Reptile food
Reptile diets vary far more between species than most people expect, from live and frozen prey for many snakes and lizards, through to leafy greens and vegetables for tortoises and other herbivorous species, and specific pelleted diets for aquatic turtles. Getting the right diet for your specific species matters more than almost any other part of keeping a reptile.
Carnivorous and insectivorous species
Many snakes and larger lizards are fed whole prey items, typically frozen and thawed rather than live, which is both safer for the animal and generally considered better practice. Frozen prey removes the risk of an animal fighting back during feeding and is easier to source consistently in the correct sizes.
Smaller lizards and some amphibians are insectivorous, feeding on crickets, mealworms and similar live insects. These are usually gut-loaded — fed a nutritious diet themselves shortly before being offered — and often dusted with a calcium or vitamin supplement, since insects alone typically lack the calcium a reptile needs. Variety in the insects offered also matters, since relying on a single feeder insect species long-term can leave gaps that dusting alone does not fully close.
Herbivorous and omnivorous species
Tortoises and some lizards are largely or entirely herbivorous, needing a varied diet of leafy greens and appropriate vegetables rather than fruit-heavy meals, which are often too sugary for regular feeding despite being popular with the animal itself. A good spread of different safe greens rotated through the week tends to work better than repeating the same one or two vegetables.
Some species are omnivorous, needing a mix of plant matter and occasional protein such as insects, and the correct balance varies significantly by species and age. Prepared complete diets exist for several common pet reptile species and are a straightforward way to ensure a nutritionally balanced feed alongside fresh food.
Supplements and getting it right
Calcium and vitamin supplementation is important for most reptile species, particularly egg-laying females and growing juveniles, and is usually applied by lightly dusting food rather than given separately. How often depends heavily on species and diet, so check species-specific guidance rather than assuming one schedule fits every reptile.
Because reptile dietary needs are so specific to species, age and even the individual animal's health, it is worth researching your particular species properly, or asking an exotics-experienced vet, rather than assuming a generic reptile food covers what your pet actually needs. A water source appropriate to the species, whether that is a shallow dish or a more elaborate setup, sits alongside diet as part of getting feeding right day to day.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Exo Terra Reptile Uvb300 T5 24w Bulb
A 24W, 22-inch T5 UVB300 bulb for reptile terrariums, UVA and UVB combined
£21.99
Pettex Reptile Tortoise
Calcium-added tortoise substrate, 10 litres, for arid-habitat tortoises and lizards
£9.99
Exo Terra Reptile Uvb300 T5 8w Bulb
A 12in T5 UVB bulb for desert and open-savannah reptiles that bask in full sun
£24.99
Johnson's Clean 'N' Safe Reptile
A 500ml disinfectant spray for vivaria and reptile housing, unscented and uncoloured
£4.99
Pettex Reptile Substrate Beech Chip
Kiln-dried beech chip substrate for dry or humid reptile and small mammal set-ups
£8.49
Pettex Reptile Substrate Orchid Bark
A 10 litre bag of natural orchid bark, for humidity in a tropical vivarium
£8.69
Beaphar Deep Clean Disinfectant Spray for Reptile & Amphibian Housing
A 750ml disinfectant spray for reptile and amphibian housing, kills 99.9% of bacteria
£9.99
Pettex Reptile Herbivore
A 10 litre pressed-pellet substrate for tortoises and other herbivorous reptiles
£11.49
Exo Terra Reptile Uvb300 T5 39w Bulb
A 39W T5 UVB bulb for desert and savannah reptiles, 14% UVB output
£24.99
Exo Terra Reptile Uvb100 T5 24w Bulb
A 22-inch T5 24W UVB100 bulb for nocturnal and shade-dwelling reptiles
£21.99
Exo Terra Reptile Uvb200 T5 8w Bulb
A 12in T5 UVB tube at 7% output (Ferguson Zone 2) for occasional-basking reptiles
£23.99
Exo Terra Reptile Uvb100 T5 8w Bulb
A 12in T5 UVB bulb for shade-dwelling, nocturnal and crepuscular reptiles
£23.99
Common questions
- Do reptiles need live food?
- It depends on the species. Many carnivorous reptiles are fed frozen-thawed prey rather than live, which is generally considered safer and easier to manage. Insectivorous species typically do need live insects, gut-loaded and often dusted with a supplement before feeding.
- How often should I feed my reptile?
- This varies enormously by species, age and size — some snakes eat every week or two, while many lizards and tortoises feed more frequently. Follow guidance specific to your species rather than a generic schedule, since overfeeding or underfeeding are both genuine risks.
- Do reptiles need calcium supplements?
- Most do, particularly species fed mainly on insects, which are typically low in calcium on their own. Supplementation usually involves lightly dusting food before feeding, though how often depends on species and diet, so check guidance specific to your reptile.
- Can tortoises eat fruit?
- Most tortoise species can eat small amounts of fruit occasionally, but their diet should be built mainly around leafy greens and appropriate vegetables rather than fruit, which is generally too sugary to form a regular part of their feeding.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.