The short version: Some links on ScalyPal are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking one, we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. This never changes what we recommend or how we rank products.

How this works

ScalyPal is free to read. There are no paywalls and no display advertising networks tracking you across the web. To fund the site, we participate in affiliate programmes run by retailers and affiliate networks.

When an article links to a product — a thermostat, a UVB fixture, a substrate, a hide, a starter kit — that link may contain a tracking identifier. If you click it and make a purchase, the retailer pays us a small percentage of the sale. You pay exactly the same price you would pay by visiting the retailer directly.

Programmes we participate in

ScalyPal may participate in the following affiliate programmes, among others:

  • Amazon Associates — As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Chewy affiliate programme
  • PetSmart and other pet retailer affiliate programmes
  • Awin, Impact, Skimlinks, and Sovrn Commerce — affiliate networks that represent many retailers

This list may change as our retail partnerships evolve. The disclosure you are reading applies to any affiliate relationship we hold.

Does this affect our recommendations?

No. Editorial independence is the entire point of ScalyPal, and it is the reason you can trust anything here.

  • We do not accept payment for a positive review, a favourable ranking, or inclusion in a buying guide.
  • We do not let commission rates determine which products we mention. Where two products are equivalent, we recommend the one that is better for the animal — even if it pays us nothing.
  • We do not publish products we would not use ourselves, and we will tell you when a cheaper option is the right choice.
  • We recommend against products when that is the honest answer. Some of our guidance explicitly tells you not to buy things — red night bulbs, unregulated heat mats, calcium sand, and undersized enclosures all appear in our articles as things to avoid.

Our Methodology page describes how we research and review husbandry recommendations.

Identifying affiliate links

Affiliate links are not visually distinguished from ordinary links, so that reading is not interrupted. You can assume that any outbound link to a retailer from a ScalyPal article is an affiliate link. You can always see where a link goes before clicking it, and you are never required to use our links — visiting a retailer directly works just as well for you.

Prices and availability

We are not able to guarantee that prices, stock levels, or product specifications shown or referenced on ScalyPal are current. Prices change constantly and vary by region. Always confirm the current price, contents, and compatibility on the retailer's own product page before purchasing. Where we do quote a price or range, it is a general indication at the time of writing, not an offer.

Product safety

An affiliate relationship is not an endorsement of a product's safety for your specific animal. Electrical equipment — heat mats, thermostats, ceramic heat emitters, and lighting — must be used with a thermostat and according to the manufacturer's instructions. See our care guides and, where relevant, consult a qualified exotic-animal veterinarian.

Questions

If you have a question about how ScalyPal is funded, or you believe a recommendation has been improperly influenced, please tell us — we want to know:

Email: [email protected]
Post: ScalyPal Media LLC, 2847 Keeper's Trail, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78704, United States

See also: Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · Our Methodology