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Mememe
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 Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject: Ackie substrate? |
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Just wondering about Axckie substrate.
Me and mattie were talking about it.
It seems clear that they need a level of humidity - at least in their burrows.
So what is the recommended substrate?
A tub of sand/eco-earth and newspaper on the bottom?
All eco-earth and sand, in the tubs and floor?
The bits at the viv front only go up so far - not enough for substrate deep enough for them to burrow, so a tub would be necessary, right?
Thanks,
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Scott W
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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I use an 1" of calcium sand and that's it! Once adult I add a nesting box, large ice cream tub with a damp sand/peat mix. You can go for a deep substrate in the viv and allow natural burrowing but I just think it's over complicating the husbandry 
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Mememe
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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Would newspaper work instead? Un aesthetic I know, but I'm going for ease - of clean (I know sand is, but it get everywhere!)
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Mememe
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, and I take it a guard isn't needed - they'd be more likely to climb on the guard than be able to grab onto the bulb?
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johne.ev
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject: ackie substrate |
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| 50/50 mix of top soil & play sand, spray every 3/4 evenings to dampen. can't beat it, cheap too. |
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Scott W
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Mememe wrote: | Would newspaper work instead? Un aesthetic I know, but I'm going for ease - of clean (I know sand is, but it get everywhere!)
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they don't really make much mess and with the sand a quick seive each week is all that is needed. I guess paper would be ok personally I just wouldn't use it.
& no, I don't use guards on any basking lizards, if the cage is set up right you would need one, also you're right, guards with lizards normally leads to lizards climbing on the guards and getting even closer to the heat.
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varanus
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Scott W wrote: | | Mememe wrote: | Would newspaper work instead? Un aesthetic I know, but I'm going for ease - of clean (I know sand is, but it get everywhere!)
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& no, I don't use guards on any basking lizards, if the cage is set up right you would need one, also you're right, guards with lizards normally leads to lizards climbing on the guards and getting even closer to the heat. |
I agree also one thing to note is that the climbing also leads to the belly being exsposed to high temps which is less designed to cope with it as the top side of the lizard
I use zoo med repti sand all over the viv about 1" and a Tub full of it as an egg box since using this ive not had any eggs laid elsewhere and have had great results with the eggs laid in it so would recomend it
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Mememe
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| Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks,
I may go for repti-sand then.
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Mememe
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| Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, and 100 watt spot bulb about right?
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Rick_Albig
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| Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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I personally would use the 50/50 sand and soil mix as suggested earlier. i would also have this at least 6" deep if possible (deeper the better!). This allows your ackies to dig a suitable burrow which they will spend a lot of time in (as they would do in the wild) as well as being able to hold humidity well (i have mine about 55% ambient, and a lot higher in the burrows)
"The bits at the viv front only go up so far - not enough for substrate deep enough for them to burrow, so a tub would be necessary, right?"
I'm guessing that the front is sliding glass doors? Just get a piece of glass as long as your viv and as deep as you want the substrate and silicone it behind the sliding doors. This not only allows you to have a deep substrate but it will also stop the horrible scratching sound you get when you get sand in the runners.
About the basking light, you should not need 100w, you need a bask of about 130 deg (surface temp not air!) and this should be measured with a digital temp gun or similar (DO NOT GUESS!) I achieve temps of between 130 and up to and over 200 deg using a par 38 60w flood light. Simply raise or lower your basking platform to the correct temp.
Hope this helps
Rick |
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