Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

sam316 · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:25 pm Post subject: substrate for pygmy chams

What substrate do people use? just curious as to other people's techniques on set ups, i'm using leaf litter and very finley chopped orchid bark at the moment, with live plants etc. Smile

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Can't wait until March!! Smile

kroakykaren · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

I used to use moss peat and fine leaf litter, when i had mine sam Very Happy

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sam316 · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:00 pm Post subject:

ok, cheers karen. sounds like mine is reasonably similar then. The only reason i ask is that i have some eggs in incubation at the mo and am just slightly concerned that this sort of substarte will be too big for the hatchlings. Any thoughts on wether they'll need something different?? The eggs are currently under peat soil and leaf litter at the mo, and are waiting to hatch, i imagine this is a similar way in which eggs are layed in their natural environment i just hope the little guys can dig their way out to the surface. I'm probably just bieng a paranoid keeper lol. What are your thoughts? have you bred these in the past?
thanks for your help,
sam
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Can't wait until March!! Smile

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

I'm using a sandy soil because it's good for drainage and for digging in. There's also a billion leaves decomposing in there too Wink

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kroakykaren · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:05 pm Post subject:

Hi Sam, i removed all my eggs and incubated them at room temps on perlite and spagnum moss, i just laid the eggs on top of the moss, i think i had about 30 or 40 hatch at differing times, you wont believe how tiny the babies are Very Happy

plant grass seed for when they hatch it makes for perfect perches Laughing

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sam316 · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:12 pm Post subject:

cheers for the post joe! hadn't thought about mixing in a bit of sand, might give it a go!
karen, at the mo my eggs are removed and under the peat soil and leaflitter. My first batch of eggs were placed on the top of some sphagnum moss and peat soil, however these just dried out? i assumed it was because they were not buried as they would have been naturally, also they were laid pretty much straight after arrival so am pretty sure the poor mum had to carry them whilst between locations. Do you think i should move the eggs i have closer to the surface?? sounds like u had looaads of babies then, i've only got about 6eggs myself, hoping for more soon though. Grass seed!!! sounds like a plan Very Happy

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Can't wait until March!! Smile

kroakykaren · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:14 pm Post subject:

I had mine in cadbury boxes and kept them on the damp side, with only a few ventilation holes, only opening once a week for air exchange and to add water, there are pics on here of some of my hatchlings somewhere Very Happy

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MJ · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:15 pm Post subject:

If you want a substrate that hod moisture but drains well then use 1:1:1 eco earth: peat moss: fine orchid bark

Works a treat Wink

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Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

sam316 · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject:

cheers mj, maybe it was jus the humidity i had wrong before?!?
my eggs are in a white plastic tub with lid, also very few air holes, humidity is about 85%. i'm gonna plant some grass seeds in the morning.
I'll have a look for your pics karen! any idea what the thread was titled?
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Can't wait until March!! Smile

kroakykaren · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 1:09 am Post subject:

Here you go Sam Very Happy

http://www.captivebred.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5059

http://www.captivebred.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4504
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