last minute suggestions anyone???

[GarynTampa]

These are likely redundant questions, but I have to ask...since I'm < 24 hours away from getting my Ambanja (7" body) and want to make sure I've done all my homework!

Should I consider ANY type of substrate on my cage floor? The 53" tall cage is dark screening and the cage floor is 3/16" hardware cloth (trying to prevent any cricket escapes). I've cut the bottom to allow a tight fitted live plant pot to be recessed down into the floor. All misting water is caught in a catch-pan below the floor and it is accesible to clean as necessary.

I've purchased some chunk "Repti Bark" as I had read earlier that this was acceptable (and looks nice). I was also "told" that it will retain some of the water and help keep the humidity up.

Now, I am reading a lot of posts saying that the cage bottom should be bare. Bark can be accidentally ingested by the Cham leading to impacting...not good.

I can go either way, but just wanted to get a 2nd+ opinion from the experts.

I have a MistKing Starter Kit and have it programmed to come on for 5 minutes @ 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM. I'm getting digital humidity readings of 80+% after a 5 minute misting.

I will be using the ZooMed 3-bulb combo light, since the cage is now part of a custom entertainment system and didn't want to sacrifice height, using the dome light housings. Unfortunately, I don't have the light in hand as it is on order and I'll pick it up when I get my Cham.

Basking area(s) are already in place ~ 10-12" below the cage top, and I'll adjust heights accordingly to get the min/max temperature ranges.

I'm already gut-loading crickets and have superworms on standby.

Any comments about the cage botton and the misting intervals would be greatly appreciated. With the MistKing system, I can do about anything I need with intervals and durations.

Thanks!

Gary

 

[Kmw]

Substrate really ends up being more annoying then its worth. I got some at first because it looked better. But it held too much moisture, was a pain to clean, made the cage smell worse, and i was worried about my guy! So now its gone.

 

[camimom]

These are likely redundant questions, but I have to ask...since I'm < 24 hours away from getting my Ambanja (7" body) and want to make sure I've done all my homework!

Should I consider ANY type of substrate on my cage floor? The 53" tall cage is dark screening and the cage floor is 3/16" hardware cloth (trying to prevent any cricket escapes). I've cut the bottom to allow a tight fitted live plant pot to be recessed down into the floor. All misting water is caught in a catch-pan below the floor and it is accesible to clean as necessary.
No substrate. anything that retains moisture, also make mold.
I've purchased some chunk "Repti Bark" as I had read earlier that this was acceptable (and looks nice). I was also "told" that it will retain some of the water and help keep the humidity up.
no.
Now, I am reading a lot of posts saying that the cage bottom should be bare. Bark can be accidentally ingested by the Cham leading to impacting...not good. THIS

I can go either way, but just wanted to get a 2nd+ opinion from the experts.

I have a MistKing Starter Kit and have it programmed to come on for 5 minutes @ 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM. I'm getting digital humidity readings of 80+% after a 5 minute misting.
5 minutes might just drown your cham. lol. I would reduce that two 2 minutes.
I will be using the ZooMed 3-bulb combo light, since the cage is now part of a custom entertainment system and didn't want to sacrifice height, using the dome light housings. Unfortunately, I don't have the light in hand as it is on order and I'll pick it up when I get my Cham.

Basking area(s) are already in place ~ 10-12" below the cage top, and I'll adjust heights accordingly to get the min/max temperature ranges.

I'm already gut-loading crickets and have superworms on standby.
gutloaidng with what?
Any comments about the cage botton and the misting intervals would be greatly appreciated. With the MistKing system, I can do about anything I need with intervals and durations.

Thanks!

Gary

commented!

 

[jannb]

commented!

I agree with camimon and would like to add that I would not do a 6:30 misting. You will want the cage to dry out really well before bed time.

 

[camimom]

I agree with camimon and would like to add that I would not do a 6:30 misting. You will want the cage to dry out really well before bed time.

And I agree with the almighty Jann!

 

[GarynTampa]

Thanks for the quick response. I had the feeling that the substrate was going to have to go...NO PROBLEM...and you can't even see it anyway!

The 5-minute misting did sound a lilttle much and I can easily cut it back to 2-3 minutes.

I'm using some carrots w/the leafy stems and will blend in some other "safe" veggies (sort of rotating through them) to provide a variety.

I'm also using a Fluker's High Calcium Cricket Diet. Even with this, I'll likely dust them as recommended.

From what I've read, there is still a LOT of controversy of how often to dust; daily, every other day, weekly, etc...

Again, comments are welcome!

Gary

 

[camimom]

Thanks for the quick response. I had the feeling that the substrate was going to have to go...NO PROBLEM...and you can't even see it anyway!

The 5-minute misting did sound a lilttle much and I can easily cut it back to 2-3 minutes.

I'm using some carrots w/the leafy stems and will blend in some other "safe" veggies (sort of rotating through them) to provide a variety.

I'm also using a Fluker's High Calcium Cricket Diet. Even with this, I'll likely dust them as recommended.

From what I've read, there is still a LOT of controversy of how often to dust; daily, every other day, weekly, etc...

Again, comments are welcome!

Gary

theres really no controversy on dusting.

its calcium without d3 every feeding, calcium with d3 twice a month, multivitamin twice a month.

 

[GarynTampa]

Again, THANKS for the comments and I can easily eliminate the 6:30 misting.

As you can see from my name, I'm a JUNIOR...LOL and will be paying a LOT of attention to the SENIOR members in here!

Gary

 

[camimom]

no problem!
any questions you have, post them here.

 

[Wykd]

Should I consider ANY type of substrate on my cage floor? The 53" tall cage is dark screening and the cage floor is 3/16" hardware cloth (trying to prevent any cricket escapes). I've cut the bottom to allow a tight fitted live plant pot to be recessed down into the floor. All misting water is caught in a catch-pan below the floor and it is accesible to clean as necessary. better make sure that screen is aluminum not cloth/fiberglass or the crickets will eat thru it.


Now, I am reading a lot of posts saying that the cage bottom should be bare. Bark can be accidentally ingested by the Cham leading to impacting...not good. substrate that could possibly be ingested is bad. People put larger river smooth river rock over the soil to keep them from eating it. I use coconut liner as a substrate, it is a woven coconut fiber carpet basically and does not come up to be swallowed. This is the same stuff you see in plant basket/liners. And talk about holding moisture to help humidity its all over it! and its mold/mildew resistant.

I will be using the ZooMed 3-bulb combo light, since the cage is now part of a custom entertainment system and didn't want to sacrifice height, using the dome light housings. Unfortunately, I don't have the light in hand as it is on order and I'll pick it up when I get my Cham. I do not know anything about this light setup - i suggest the repti sun 5.0 for uvb and the baskign spot could be any of the following 40,50,60 watt light bulb. You are after the heat not the light with the basking spot.