Cage hanging

[DixonCider]

we got here thursday, still hanging upside down… luckily ive been off work so i can shut lights off as needed while hes directly under it, but I wont be off forever. Bill strand says 1-2 days of this behavior is normal while adjusting, but were now on day 4. Should I be worried?

 

[GrannyK]

Hi and welcome!!! Congrats on your little one. Screen walking can go on for a while especially with little ones. I would give it a week or 2, heck my guys still screen walk occasionally but it will stop.
That’s a whole new castle they live in now, pretty scary until they see the whole thing from the furthest angles and realize they are the only ones who live there.

 

[MissSkittles]

I think mine only stopped when they became too heavy to walk upside down. Heck, if I could do it too, I would! Until he outgrows this, for burn prevention you want to elevate your basking light a couple of inches above the screen. Since it’s just temporary, I’ve always used little wire baskets from the dollar store to sit them on.

 

[ehdee6]

I also catch my Jackson doing this at least once every two weeks... Thankfully, I mostly work from home, and have my chams in my office. So, I just switch all the lights off when I hear him staringt o screenclimb, until he comes back down. He used to do it daily when he was younger... I honestly think, that he thinks it's some sort of game by now; like look what I can do!!!

 

[Beman]

Can you post a picture of your entire enclosure? Looks like your branches may be sitting a little too low.

With babies this young you need to lift your fixtures up off the top. So looking for a 4 inch raise off the top. This way when they screen climb they are still within a safe level for UVB if you are using a T5HO and a 5.0 or 6% bulb.

Looks a little young to have a basking fixture but if you do you want to lift that up as well.

Some babies will screen climb until they weigh to much to make it comfortable. So this is why raising fixtures is safer.

 

[DixonCider]

Can you post a picture of your entire enclosure? Looks like your branches may be sitting a little too low.

With babies this young you need to lift your fixtures up off the top. So looking for a 4 inch raise off the top. This way when they screen climb they are still within a safe level for UVB if you are using a T5HO and a 5.0 or 6% bulb.

Looks a little young to have a basking fixture but if you do you want to lift that up as well.

Some babies will screen climb until they weigh to much to make it comfortable. So this is why raising fixtures is safer.

Thank you for the reply, I’m just now seeing this!
He ironically stopped cage climbing the day after I posted this thread , he will still climb the sides during the day and will occasionally still sleep upside down from the top, but he’s been exploring much more lately.

Can you please elaborate more about the not needing a heating lamp? His hatch date was 12/5-12/8 range. Should I not be running that?

 

[Beman]

Thank you for the reply, I’m just now seeing this!
He ironically stopped cage climbing the day after I posted this thread , he will still climb the sides during the day and will occasionally still sleep upside down from the top, but he’s been exploring much more lately.

Can you please elaborate more about the not needing a heating lamp? His hatch date was 12/5-12/8 range. Should I not be running that?

So with hatchlings under the 3 month mark we typically do not add basking fixtures as they can dehydrate pretty quickly. with you running one I would just ensure basking temp at the branch is no hotter than 75-77. Once baby hits the 4 month mark and older you want no hotter than 80. You can do a range of 80-85 max for an adult male.

Make sure your UVB distance to the branches directly below the fixture are correct. You want 8-9 inches from bottom of fixture sitting on cage to the branch with a T5HO fixture and 5.0 or 6% uvb bulb. And the branches need to be clear of plants that might block the uvb lighting.

 

[DixonCider]

So with hatchlings under the 3 month mark we typically do not add basking fixtures as they can dehydrate pretty quickly. with you running one I would just ensure basking temp at the branch is no hotter than 75-77. Once baby hits the 4 month mark and older you want no hotter than 80. You can do a range of 80-85 max for an adult male.

Make sure your UVB distance to the branches directly below the fixture are correct. You want 8-9 inches from bottom of fixture sitting on cage to the branch with a T5HO fixture and 5.0 or 6% uvb bulb. And the branches need to be clear of plants that might block the uvb lighting.

So would you recommend leaving it off entirely for the next mont or two?

 

[Beman]

So would you recommend leaving it off entirely for the next mont or two?

Depends on where your ambient temps are sitting and where baby can bask under your other lighting. I can not tell how many branches you have... Seems very heavily planted towards the top. Just ensure your distances are correct and that none of the plants are blocking the branches that are sitting the highest.

Check your basking temp if it is sitting around 75-77 at the branch you are fine. If not raise the fixture, or reduce bulb wattage, or remove it if your other ambient temps are within range.

 

[DixonCider]

Depends on where your ambient temps are sitting and where baby can bask under your other lighting. I can not tell how many branches you have... Seems very heavily planted towards the top. Just ensure your distances are correct and that none of the plants are blocking the branches that are sitting the highest.

Check your basking temp if it is sitting around 75-77 at the branch you are fine. If not raise the fixture, or reduce bulb wattage, or remove it if your other ambient temps are within range.

Very much appreciated friend thank you