Shower me in your collective knowledge

[ojr5]

Hi folks, month-long lurker coming out of the woodwork here. I'm in the process of preparing for a 5-10 month CB Jackson's (depending on availability) and would appreciate help from the experts here with questions that arise as I get everything ready. Right now I've got an 18x18x36 ReptiBreeze and have been recording temperature gradients/humidity in the empty cage to see what kind of environment my room naturally offers.

My first Q is in regards to the UVB source. I'd like to do an 18" tube, but the only one available at the local pet store is a Zilla, which I've heard is weaksauce. The other option is the ZooMed dual hood with a space for CFL (I'd do 10.0) and a heat bulb, which seems super convenient but I'm hesitant to do CFL after reading some horror stories.

Does anyone use this type of hood? If someone can attest to the product it would put my mind at ease. I'd like to try to avoid ordering from online.... Call me old school.

Second Q: if I work 9-6, how vital is an automatic misting system? I was planning on doing misting in morning, lunch (office is next door to home), and evening, with a big dripper starting at lunch. My ambient room humidity is 50% now and will probably jump quite w bit when I get a standard room humidifier. I know Jackson's like more humidity than other chams, and it probably depends what my humidifier adds, but thought I'd get some input

Thanks so much for everyone's help in advance.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Hello and welcome!

Yes the zilla is pretty weak sauce. I would go with the reptisun tube. I have never used the CFLs and have kinda stayed away from them too. If somebody chimes in and say they use it, that may make you feel better. For good prices mail order is the way to go. Especially when you need feeders. Crickets can get expensive in the local stores. If you can spend a little money, I would personally go with an Arcadia T5 lighting setup. You can go to lightyourreptiles.com. They are a site sponsor. I use the 6% UVB with Arcadia grow light for your plants. The change from the reptisun to the Arcadia was night and day! As for the mister, if you work close it is not necessary but I highly recommend it. Keeping proper hydration and humidity is critical and it's just one less thing to worry about. I know all the stuff is expensive up front. I had to wait for the mister and hand mister for a year. Once I got the auto mister it changed my life lol. It is awesome that you are doing adequate research before your purchase. Good choice, Jackson's are one of my all time favs.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

And Jackson's love water, that's more reason for a mister

 

[nightanole]

Get the 18" zilla Desert 50 and replace every 6 months unless you have a meter to test for decay. Or if you can spend the money get the arcadia 18" D3+ and replace once a year.
http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/ard3rela18fa.html

Your misting 3 times a day with and a dripper sounds good.
you can tune the humidity by coating the walls with plastic to keep the humidity in. During the winter some users have 3 sides covered with plastic. Remember you need to dry out the cage at least once a day to keep the mold down.

 

[ojr5]

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated. It seems like, for lighting, especially since I'll be doing some live plants, the arcadia is the way to go.

Next question is on foliage for the cage: I'll be getting several live plants but I'm also planning on including a few fake ivies and bamboo sticks I picked up from Michael's.

Question is, are these types of craft-store fakes usable and safe? They're pretty standard, no glitter or loose leaves or things that I could imagine being ingested. But the bamboo is a textured plastic. Anybody have advice on that? There's no paint rubbing off or anything.

Thanks.

 

[nightanole]

When doing live plants, keep them potted and line the top with large river rock or stone, so the bugs cant get to the dirt and the cham doesnt get a tongue full of dirt.

Silk and plastic leaves are fine. Silks will keep the humidity up since they will evaporate water faster. Just make sure they dry out at least once a day.

 

[ojr5]

When doing live plants, keep them potted and line the top with large river rock or stone, so the bugs cant get to the dirt and the cham doesnt get a tongue full of dirt.

Silk and plastic leaves are fine. Silks will keep the humidity up since they will evaporate water faster. Just make sure they dry out at least once a day.

Thanks nightanole. When you said dry out the cage before, what exactly does that entail? I can definitely see the purpose of it, but how do you do it? Turn off misters, drain excess water, turn a fan toward the cage?

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Just leave an interval during the day long enough so the cage dries out by itself. If you are only misting three times a day it shouldn't be a big problem. It is a bigger problem when you have a automatic mist if system that goes off like every hour or something. No fans or draining needed, just check to make sure it is dry before you must again.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

I mean no manual draining needed. A drainage system is always highly recommended.

 

[ojr5]

got it, thanks dj

 

[crixus]

i am new like you, but after tons of research the arcadeia is the way to go. That is what i picked up while i wait for my Panther to come in. The Monsoon mister is not that expensive at all, but i dont have the luxury to have my office close by. One thing to look into though is your weekends. Will you be home to mist them that often or is their a chance you might be out at a baseball game, fishing or ect. just some factors to think about. Might be good to sacrifice that dinner and a movie one month and get a mister.

 

[ojr5]

you're right crixus... trying to amortize some of these costs so I'll probably get a mister when that type of weekend comes along, which it inevitably will.

 

[crixus]

yeah i have been wanting a panther for years but could never fit it into my life. I finally saved up the extra cash and have the time to get back into reptiles so i pulled the trigger. I kind of want to do a live viv next. Getting a lil pumped up my wife is looking at me like im crazy.

 

[ojr5]

hahaha we're all cut from the same cloth... nearly exact situation here, just replace panther with jackson and wife with girlfriend.