The Benefits of Naturalistic Reptile Habitats
Though artificial habitats are easier to set up and maintain, a naturalistic habitat will be far better for your herp if you can do it correctly. Replicating your herp's natural environment as closely as possible has a number of benefits, both physical and psychological, for your herp, and it is well worth the time and effort you put into it.
Benefits
Recreating your herp's natural environment provides environmental enrichment that is lacking in a simple enclosure with just a few accessories in it. It promotes natural behavior and contributes to normal activity levels, as it encourages your reptile to interact with its environment by climbing, hiding, burrowing, or performing other activities that it would in the wild.
A naturalistic terrarium will also help keep your reptiles healthy. Reptiles are very susceptible to stress-related illnesses, and one of the main causes of stress in reptiles is improper housing. Researching your reptile's habitat requirements and setting up an enclosure that mimics its natural environment will greatly reduce stress, which will keep it healthier.
Housing your herp in a naturalistic environment will also encourage proper eating and sleeping habits. Reptiles that are housed improperly or that aren't stimulated enough by their environment will often suffer from a decreased appetite or refuse food altogether. Failing to provide the right accessories and lighting will alter their photoperiods, disrupting their sleep patterns. Setting up a naturalistic terrarium will help your reptiles to eat properly as well as follow their natural waking and sleeping cycles.
Knowing What Setup to Use
Habitat requirements are naturally going to differ between species, some only a little, some drastically. A herp that is native to the rainforest or other tropical area is going to have vastly different housing needs than a herp native to the desert. This is why it is so important for you to research your herp's needs before bringing it home.
Look at pictures of its natural environment and note the natural plant life growing there. Research what the high and low temperatures are and how humid it gets. What food does it eat? How does a wild specimen find food? All of these things and more will help you to figure out which setup your herp will need.
The time you invest in researching your reptile's needs will ensure that it will be as healthy as possible, and it can greatly extend your reptile's life span. It is estimated that 90% of reptiles die within the first year, due mostly to improper housing. Spending time determining what your reptile's ideal habitat is cannot only keep it happier and healthier; it can save its life. | 
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