Zilla Snake Habitat Accessory Kit

I’m a little surprised at Zilla for this kit — not in the best way. Zilla is usually a pretty reptile-involved company, known for employing reptile enthusiasts, so I expected a bit more from this “deluxe” setup. There are several items included, some better than others. First, the two dome lamps are decent quality — not top-tier, but solid, with on/off switches and mounting clips. It also includes a UVA bulb (note: not UVB), which is fine for king snakes, corn snakes, and other easy-to-keep colubrids, so that part makes sense. The odd choice is the black light for night heat. I’d never recommend this type of light — snakes need darkness at night, and they perceive light differently than we do. So that one’s a no-go for me. It does come with an under-tank heat pad, which is great and far more appropriate than the black light. However, it really needs a thermostat to run safely — honestly, that’s more important than almost anything else in the kit. The included hide and shallow water dish are fine for baby or young snakes, though they’ll outgrow them eventually. The humidity and temperature gauge could be upgraded — it’s not the most accurate or easy to read — but it’s probably serviceable for forgiving species. There’s also a bottle of Shed-Ease, which I’d personally trade out for a better temp gauge or bulb. I’ve never found it necessary — if a snake has shedding trouble, a soak in plain warm water works just as well, without the risk of them drinking chemicals or salts. Lastly, the bedding is good quality, though there’s not quite enough of it. It looks like rebranded Sani-Chip, which is a nice touch. Overall, I wouldn’t call this the best kit out there, but it does have some positives for newcomers who need supplies quickly. About half of it could be swapped for better options, and for something marketed as a Deluxe Habitat Accessory Kit, it’s a bit underwhelming.