Indoor grow tent enclosure - lighting - red foot

Sonnenblume

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Rio, a cherry head red foot, just moved into his new house over the weekend.

The enclosure is 4x2.
There is a CHE for heat which is on a thermostat to ensure no less than 80F at all times.
The temperature has been 80-86F at all times so far.

The humidity on one end has been around 83%, on the other end around 70-80%.
There is a fogger in there, and I have pointed the fogger more towards the middle so that both areas get even humidity.

The substrate is reptibark with cypress mulch around the edges to keep in the humidity and close any gaps between the tent and the wooden box.

The new light just came and I am not quite sure if it is the right one after all because it will spread along almost the entire enclosure
It is a 34inch T5 HO Arcadia D3 forest 39W 6% UVB to replace the currently used MVB light.
Is this too much UVB?

Keep in mind, Rio is a 5 year old cherry head, that weighs a whopping 266g or so (60g up since we got him in July!) and has MBD.
 

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Ink

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Thank you for taking care of him.
 

ZEROPILOT

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I know that the pyramiding was prior to you. And your humidity levels will stop that
That UVB lamp is correct. And in just using that as the light. The level shouldn't be too bright. And your temperatures are also inside the safety margin.
My advice is to try to get your humidity stable without the fogger.
In a closed chamber, the substrate can absorb water and give off humidity as it evaporates.
 

wellington

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Unfortunately the enclosure is way too small. A 4x2 is even too small for an adult Russian which is a lot smaller then a CRF.
A 4x2 is recommended for hatchlings upto 2 or 3 years depending on species.
 

Yvonne G

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One reason we always say bigger is better, is because walking aids digestion.
 

Sonnenblume

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Unfortunately the enclosure is way too small. A 4x2 is even too small for an adult Russian which is a lot smaller then a CRF.
A 4x2 is recommended for hatchlings upto 2 or 3 years depending on species.
Understood, he is less than 5inch though and weighs only 260g.
I don't think he is anywhere close to what he really should be at 5 years of age at the moment?
Based on that, do you still think this is too small for now?
 

wellington

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Yes. The leopard I rescued was undersized for its age due to bad diet and small space. He was the same size as my own but half the size. Once he got rehabbed where he could walk properly, proper diet and the space to get lots of exercise, he grew and not only caught up to my leopard but went past him in size.
Get another enclosure like the one you have and attach the two. Would be better if it were wider then 2 feet but a 2x8 is better then a 2x4. He's already been poorly kept by the previous owners. Give him the proper everything so he can catch up to where he should be.
 

Sonnenblume

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Got it, still a work in progress :)
Will figure out how to extend it in the very near future.

I just turned on the new UVB Lighting..that is BRIGHT.
He definitely needs more shade...
 

Sonnenblume

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Rio´s enclosure is now twice as big BUT I cannot get the humidity up.
It is only around 40%, I put water in the corners to help but nothing.

Temperatures are around 80-90F depending on where in the enclosure.
2 CHEs, the same UVB bulb (turns on from 11-1), and an additional regular bulb for "dailight" (turns on from sunrise to sunset).
Coco choir and orchid bark is the substrate.

Suggestions?
 
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