Reptile Care Log: How to Track Feeding, Sheds and Habitat

A refused meal, a stuck shed or a slow loss of weight rarely looks serious on the day. Reptiles are good at hiding problems, which is why experienced keepers write everything down — feeding, weight, sheds and the temperatures in the enclosure. When something does go wrong, a reptile vet will ask exactly these questions, and a log lets you answer them precisely.

What to Include

• Reptile profile — species and morph, sex, hatch date, where and when you got them
• Enclosure setup — dimensions, heat sources, thermostat, UVB type and distance, substrate
• Target care parameters — the temperatures and humidity your vet or breeder advised, written down once
• Feeding log — date, food or prey, size, quantity and whether it was eaten, refused or partly eaten
• Supplement schedule — which supplements on which days
• Weight tracker — the earliest warning sign of a problem in most reptiles
• Shed log — start and end dates, and whether the shed came off completely
• Temperature and humidity log — basking spot, warm side, cool side and night readings
• UVB and equipment replacement dates — bulbs lose output long before they stop lighting

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not weighing regularly — gradual weight loss is easy to miss by eye
• Forgetting when the UVB bulb was installed
• Only noting refused meals, not the ones that were eaten — you lose the pattern
• Trusting one thermometer instead of checking both ends of the enclosure
• Leaving a sitter without written feeding and misting instructions

Frequently Asked Questions