New Indian Star Owner

[Bash82]

Hi,

I'll be getting an Indian Star hatchling from a well respected breeder here in the UK towards the end of August/beginning of September. I've read a lot of information including a care sheet from the breeder and Toms guides on here...surprisingly they're not too dissimilar!

I would like to check the following equipment before I go ahead and purchase, I would like to have everything setup and running so I can adjust temperatures, humidity etc well before he arrives:

5x2x2 plastic vivarium - I'm hoping this will last 18 months or so before I upgrade to a bigger enclosure
Arcadia T5 12% Desert Luminize approximately half the length of the enclosure - This is controllable by an app and I can ramp up/down rather than just on/off
Arcadia LED Jungle Dawn Luminize - Again I can ramp this up/down and link to the T5 to properly replicate sunrise/sunset
Evo III Microclimate thermostat - Two dimming channels and an on/off
Arcadia 75W floodlight
CHE for background/night heat
Orchid Bark for substrate

I think that's the main things (got a small ceramic plate for water, will bathe everyday for 30 mins, will get calcium powder), I'm going to include a humid hide (no moss) and keep the temps as per Toms guide and humidity at 80%+ in the entire enclosure. I've got some seeds on the way to grow a selection of safe plants/weeds and I live in a fairly rural location so will hopefully be able to pick wild.

A couple of questions, how do I hang the lights & heater in a vivarium to ensure that I get the correct UV and heat under the basking lamp as most brackets seem to be fixed so would be a set height from the substrate? If I created a little mount then it would bring him closer to both UVB & heat?

Sorry for the long post, I just want to try to get everything right and not introduce any problems.

Thanks

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Your thermometer will quide you with the height of your basking lamp. For your UV meter, the only way to be certain of the correct height is by using a solarmeter. You can also rely on the Arcadia lighting guide but it doesn't produce perfect results in all scenarios.

Many member use chains to hang and adjust their lamps.

 

[Bash82]

Thanks for the reply, I'll use the thermometer I was just trying to figure out the best way of adjusting the height of both.

Does the equipment list look OK?

 

[LucyPink]

Hi,

I'll be getting an Indian Star hatchling from a well respected breeder here in the UK towards the end of August/beginning of September. I've read a lot of information including a care sheet from the breeder and Toms guides on here...surprisingly they're not too dissimilar!

I would like to check the following equipment before I go ahead and purchase, I would like to have everything setup and running so I can adjust temperatures, humidity etc well before he arrives:

5x2x2 plastic vivarium - I'm hoping this will last 18 months or so before I upgrade to a bigger enclosure
Arcadia T5 12% Desert Luminize approximately half the length of the enclosure - This is controllable by an app and I can ramp up/down rather than just on/off
Arcadia LED Jungle Dawn Luminize - Again I can ramp this up/down and link to the T5 to properly replicate sunrise/sunset
Evo III Microclimate thermostat - Two dimming channels and an on/off
Arcadia 75W floodlight
CHE for background/night heat
Orchid Bark for substrate

I think that's the main things (got a small ceramic plate for water, will bathe everyday for 30 mins, will get calcium powder), I'm going to include a humid hide (no moss) and keep the temps as per Toms guide and humidity at 80%+ in the entire enclosure. I've got some seeds on the way to grow a selection of safe plants/weeds and I live in a fairly rural location so will hopefully be able to pick wild.

A couple of questions, how do I hang the lights & heater in a vivarium to ensure that I get the correct UV and heat under the basking lamp as most brackets seem to be fixed so would be a set height from the substrate? If I created a little mount then it would bring him closer to both UVB & heat?

Sorry for the long post, I just want to try to get everything right and not introduce any problems.

Thanks

I'm also considering one around that time, most likely from the same breeder. I've kept Hermanni Boettgeri for almost 20 years and always wanted an Indian Star. Which brand of plastic vivarium are you thinking of purchasing? I've been considering them too to help with humidity.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thanks for the reply, I'll use the thermometer I was just trying to figure out the best way of adjusting the height of both.

