Welcome to Zoo Med Laboratories!
Here at Zoo Med, animals are our passion, and for 48 years we have made it our mission to supply the very best in exotic pet foods, reptile products, and reptile habitats. As a company made up of reptile hobbyists, we strive to provide the supplies and knowledge needed to successfully care for reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and other exotic pets to keep them happy and healthy.
The reptile supplies, accessories, and tools we manufacture are first tested at our office on the private collection of animals we house here. Many of us have desk pets, and many of those desks are wedged into places inbetween the 200+ terrariums, aquariums, paludariums, and other habitats at our facility. Inside our Animal Room we house over 90 species ranging from chameleons, geckos, skinks, frogs, fish, newts, tarantulas, and beetles. Outside in our Turtle Nirvana Greenhouse, we care for 30 species of turtles and tortoises, several of which are endangered.
Breeding and caring for these animals daily sets us apart by giving us a clear understanding of fellow hobbyists’ needs and those of their animals. We love our pets and truly are a company of pet people for pet people!
Whether you are an experienced reptile snake breeder or gecko breeder working with hundreds of animals, or you’re looking into picking up your first pet bearded dragon, Zoo Med is sure to have what you need.
Make zoomed.com your top resource for Care Sheets, UVB and Heat Lighting Guides, Reptile Substrate/Impaction Guides, Reptile Show Dates and more! Check our Social Media as well for the latest product releases, educational videos, and cute pictures of our baby animals!
To the reptile community,
As many of you know, on May 10th, 2024, nearly one year ago, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued Zoo Med a notice of noncompliance regarding 14 of our animal care-specific bulbs:
- Repti Basking Spot Lamp (50W, 75W, 100W)
- Repti Tuff™ Splashproof Halogen (50W, 75W, 90W)
- Daylight Blue™ Reptile Bulb 100W
- ReptiSun® Mega Compact 65W
- Avian Sun™ 5.0 UVB
- ReptiSun® 10.0 CFL 26W
- ReptiSun® 5.0 CFL 26W
- Ultra Sun® 6500K Super Daylight Mini CFL
- ReptiSun® 3-in-1
- Paludarium 3-in-1
This determination cited the Department’s efficiency standard for general service lamps (GSLs), which requires a minimum of 45 lumens per watt, regulations enacted on July 25, 2022 to improve the efficiency of household lighting. Despite proactively engaging with the DOE, our efforts to clarify the unique needs of animal husbandry received minimal response. Ultimately, we were the only company issued a formal noncompliance notice, and we were forced to immediately halt sales of the 14 affected products or face steep penalties.
Over the next 361 days, Zoo Med, backed with the support of the broader reptile community, including USARK, zoos, veterinarians, scientists, and lighting experts, worked tirelessly to advocate for our shared needs. Together with our legal counsel, we engaged in numerous email exchanges, and hours upon hours of video calls and detailed educational presentations with the DOE, making the case that these specialized bulbs are essential for the health and well-being of countless animal species.
We exhausted all of our resources to find suitable substitutes for the bulbs affected, but in the end, we and a number of lighting experts confirmed that there were no equivalent alternatives. In the meantime, we released two new products, the 40W and 125W Repti Basking Spot bulbs, which fell outside the designation of a GSL, to help meet the demand without compromising infrared output or spectral quality.
Then, on May 6th, 2025, just shy of one year from the original notice, the DOE announced they would not pursue enforcement against any seller of GSLs intended exclusively for the care of reptiles, amphibians, and small animals.
This is not just a win for Zoo Med, it’s a landmark victory for the entire reptile community. In an era where herpetoculture often faces new regulatory challenges, this decision underscores what we can accomplish together. It is incredibly rare for a federal agency to reconsider and amend a policy based on community advocacy, and it happened because of you.
However, this discretional enforcement statement is not a rule change. Zoo Med will continue fighting and advocating for a permanent exemption for animal care lamps and will continue to count on your help and support.
To everyone who raised their voice, showed their support, and advocated on behalf of herpetoculture, thank you. We could not have made it through this without you.
–Your friends at Zoo Med Labs
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Latest Products
Founder and CEO of Zoo Med Laboratories, Gary Bagnall has announced the launch of his new Museum of Aquarium and Pet History. This museum features a huge depository of over 3,000 items that were historically used to keep pets, such as antique aquariums, bird cages, neon signs, squirrel cages, etc. This is the largest collection of antique aquariums and pet products in the world, and we’re excited to finally share it publicly.
Years in Business
Animals Hatched Since 2009
Shows Attended Anually
$1,247,000
Amount Donated to USARK
