DDK Pets N Points

Native to the rocky, semi-arid deserts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Leopard Gecko prefers low ambient humidity, around 30%-40%, though they need a humid hide box in their enclosure to help with shedding!🏜️💧

Unlike the Day Geckos we looked at previously, these guys are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk!🌅🦎

Diet-wise, they are entirely different from the geckos we looked at the other day. These geckos are strictly insectivorous and thrive on a variety of live insects like mealworms, crickets, silkworms, and Black Soldier Fly Larvae to name a few.

Similar to the Standing's Day Gecko, the Leopard Gecko requires a basking spot of 90-95°F for proper digestion, and an ambient daytime temperature of 75-80°F. While they don't require intense UVB like a Day Gecko, providing a low-level UVB light is highly beneficial!🌞💡

They are terrestrial floor-dwellers and need plenty of horizontal space, ground hides, and cork flats instead of tall branches. A long, wide terrestrial setup is required for these guys to truly thrive.🪨🌵

Being incredibly docile and much slower-moving than our arboreal geckos, they make fantastic hands-on pets!

The best thing about these guys is their permanent little smiles 😀.

Hailing from the dry, arid forests of southwestern Madagascar, the Standing's Day Gecko prefers lower humidity compared to other day geckos, around 40%-65%, though they still need a light daily misting for hydration.

Unlike the Gargoyle Geckos we looked at previously, these Day Geckos are diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day!☀️🦎

Diet-wise, they are very similar to the Gargoyle Gecko and alot of other geckos. They are also omnivorous and do great on a mix of prepared reptile fruit diets (like Pangea or Repashy) and a variety of insects.🦗🐛🫐🍓

The Standing's Day Gecko requires a basking spot of 90-95°F, an ambient daytime temperature of 75-80°F, and proper UVB lighting to really thrive.🌞💡

They are active climbers and need plenty of vertical space, thick bamboo tubes, cork bark, and sturdy branches. A vertical arboreal setup is required for these guys to really enjoy their enclosure. 🌴

Being a bit on the flighty side and very quick, these geckos make for an amazing reptile for a bioactive display tank!

Check out the vibrant, bright green coloration on this little Australian Green Tree Frog! He is really living up to his name being all green and whatnot, although I have yet to hear him speak with an Australian accent, Anyway....

🐸 Frog Fact: These guys are also widely known in the hobby as "dumpy frogs" due to their tendency to become a bit overweight in captivity. As they grow, they develop prominent fat deposits above their eyes and along their bodies, giving them a pudgy, relaxed, and "dumpy" appearance!

🌿 A Quick Care Snapshot:

🔹 Diet: These frogs are strictly insectivorous. They thrive on gut-loaded and calcium/multi-vitamin dusted crickets, and occasional treats like hornworms.

🔹 Temp: Ambient daytime temperatures of 75-80°F, with a localized low-wattage warm spot around 82-85°F.

🔹 Humidity: 50-70%. They tolerate lower humidity better than most tree frogs, but still require daily misting and a large, shallow water dish for soaking.

🔹 Habitat: Arboreal (tall enclosures). Because they are large, heavy-bodied frogs, they need sturdy climbing branches, thick cork bark tubes, and broad-leafed live plants that can support their weight.

Another fantastic centerpiece if you are looking to do a lush, bioactive terrarium build! We carry live plants, cork bark, and supplies to get you ready to set one up!

Every few days, we’ll be highlighting an animal in the shop looking for a new home!

Today we have one of our Gargoyle Geckos!

Check out the deep orange and light grey coloration on this beauty, along with that bold dorsal striping, even more of a stunner when fully fired up!

🦎 Gecko Fact! They get their name from the small cranial bumps on their head that resemble stone gargoyles. A bonus fact, unlike Crested Geckos, if they drop their tail, they can actually regrow it!

🌿 A Quick Care Snapshot

🔹 Diet: Prepared reptile fruit mixes (like Pangea or Repashy) & occasional calcium/multi-vitamin dusted insects.

🔹 Temp: Ambient room temperature (72-78°F)

🔹 Humidity:50-70% daytime humidity with a spike to 80%+ at night for proper hydration and shedding.

🔹 Habitat: Arboreal (tall enclosures). They thrive in bioactive setups with live plants, climbing vines, and cork bark.

If you are looking to do a bioactive terrarium these guys are the perfect choice!

Did you know Bearded Dragons actually have little teeth? 🦎🦷

Most of the time, they keep their pearly whites hidden. However, when they open their mouths wide enough, you can see a row of tiny teeth!

Their dental setup is quite unique and features two different types of teeth.

🦷 PLEURODONT TEETH
At the very front of their mouth, they have what are known as "pleurodont" teeth. Similar to a shark, if a beardie loses one of these front teeth, it can grow right back!

🦷 ACRODONT TEETH
The rest of the teeth running along the sides of the mouth are called "acrodont" teeth. These teeth are triangular, serrated and fused directly to the crest of the jawbone to create a continuous saw like edge. Since they are completely fused to the bone rather than sitting in a socket, they are strictly one and done and will not grow back if lost, broken, or worn down.

🪥 Just like us, bearded dragons can get plaque buildup, tartar, and even gingivitis. Since we can't exactly hand them a tiny tube of toothpaste and toothbrush, keeping their mouths healthy comes down to proper diet and care.

🦗 Crunchy, hard shelled feeders like super worms and crickets and tough, fibrous leafy greens naturally scrape the plaque off their teeth as they chew. A varied diet is key, feeding too many soft insects like waxworms or sugary fruits can cause plaque buildup and tooth rot over time. Fruit should be a treat and fed sparingly! 🍓🫐

We just got a fresh batch of Salvinia minima in the shop! 🌿

Grown in a sterile environment, no algae, no pests, no snails!🚫🐌🚫

Salvinia minima is the perfect floating plant to help absorb excess nutrients in your water column and provide a beautiful, natural canopy for your fish!🐟

🌿 Fresh Plant Delivery! 🌿

We just got a massive shipment of live aquatic plants!

Trays packed with potted plants and fresh 1-2-Grow tissue cultures ready to grow, check out some of the species on this order!👇

🌱 Micranthemum tweediei 'Monte Carlo'

🍀 Salvinia minima

🌿 Limnophila aquatica

🪴 Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red'

🍃 A great selection of Anubias barteri (including 'Coin Leaf', 'Petite', and var. nana 'Kirin')

🪴 Beautiful Bucephalandra varieties ('Kedagang', pygmaea 'Wavy Green', sp. 'Red', and sordidula 'Blue')

🌱 ...plus plenty of Echinodorus, Hygrophila, Cardamine lyrata, and Staurogyne repens!

Meet Salem!

A 4-year-old female bearded dragon with a great attitude and a love for food. 😅

She is currently keeping a close eye on her terrarium remodel and being very patient with the whole process!