Does the equipment list look OK?

Hello!
Chains and screw-in rings with carabine are easy to adjust. Also, you can get a rope tension kit for curtains (like this: https://amzn.eu/d/07Hr2rDB).

Equipment list looks good enough. But you may need two ceramic heat emitters for even heating of the enclosure. The thermostat is cool, however, a bit an overkill: you don't need a dimmer for a basking lamp (using two different wattage lamps for summer/winter is better because dimming changes lamp output spectrum), ceramic heat emitters work fine with on/off thermostats (very precise temperature control with pulse thermostats is not really necessary). As you are getting top-notch equipment, I would suggest to get a Solarmeter 6.5 for measuring UVB - it gives so much peace of mind.

Also, you can get a shorter UVB tube - 24" is enough for the basking area. Jungle Dawn should light 2/3 - 3/4 of the enclosure (while these are cool and bright lamps they are still not as bright as sunlight).

And, of course, don't forget about timer (smart socket/dimming switch or a simple mechanical) for the basking bulb.

 

[Bash82]

I'm also considering one around that time, most likely from the same breeder. I've kept Hermanni Boettgeri for almost 20 years and always wanted an Indian Star. Which brand of plastic vivarium are you thinking of purchasing? I've been considering them too to help with humidity.

The one I was looking at is this one: Vivarium from Repri-Life. I messaged a few of the custom build companies but no replies.

 

[Bash82]

Hello!
Chains and screw-in rings with carabine are easy to adjust. Also, you can get a rope tension kit for curtains (like this: https://amzn.eu/d/07Hr2rDB).

Equipment list looks good enough. But you may need two ceramic heat emitters for even heating of the enclosure. The thermostat is cool, however, a bit an overkill: you don't need a dimmer for a basking lamp (using two different wattage lamps for summer/winter is better because dimming changes lamp output spectrum), ceramic heat emitters work fine with on/off thermostats (very precise temperature control with pulse thermostats is not really necessary). As you are getting top-notch equipment, I would suggest to get a Solarmeter 6.5 for measuring UVB - it gives so much peace of mind.

Also, you can get a shorter UVB tube - 24" is enough for the basking area. Jungle Dawn should light 2/3 - 3/4 of the enclosure (while these are cool and bright lamps they are still not as bright as sunlight).

And, of course, don't forget about timer (smart socket/dimming switch or a simple mechanical) for the basking bulb.

Thanks for all the info, appreciate the help and I’ll adjust the equipment accordingly. So would you recommend not using a thermostat for the basking lamp or just use a cheaper one?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thanks for all the info, appreciate the help and I’ll adjust the equipment accordingly. So would you recommend not using a thermostat for the basking lamp or just use a cheaper one?

You can (and should) use a thermostat with ceramic heat emitters. Cheaper on/off thermostats are fine to use. For the basking area it's better to use a lower wattage lamp and don't put it on a dimming thermostat.

 

[Tom]

Hi,

I'll be getting an Indian Star hatchling from a well respected breeder here in the UK towards the end of August/beginning of September. I've read a lot of information including a care sheet from the breeder and Toms guides on here...surprisingly they're not too dissimilar!

I would like to check the following equipment before I go ahead and purchase, I would like to have everything setup and running so I can adjust temperatures, humidity etc well before he arrives:

5x2x2 plastic vivarium - I'm hoping this will last 18 months or so before I upgrade to a bigger enclosure
Arcadia T5 12% Desert Luminize approximately half the length of the enclosure - This is controllable by an app and I can ramp up/down rather than just on/off
Arcadia LED Jungle Dawn Luminize - Again I can ramp this up/down and link to the T5 to properly replicate sunrise/sunset
Evo III Microclimate thermostat - Two dimming channels and an on/off
Arcadia 75W floodlight
CHE for background/night heat
Orchid Bark for substrate

I think that's the main things (got a small ceramic plate for water, will bathe everyday for 30 mins, will get calcium powder), I'm going to include a humid hide (no moss) and keep the temps as per Toms guide and humidity at 80%+ in the entire enclosure. I've got some seeds on the way to grow a selection of safe plants/weeds and I live in a fairly rural location so will hopefully be able to pick wild.

