juliaasbury
New Member
Hello again!
I’ll try and help answer where I can, with some of the technical stuff, people like Alex and Tom are better at, so I’d wait for their input on a few things, but I’ll try go through your updated list
1. The wording on the packaging does confuse me a bit but I think it’s ok, @Alex and the Redfoot will probably be able to answer that
The dome fittings you currently have will work for your basking bulb and a screw in led light(ambient lighting)but I don’t think they’re the right size for a CHE, they look too small and deep but again hopefully the others can help with the right one to get, I believe it the same fitting you have but the largest version
2. That link looks like a good thermostat to me(what your CHE will be plugged into)
3. Yes to maintain humanity you want to keep the bottom layer of substrate nice and damp, pour lukewarm water into the corners, you shouldn’t have to do this too often in a good closed chamber set up, just check your monitors and substrate to do them as and when needed, if the top is getting too dry, mix the substrate around a bit and you can give the top a little spray if you want.
To answer you comment above, substrate can definitely be too damp if your pouring too much water in, if it’s coir, press it down firmly with your hands, there shouldn’t be a bunch of excess water oozing out, you’ll be able to tell if it’s too wet if you’ve created mud basicallyif you mean too damp as in the top being constantly wet, your species isn’t prone to fungal infections so I wouldn’t worry much about that, but if your keeping the lower layer the right moisture and your monitors are reading well, I’d let the top dry out now n then, no need to spray every day with a topper usually
When you say your saucer is expunging water, is it leaking? It may have a hairline crack you can’t see, might be worth replacing, I’ve seen a few people say they’ve had leaks, but we’ve been fortunate to never have a problem with terracotta saucers from the garden sections
4. The whole enclosure you’re creating is going to be warm and humid, therefore any hide you use will have the same climate in there that you’re creating all oversome people take a terracotta carefully break it in half making sure the edges aren’t left sharp, or maybe half bury it in the substrate as a hide, you could even take an opaque pvc container, turn it upside down, and cut an entrance hole
5. Yeah always have nice fresh water available, they’ll use it as and when they need, I wouldn’t worry if you don't necessarily see them using it much, they likely are and maybe you didn’t see
6. Yeah this is something that’s always made me a little nervous too so I’ve always looked at sites that grow them for tortoises, like you say though so much more expensiveand I’ve seen plenty of people say they get the plant, wash the roots off, plant it in their own safe coir and wait 6 months or so to use, perhaps the others can help
7. That is the correct model but if it’s secondhand I wouldn’t trust it tbh, if the reptisun 10.0 is easier/cheaper to get your hands on, along with the reflector hood, that will work fine too
To sum up:
The basking light is ok I believe(but we’ll double check)
What you’ve listed as ‘ambient’ would be a very expensive led choice(think of ambient bulbs like our household light bulbs), but the hood of this listing should work for the reptisun 10.0 uv bulb.
That reptisun bulb is a fine uv choice
And that ceramic looks fine
How I’d personally move forward with the equipment, I’d put the basking bulb into one of the domes you already have.
Then for the second dome you have, I’d use for your ambient lighting, the link you included previously that you originally thought was the basking would work as an led ambient light(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B0M9V1A/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20)
Then I’d get the larger version of the dome for your CHE, with the thermostat you included
Then that hood and reptisun bulb for your UV
Yeah I definitely agree having the bulbs on timers, we have ours on timers, most folks do so you’ve got peace of mind they’re getting all the right timings
I believe this is the kind of plug in wall timers you get where you live?(attached)
- What if I use these strip lights for ambient lighting? That way I have more space for all the hanging lights!: https://a.co/d/hJ0HCEK
- May I ask what the CHE is? I think that’s where I’m getting confused, just what the name means, or which bulb it’s being referred to
I’ll try and use the current ones I have and get more if I need, then replace when I have enough money for the proper sizing; may I ask which size is good for the bulbs or is that something I have to look at myself?
- Okay, I’ll keep that in mind! I have been spraying it a little less now. I feel like my current hygrometer’s & thermometers are not correct now and I can’t reply on them too much until my new ones come in
- I’ll attach a picture of what the substrate looks like compare to the side without the water dish. You’re probably right and I can grab a new one when I stop by my local nursery! I was just thinking maybe it’s because it’s terra cotta
- Alrighty, gotcha!
- Is 6 months the minimum I should wait before potting the plants into her enclosure? I was hoping to give her some plants to hide under sooner, but I won’t to stay safe
- • Should I do this instead for basking?: Fluker's Incandescent Basking Spotlight Bulbs for Reptiles Tanks, Reptile Heat Lamp Bulbs for Infrared Light, 75-Watt
- I think I found a good ambient lighting to provide more lighting space?: https://a.co/d/7PrRW8c or maybe I should just do the bulb you said was good so I can use my other dome?
: SYLVANIA LED Flood BR30 Light Bulb, 65W=8W, 10 Year, Medium Base, 650 Lumens, Dimmable, 5000K, Daylight - 2 Pack (73956)
- Im really stuck on which UV I should do
:
- https://a.co/d/8lgbGJ4
- https://a.co/d/aVsHxoj
- https://a.co/d/5i9GD93
- Arcadia PRO t5 Fixture 12% Bulb 35" SALE - lightyourreptiles.com
9. That is correct! I’ve got it added to my cart
![Relieved face :relieved: 😌](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60c.png)