Basic Caging

Rule number one in caging is make sure your critter can't get out provided you don't leave the cage open. I worked at a pet store that had green and bahaman anoles, house geckos and a very surly Tokay Gecko roaming the back of the reptile room due to inadequate caging. Nevermind selling animals that are very unhandleable, so were more likely to get lost anyway.

About once a month we would have to round up the Ball Pythons again because someone left the locks off and they pushed the cage open again... My first week there I found a Red Tail Boa wandering the fish department, apparently they hadn't been in stock for weeks. Ribbon snakes got out a lot too.

Anyway, a secure lid is key, as is no holes. Aquariums made for fish can work well, though humidity can be an issue for some animals. Any kind of animal you get is going to need at least one hide and a water bowl (size depending on animal, many desert critters can't swim, so shallow is key.)

Substrates and cage decor are largely determined by animal type and your own preferences. Ilike driftwood and rocks interspersed with flower pot hides. I also stick some very, very hardy plants in with my tropicals. I skip the terrarium plants at pet stores though, and get plants like pothos from home improvement stores. As long as you flush the dirt, i.e. water heavily and wash the leaves carefully you're unlikely to have bug or pesticide problems. I don't keep herbivores though, and plants in that case would likely be a no-no.

Heating is also a big issue, but other than NEVER using a heat rock, it largely depends on species.

Rack Systems

Many breeders or serious collectors keep their critters in rubbermaid or sterilite tubs for ease of cleaning and space saving. I've considerd it a few times for space saving, but invariably decide against it. I prefer to see my critters. They're not exactly display animals, but they also aren't a collection, or a breeding hobby. I keep them because I like them, can afford it and I think they're cute. Keeping them in racks would defeat several of my purposes.