@ Chris: I'm keeping them outside for the summer period (may/june - september/october). I keep them in the largest available flexarium (260 gallon) with a large ficus tree in it. The bottom of the enclosure is covered with 3 layers of substrate (hydrogranes / plant soil / moss) to keep the...
Ether or chloroform is certainly NOT a painless euthanizing, since inhaling these compounds it will make the animal burn their lungs and airpipe. I'm a pharmacist and PhD toxicology. In my lab we "work" with laboratory animals. Depending on the age of the animal only a few certified methods are...
I spray by hand twice/three times a day, i prefer to do it manually since you have then the obligation to check upon your animals twice a day at least,
best regards
Joery
To explain it simple: a precursor molecule of vitamine d3 is produced in skin cells. This precursor (provitamin d3) is after exposure of the organism to UV-B light transformed into previtamin d3. After uptake in the blood stream it is metabolised in the liver to another molecule called...
37 uW/cm² is indeed a good and natural UV average, I have +/- the same at 28-30inch (= 65-70cm), i have +/- 40uW/cm² (which is the closest basking point for the chamaeleons), further away is less UVB.
More info on the pattern of UVB distribution of my uv mercury vapor bulb you can find here...
It is indeed moss from the woods, which works out perfect. The substrate consists of 1 bottom layer of hydro marbles (5cm) to retain water, on top of that you have 5 cm of normal plant soil, but to the middle you have around 25-30cm of soil to digg holes and lay eggs for females, the top layer...