Hide and Seek: Always Add "Clutter" To a Reptile Enclosure!

Reptiles are fascinating animals, and it can be tempting to want to stare at your pet all day. While being able to see your reptile at all times may be exciting and enriching for you, it may not be the best for them.

Most reptile species tend to be shy, especially smaller species that are frequently prey for larger animals in the wild. By providing clutter, your pet will feel more secure in their environment as they have more ways to hide if they do not want to be seen.

Gojira the crested gecko hiding in a philodendron

What is Clutter?

We tend to think of the word “clutter” in a negative way, such as a room full of random belongings with little space to move around in. For reptiles, clutter looks more like being surrounded by plants, branches/logs, and rocks. Including extra plants, real or fake, to fill up space in an enclosure not only provides additional enrichment if your pet decides to investigate them, but also gives them another way to hide and feel more secure in their enclosure.

I added more coverage to my reptile’s enclosure, and now I rarely see them!

If your reptile is hiding frequently and isn’t displaying any signs of illness, this is a positive thing! It means that you have added enough coverage for your pet to feel secure. For a lot of reptiles, once they feel comfortable enough in their environment they will begin to rest in more exposed areas of their enclosure.

Twiggy the leopard gecko sleeping in the open

Conclusion

Adding clutter can be one of the most fun parts of decorating a reptile enclosure! The possibilities are endless, and can result in a beautiful naturalistic enclosure that is both pleasing to look at and benefits your pet. Looking at the landscapes from your reptile’s natural habitat or biome can be a great source of inspiration when deciding how to incorporate clutter into the enclosure.