Reptile husbandry courses

Learn the way a rescue learns.

Self-paced courses written from clinical and rescue experience — built so a first-time owner can set up an animal correctly, and an experienced keeper can sharpen what they already know.

Enrollment is opening soon. Browse the syllabi below and email us if you’d like to be notified.

A naturalist's study scene — open notebook, stoneware mug, reading glasses, and a small naturalistic leopard-gecko vivarium in warm window light.
Courses
Catalog

Thirteen courses to start

Enrollment opening soon Leopard Gecko

Leopard Gecko Husbandry 101

End-to-end setup, feeding, and behavioral observation for a calm, thriving leopard gecko.

Difficulty
Beginner
Length
~4 hours, self-paced
Price
$49 (intro)
  • Enclosure dimensions, substrate, and hides
  • Heating and lighting (with measurements)
  • Diet, supplementation, and feeding schedule
  • Behavioral signs of stress vs. comfort
Enrollment opening soon Crested Gecko

Crested Gecko Setup & Care

Vertically oriented vivarium design, humidity management, and feeding for crested geckos.

Difficulty
Beginner
Length
~4 hours, self-paced
Price
$49 (intro)
  • Bioactive vs. clean-up-only vivarium design
  • Humidity gradients and misting schedule
  • Diet and supplementation
  • Common health pitfalls
Enrollment opening soon Ball Python

Ball Python Welfare & Husbandry

Naturalistic ball python setups, feeding behavior, and reading the signals of a stressed animal.

Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate
Length
~5 hours, self-paced
Price
$59 (intro)
  • Enclosure size, clutter, and cover
  • Heating gradients and basking
  • Feeding and refusal management
  • Behavioral and welfare assessment
Enrollment opening soon Bearded Dragon

Bearded Dragon Care Essentials

UVB, basking temperatures, diet through life stages, and dragon-specific welfare cues.

Difficulty
Beginner
Length
~5 hours, self-paced
Price
$59 (intro)
  • UVB selection and replacement schedule
  • Basking temperatures and thermoregulation
  • Diet across juvenile / sub-adult / adult
  • Common pathology (MBD, impaction, parasites)
Enrollment opening soon Snakes — general

Quarantine & Intake Protocols

The quarantine standard we use in rescue intake: parasitology, weight tracking, behavioral observation, and timeline.

Difficulty
Intermediate
Length
~3 hours, self-paced
Price
$39 (intro)
  • Quarantine enclosure design
  • Parasitology workflow and vet referral
  • Weight, behavior, and shedding tracking
  • Clearance criteria for transition
Enrollment opening soon All species

UVB & Heating Deep Dive

How UVB works, how to choose fixtures, photoperiod basics, and how to build accurate temperature gradients.

Difficulty
All levels
Length
~3 hours, self-paced
Price
$39 (intro)
  • UVB spectrum, UVI targets per species
  • Fixture selection and replacement
  • Heat sources and thermostatic control
  • Measurement equipment and routine checks
Enrollment opening soon Milk Snake

Milk Snake Welfare & Husbandry

Naturalistic milk snake habitats, feeding strategies, and understanding the behaviors of a confident, healthy colubrid.

Difficulty
Beginner
Length
~4.5 hours, self-paced
Price
$59 (intro)
  • Enclosure sizing and environmental enrichment
  • Temperature gradients and seasonal cycling
  • Feeding response, prey sizing, and common refusals
  • Stress signals, defensive behavior, and welfare assessment
Enrollment opening soon Kingsnake

Kingsnake Welfare & Husbandry

Designing enriching kingsnake enclosures, preventing common husbandry mistakes, and interpreting normal versus stress-related behaviors.

Difficulty
Beginner
Length
~4.5 hours, self-paced
Price
$59 (intro)
  • Enclosure design, hides, and climbing opportunities
  • Heating, humidity, and regional species differences
  • Feeding behavior and managing strong feeding responses
  • Behavioral assessment and recognizing chronic stress
Enrollment opening soon Corn Snake

Corn Snake Welfare & Husbandry

Creating enriching corn snake habitats while supporting healthy growth, feeding, and long-term welfare.

Difficulty
Beginner
Length
~4.5 hours, self-paced
Price
$59 (intro)
  • Enclosure size, enrichment, and escape prevention
  • Heating, humidity, and seasonal considerations
  • Feeding schedules and body condition monitoring
  • Reading behavior, activity levels, and welfare indicators
Enrollment opening soon Western Hognose

Western Hognose Welfare & Husbandry

Naturalistic care for western hognose snakes, including burrowing behavior, feeding challenges, and welfare-focused husbandry.

Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate
Length
~5 hours, self-paced
Price
$59 (intro)
  • Deep substrate, burrowing, and enclosure design
  • Heat gradients, lighting, and humidity management
  • Feeding refusals and encouraging healthy feeding behavior
  • Understanding bluffing, defensive displays, and welfare assessment
Enrollment opening soon Boa

Boa Welfare & Husbandry

Evidence-based care for boas, emphasizing enclosure design, environmental stability, and long-term health.

Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate
Length
~5.5 hours, self-paced
Price
$69
  • Large enclosure planning and environmental complexity
  • Temperature gradients, humidity, and shedding success
  • Feeding management and healthy body condition
  • Behavioral observation and identifying stress or illness
Enrollment opening soon Tarantula

Tarantula Welfare & Husbandry

Species-appropriate tarantula care focused on enclosure design, environmental needs, and recognizing healthy behavior.

Difficulty
Beginner
Length
~4 hours, self-paced
Price
$49
  • Terrestrial vs. arboreal enclosure design
  • Moisture management, ventilation, and temperature
  • Feeding practices and molt management
  • Stress behaviors, defensive postures, and welfare assessment
Enrollment opening soon Jumping Spider

Jumping Spider Welfare & Husbandry

Providing enriching care for jumping spiders through proper enclosure design, nutrition, and behavioral observation.

Difficulty
Beginner
Length
~3.5 hours, self-paced
Price
$39
  • Bioactive-inspired enclosures and environmental enrichment
  • Lighting, humidity, and hydration
  • Feeding live prey and monitoring growth through molts
  • Recognizing normal curiosity, hunting behavior, and signs of stress

*All adopters will receive the species-specific training for the animal being adopted. Every adoption requires completion of the species-specific course. Certificate must be presented prior to taking the animal home.

Want to be notified when enrollment opens? Email secondshedreptiles@gmail.com.

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