source. This source provides clear guidance on the importance of diet diversity. It should also include a bit about the source. Mark Mitchell is a well known researcher and has published 200 book chapters.