The Aquarium Adviser
Reptiles & Amphibian

Photo by Steve-©-foto on Openverse (CC BY 2.0)

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Reptiles & Amphibian

A softshell turtle with a flat leathery shell resting on sand near water
Reptiles & Amphibian

Softshell Turtle Care Guide

Softshell turtles have a flat, leathery shell instead of hard scutes and need a soft sand substrate, a large tank, and cautious handling. Here's what beginners should know before getting one.

Photo by archer10 (Dennis) on Openverse (CC BY-SA 2.0)

An axolotl salamander with feathery external gills in an aquarium alone
Reptiles & Amphibian

Axolotl Tank Mates: What Can Safely Live With an Axolotl

Axolotls are opportunistic predators that need cold water most fish can't tolerate. Here's an honest look at why solo housing is usually best, and the few tankmate options experienced keepers actually recommend.

Photo by Tim Sheerman-Chase on Openverse (CC BY 2.0)

A paludarium terrarium with a mossy land area beside a shallow water pool
Reptiles & Amphibian

Paludarium Setup Guide for Beginners

A paludarium blends a land zone and a water zone in one enclosure. This beginner's guide covers land-to-water ratios, false bottoms, drainage, filtration, plants, and which animals actually thrive in one.

Photo by trekkyandy on Openverse (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), or stinkpot, walking along the bottom of a shallow tank
Reptiles & Amphibian

Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) Care Guide: Tank Size, Diet & Lifespan

The common musk turtle, or stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus), is one of the smallest US aquatic turtles but still needs real space, shallow walkable water, and can live 20 to over 50 years - here's the complete care guide.

Photo by Laurent Lebois © on Openverse (CC BY 2.0)

An African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) resting on the bottom of an aquarium, showing its webbed hind feet with claws
Reptiles & Amphibian

African Clawed Frog Care Guide: Setup, Diet & Dwarf Frog ID

African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) grow up to 5 inches, live 15-20+ years, and are illegal to own without a permit in several US states - here's full care plus how to tell them apart from the smaller African dwarf frog.

Photo by kuribo on Openverse (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A Chinese fire belly newt (Cynops orientalis) resting on a rock in a paludarium with both water and land areas
Reptiles & Amphibian

Fire Belly Newt Care Guide: Tank Setup, Diet & Handling Tips

Fire belly newts (Cynops orientalis) need cool 60-72°F water, a semi-aquatic paludarium, and careful hand hygiene since their skin secretes tetrodotoxin - here's the full setup, diet, and lifespan guide.

Photo by Kennyannydenny on Openverse (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Red-Eared Slider Turtle Tank Setup: Size, Filtration, and Care Guide
Reptiles & Amphibian

Red-Eared Slider Turtle Tank Setup: Size, Filtration, and Care Guide

A complete red-eared slider tank setup guide covering gallon-per-inch sizing as your turtle grows, basking and UVB requirements, filtration, diet, and the legal rules every owner should know.

Photo by Shadow Ayush on Openverse (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Oriental fire-bellied toad (Bombina orientalis) with its bright orange and black mottled belly, resting on a leaf in a semi-aquatic paludarium setup.
Reptiles & Amphibian

Fire Belly Toad Care: Tank Setup, Diet, and Handling Safety

Everything you need to set up a fire belly toad paludarium the right way: enclosure size, temperature and humidity, diet, and how to handle these toads safely around their mildly toxic skin.

Photo by Ryan Somma on Openverse (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A pink axolotl resting on sand at the bottom of a cool-water aquarium
Reptiles & Amphibian

Axolotl Care Guide: Tank Setup, Water Parameters, and Diet

Everything a first-time keeper needs on axolotl tank size, water temperature, substrate, and diet, plus why these fully aquatic salamanders need cooler water than typical tropical fish.

Photo by Tim Sheerman-Chase on Openverse (CC BY 2.0)