Common questions about our guides and exotic pet care — answered directly.
If you're drawn to snakes, the Ball Python Guide is excellent — but feeding refusal is a reality every ball python owner faces. Corn snakes are even more beginner-friendly.
Hedgehogs have one critical requirement (temperature) that must be met — see the Hedgehog Guide. Crested geckos need no heating equipment and are the easiest reptile to feed (commercial diet exists). Bearded dragons need UVB — non-negotiable. Blue-tongue skinks are the "lap dog" of lizards and genuinely tolerate handling better than most reptiles.
All ExoGuide guides are instant PDF downloads — readable on any device (phone, tablet, laptop) and fully printable. Each guide includes a print-ready emergency quick-reference card designed to be kept near the enclosure.
After purchasing on Gumroad, you'll receive a download link by email immediately. The PDF downloads directly to your device.
If you don't find your guide genuinely useful within 30 days of purchase, email us at hello@exoguide.io for a full refund.
Free care sheets give you ranges: "temperatures between 80–90°F." ExoGuide gives you specific numbers, the reasoning behind them, and what to do when things go wrong.
We cover the hard questions: Why isn't my ball python eating? What does a retained shed on my gecko's toe actually mean and how urgent is it? When should I go to the vet vs. wait? The free resources hedge everything. ExoGuide answers the question.
Use an under-tank heater (UTH) on a thermostat — never without a thermostat. Warm side surface temperature (not air temperature) is what matters most for digestion, immune function, and behavior.
Babies (0–4 months): Daily. 5–10 small crickets or mealworms (¼" size).
Juveniles (4–12 months): Every other day. 6–8 crickets (½" size).
Adults (12+ months): 2–3 times per week. 5–8 crickets or dubia roaches (¾" size).
Dust prey with calcium powder (no D3) at every feeding. Add D3 twice weekly if no UVB lighting. Remove uneaten prey within 20 minutes.
Ball python feeding refusal has 12 common causes. The most frequent:
The Ball Python Guide's Chapter 3 covers all 12 causes with specific solutions for each.
Use a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) on a thermostat if your room drops below 72°F. The CHE produces heat without light and won't disrupt their sleep cycle. This temperature requirement is the single most important thing to understand before getting a hedgehog.
In most homes — no. Crested geckos thrive at room temperature: 72–78°F ambient, with a safe range of 65–82°F. This is one of the things that makes them so appealing to beginners.
The most reliable early indicator is weight loss. Weigh your pet weekly and track trends. A 5%+ weight loss over two weeks without being in shed warrants veterinary attention.
Other warning signs: open-mouth breathing or wheezing (respiratory infection), retained shed on toes or eyes, loss of appetite beyond normal seasonal variation, lethargy at times when normally active, and visible swelling or discoloration of skin.
Yes — for anything beyond basic husbandry issues. Most general practice veterinarians don't have training in reptile or small mammal medicine. A general vet may mean well but can misdiagnose or mistreat exotic species.
Find an ARAV-certified veterinarian at arav.org before you need one — not during an emergency.
Yes. ExoGuide now covers 7 species: Leopard Gecko, Ball Python, Hedgehog, Crested Gecko, Corn Snake, Bearded Dragon, and Blue-Tongue Skink. Each is a separate, species-specific guide — not a generic reptile care sheet.
50+ pages of expert care advice, printable checklists, and an emergency quick-reference card. Instant PDF download.
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