Bowls & Dishes
Our selection of water-holding herp stuff




A Note Regarding Bowls, Dishes, and Water
The simple act of providing water has changed greatly over the years. In the late 90s & early 2000s, offering water often involved a simple bowl or mechanical dripper. Nowadays Misting Systems have become commonplace, recycling water features are relatively inexpensive, and other more creative methods are available. These simple additions can make a big difference in terms of both maintenance and quality of life for the animals we care for. Below, we'll briefly run-through our thoughts on the different methods available on the market.





Methods For Providing Water Vary By Species
Every animal is different, and many species have very specific requirements for their water needs. Different animal specialists offer different opinions on which methods are suitable for each species, and more than one opinion can be correct. Some Crested Gecko experts insist on offering a cup of water, while others rely solely on misting for that purpose. Some Chameleon enthusiasts keep recirculating waterfalls in their enclosures, others depend on misting systems or drippers. Leopard Geckos will actively lap-up water from water bowls and from decor after misting sessions. Even then, individual animals often seem to have their own opinion on the matter! In our experience, some Geckos despise being misted, while others will lift their heads, lean back, and appear to enjoy a refreshing shower. No matter what species you are working with, it's important to do an appropriate amount of research before proceeding. If you aren't sure which method would work best for your goals, we recommend contacting us or reaching out to an expert in that particular species for advice.



From right to left: Monkey Pod holding water, A custom water feature, and 4 Neoregelias holding water


Left: Monkey Pod holding water | Right A custom water feature
Water In Bioactive Terrariums (Basic)
If the animal species you are working with will lap up water from decor after a misting session, that's often the best method for most bioactive terrariums. The act of a thorough misting session can hydrate plants, microfauna, beneficial microbes/fungi in the substrate layer, and the animals all at once. The amount of misting will depend on your specific environmental requirements & terrarium specs. Sometimes natural wood decor (accent pods, plants, cork rounds, etc) can form natural pools of water for animals to drink from, too!


A paludarium with a water feature on display at NEHERP's showroom
Custom Water Features In Bioactive Terrariums
The amount of time & effort needed to build a water feature in a live vivarium correctly is comparatively immense compared to every other aspect of the build. For custom water features, we strongly recommend against using in-tank pumps/filters, large-drop water falls, and large open pools of (drainage layer) water. Each of these will cause drastically increased levels of maintenance, won't benefit the living environment, and is likely to contribute to its premature failure. A professionally built water feature would involve an external canister filter with an adjustable flow rate, no significant "drop" in water (to minimize even the slightest amount of splashing), and a flow of water which remains completely separate from the substrate layer. Unless your animal species requires a paludarium style environment, we almost always recommend against a custom water feature in live vivariums. A drop-in recirculating water fountain will often work better than most "custom" systems with in-tank pumps. Those are easy to remove for cleaning, won't splash too much, and the water remains separate from the rest of the enclosure.
Water In Standard (non-live) Terrariums
For animals outside of live vivarium environments, the act of providing water is pretty straightforward. We recommend following the advice of the breeder you supported when you purchased your animal(s). Standard terrariums often rely on basic water bowls, recirculating water fountains, drippers, or misting systems. As you'd imagine, offering water in a non-live terrarium is a comparatively simple issue to consider!
Page Contents:
Exo Terra Reptile Fountain
Exo Terra Rock Water Bowls
Lee's Mealworm Dish
Zoo Med Repti Rock Water Bowls
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Exo Terra Reptile Fountain
A recirculating water dish, perfect for picky drinkers!


Exo Terra Rock Water Bowls
Our best selling water bowls, available in five sizes




Lee's Mealworm Dish
A multi-use dish that comes apart for easy cleaning



Zoo Med Arboreal Feeder Cup
An effective and inexpensive feeder ledge solution


Shallow Cup
(Replacements)
Deep Cup
(Replacements)

Shallow Cup
(Replacements)
Deep Cup
(Replacements)
Shallow Cup
(Replacements)
Deep Cup
(Replacements)
Zoo Med Arboreal Feeding Platform
A more realistic feeder ledge solution


Shallow Cup
(Replacements)
Deep Cup
(Replacements)

Shallow Cup
(Replacements)
Deep Cup
(Replacements)
Shallow Cup
(Replacements)
Deep Cup
(Replacements)
Zoo Med Repti Rock Corner Water Bowls
Indestructible & easy to clean water bowls from Zoo Med




Zoo Med Repti Rock Water Bowls
Indestructible & easy to clean water bowls from Zoo Med






Cheese Alert! 
Mainstream Reptile Waterfalls

Our staff took a vote, and the majority agree that most off-the-shelf enclosed Reptile Waterfalls are cheesy. While they can be visually appealing, most mainstream reptile waterfalls seem to be more trouble than they are worth. We haven't found one which doesn't have at least one flaw serious enough to preclude it's inclusion into our inventory.
Before using an off-the-shelf waterfall for your reptile or amphibian, we'd recommend checking public reviews and/or consulting an enthusiast forum on social media. If your animal inhabitant doesn't require or directly benefit from the addition of a moving water feature, we'd strongly recommend not including one.
Things To Look Out For:
• Even minor splashing/flicking of water
• "Always On" LEDs which can be detrimental
• Difficult-to-clean pumps, tubing, & basins
• Tough-to-disassemble parts for cleaning
• Sharp edges, rough corners, pointy bits
While many of the above concerns are self-explanatory, the "slight splashing" aspect may be the most serious. If a water feature splashes water - even a tiny amount - and it runs constantly, that's a deal breaker for us. If an enclosed waterfall splashes/leaks out of it's own water basin even slightly, it's only a matter of time until it runs dry. That may not seem like a big deal, but most inexpensive water pumps will quickly burn out if they run dry. Beyond premature pump failure, slight splashing of water can make a swampy mess out of everything surrounding the water feature, which can lead to anaerobic soil/substrate conditions. Conditions like those can be harmful to animals and plants.
The "always on" aspects of some LEDs in waterfalls is a major drawback. While higher-end models offer the ability to turn off the LED(s), some brands force the light to run continuously while the pump is powered. That's bad for algae growth, may disrupt circadian rhythm, and looks a bit cheesy in our opinion.
Between algae growth, animal waste, stray substrate pieces, drowned feeder insects, and more - water features require frequent cleaning. Many mainstream brands make disassembly a cinch, but others can be problematic. Our advice is to ensure the whole unit can come apart for easy cleaning & routine sterilization. Models which don't come apart completely or have difficult-to-reach spots for cleaning aren't something we'd recommend.
Some ultra-cheesy water features are truly awful with sharp edges, rough corners, and even potentially "trapping" elements to them. If a model you are considering has any of these elements mentioned in online reviews while you are searching around, obviously avoid it. An animal's health and safety should come first.
Do you know of a reptile waterfall that isn't cheesy?
Let us know. We'd love to try it out and see if it'd be a good fit at NEHERP!
support@neherpetoculture.com