Hello and let me introduce myself as another newbie. The regs on this forum must be sick of us coming in and asking the same ole questions but all the responses I have read have been great and everyone seems very eager to help. There is so much conflicting info out there from pet shop owners and websites that I guess this is just validation of our understanding on set up, feeding, heating etc. Like many others before me I have read about many of the topic here but wouldn’t mind running a few things past this group.
So to my story, about 3 weeks ago I decided I wanted to keep a BD. I have researched, checked out equipment and seen some BDs. Now I am in limbo awaiting a recreational reptile keeping licence before I can purchase one. I have decided to buy a baby so the taming process should be easier. I am about 1 week away from that so as I wait I have started setting up his/her home home.
Here are the specs for the enclosure – I am using a glass aquarium which is 3 x 1.25 x 1.5 foot on a stand with a hood. I have a 3 foot Repti Glo 8.0 Desert Terrarium Flouro lamp ready to go. I have used vinyl flooring for the tanks floor and sides and a foam “rock” look sheeting for the background. I have river rocks scattered through out, a half terracotta pot and a climbing branch which is about 6 inches from the heat source at its highest. The heat comes from a cannibalised lamp which has a clear 60 watt bulb. I am unsure what the temp is at the basking point since my old thermometer is crap so a temp gun is next on the shopping list. I have a feeling it won’t be hot enough so I am assuming I can replace the 60 with a stronger bulb until I am happy. I have read here that it is a waste of money buying a “reptile” bulb as an everyday household bulb will do… please correct me if I am wrong.
I won’t be using a water dish but I am worried about the humidity in the tank. The tank has a hood so the only ventilation is at the rear of the hood where there is about an inch gap which runs the length of the tank between the top of the UVB light and the top of the hood. I won’t be using the glass tops that came with the tank. Do you think this will work? Another thing I am unsure of is the gap I spoke of. Would the BD be secure enough with it and how high do crickets jump. Will they jump out of the tank? It’s about a 10 inch leap from the highest point inside the tank to the gap.
I think that’s all as far a set up. If I am missing anything, should do something different or was unclear about any of this please let me know. My next step is to plan the feeding ritual but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
Thanks in advance, I look forward to any feedback anyone might have.
Cheers.
So to my story, about 3 weeks ago I decided I wanted to keep a BD. I have researched, checked out equipment and seen some BDs. Now I am in limbo awaiting a recreational reptile keeping licence before I can purchase one. I have decided to buy a baby so the taming process should be easier. I am about 1 week away from that so as I wait I have started setting up his/her home home.
Here are the specs for the enclosure – I am using a glass aquarium which is 3 x 1.25 x 1.5 foot on a stand with a hood. I have a 3 foot Repti Glo 8.0 Desert Terrarium Flouro lamp ready to go. I have used vinyl flooring for the tanks floor and sides and a foam “rock” look sheeting for the background. I have river rocks scattered through out, a half terracotta pot and a climbing branch which is about 6 inches from the heat source at its highest. The heat comes from a cannibalised lamp which has a clear 60 watt bulb. I am unsure what the temp is at the basking point since my old thermometer is crap so a temp gun is next on the shopping list. I have a feeling it won’t be hot enough so I am assuming I can replace the 60 with a stronger bulb until I am happy. I have read here that it is a waste of money buying a “reptile” bulb as an everyday household bulb will do… please correct me if I am wrong.
I won’t be using a water dish but I am worried about the humidity in the tank. The tank has a hood so the only ventilation is at the rear of the hood where there is about an inch gap which runs the length of the tank between the top of the UVB light and the top of the hood. I won’t be using the glass tops that came with the tank. Do you think this will work? Another thing I am unsure of is the gap I spoke of. Would the BD be secure enough with it and how high do crickets jump. Will they jump out of the tank? It’s about a 10 inch leap from the highest point inside the tank to the gap.
I think that’s all as far a set up. If I am missing anything, should do something different or was unclear about any of this please let me know. My next step is to plan the feeding ritual but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
Thanks in advance, I look forward to any feedback anyone might have.
Cheers.
