Husbandry log for reptile keepers

ConsumerMobile1 weekReact NativeExpoSQLite

The idea

Reptile keepers rarely stop at one animal, and each species has different temperature, humidity, and feeding targets. Records live on sticky notes taped to enclosures or in a binder that never makes it to the vet. Problems like a ball python refusing food for eight weeks or chronic low humidity get noticed late, when they are expensive.

The wedge is preloaded species targets. A generic pet log makes the keeper define everything; HerpLog knows a leopard gecko’s ranges out of the box, so an out-of-range temp reading or an overdue feeding becomes an automatic warning rather than something the keeper must infer. That turns passive logging into early detection.

Who pays

The buyer is a multi-animal keeper who spent 500-plus dollars per enclosure and pays exotic vet fees that start at 100 dollars a visit. One-time 15 dollars (or free up to three animals) fits a community suspicious of subscriptions. Distribution: r/reptiles and species subreddits, reptile expo vendor tables, and exotic vets who would love clients to arrive with a feeding history for once.

MVP scope

  • Animal profiles linked to preloaded species care targets for 25 common species
  • Two-tap quick-log tiles: feed, shed, weight, temps/humidity, defecation, note
  • Automatic warnings when logs fall outside species ranges
  • Per-animal PDF vet history export with weight chart
  • Fully offline on SQLite with file-based backup
  • Skip for v1: cloud sync and accounts, breeding/clutch management, sensor integrations, care wikis
// Build prompt — paste into Cursor / Claude Code / Lovable / Bolt
Build HerpLog, a React Native (Expo) app for reptile keepers, fully offline-first on SQLite because reptile rooms often have no signal and keepers do rounds with the phone in one hand.

Data model: Animal (species, morph, hatch date, acquisition date, photo) linked to a species care profile. Preload care profiles for the 25 most-kept species (ball python, leopard gecko, crested gecko, bearded dragon, corn snake, etc.) with target ranges: basking and cool-side temps, humidity range, feeding interval by age class, and expected shed frequency.

Core flow: each animal card shows quick-log tiles: Fed (prey type and size, took/refused), Shed (complete/stuck), Weight, Temps/Humidity reading, Defecation, Note. Every tile is a two-tap log with sensible defaults from the last entry.

The value layer is warnings: compare logs against the species profile and surface flags on the animal card, e.g. humidity readings below range during a shed cycle, feeding refusals beyond the normal interval, or weight down more than 10 percent over 8 weeks. Warnings are informational, worded plainly, never diagnostic.

Vet export: generate a PDF history per animal (weights chart, feeding record, sheds, notes) because exotic vets always ask and nobody has it.

Screens: Collection grid, Animal detail with tiles and flag banner, Species profile editor (users can override targets), Export.

Pricing: free for 3 animals, one-time 15 dollar unlock for unlimited. No accounts, local backup export to file.

// More Consumer ideas