A couple of questions, how do I hang the lights & heater in a vivarium to ensure that I get the correct UV and heat under the basking lamp as most brackets seem to be fixed so would be a set height from the substrate? If I created a little mount then it would bring him closer to both UVB & heat?

Sorry for the long post, I just want to try to get everything right and not introduce any problems.

Thanks

All of this looks perfect. I have nothing to add or change.

Indians like it hot. Make sure the coldest darkest corner of the enclosure is staying no lower than 82 (28C) at night. Let the heat lamp warm the entire enclosure up into the low to mid 90s (33-34C) during the day, in a addition the the 37C basking areas directly under the heat lamp. Usually, the heat lamp will heat everything up during the day.

That size enclosure will probably last a healthy growing male three years. Maybe a little less for a female, but so much depends on the growth rate. In any case, its a great size to start with.

Please post pics of your baby and the enclosure. Stars are so pretty. We all wanna see the adorable baby, and your awesome set up will serve as a fine example of how to do it right. I hope many people will refer to it and also start their babies out right.

 

[Tom]

You can (and should) use a thermostat with ceramic heat emitters. Cheaper on/off thermostats are fine to use. For the basking area it's better to use a lower wattage lamp and don't put it on a dimming thermostat.

I agree with this.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Hello and welcome! You’ve been given some great tips and advice, hope it helped!also just wanted to say it’s wonderful to see you’ve obviously done the right research! I’m glad you’ve used the forum to do that, it’s definitely the best place
Would love to see photos once they arrive!

 

[Bash82]

You can (and should) use a thermostat with ceramic heat emitters. Cheaper on/off thermostats are fine to use. For the basking area it's better to use a lower wattage lamp and don't put it on a dimming thermostat.

Thanks, I'll use the setup you've described. I know it's difficult to say but should I start off with a 75W bub (60"x24"x24" plastic viv in the UK) and move to 100W if I'm not getting the correct temp under the bulb?


Thanks for everyone's help, you've been so friendly and helpful. I'm glad I'm on the right track, I've read quite a few guides on here as I want to do it right and not follow the outdated advice which is so plentiful on the internet & Facebook!

I'll be sure to post pictures

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thanks, I'll use the setup you've described. I know it's difficult to say but should I start off with a 75W bub (60"x24"x24" plastic viv in the UK) and move to 100W if I'm not getting the correct temp under the bulb?


Thanks for everyone's help, you've been so friendly and helpful. I'm glad I'm on the right track, I've read quite a few guides on here as I want to do it right and not follow the outdated advice which is so plentiful on the internet & Facebook!

I'll be sure to post pictures

You are right, it's difficult to say for sure. I would start with a 75W (or even 50W) and adjust height. Floodlights have rather wide beam angle (in case of Arcadia heated area is twice larger than installation height - e.g. 20-30 cm for a lamp mounted at 15cm). A piece of slate also helps to achieve higher basking area temperature. High wattage lamp can overheat "closed type" enclosures so less powerful are better.

 

[Bash82]

Just checking re the Ceramic Heaters. I have a choice of 50W, 100W or 150W. Any idea what I would need in a 5ft plastic vivarium? Would 2x 50W (one at either end) be a good place to start or just get 2x 150W and reply on the thermostat to keep the right temperature? I know it'll depend on the ambient outside but not sure whether to go big and let the thermostat do the work or try to match it to the conditions? Do the CHE's need a mesh guard, the viv is 24" high with a hatchling.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Just checking re the Ceramic Heaters. I have a choice of 50W, 100W or 150W. Any idea what I would need in a 5ft plastic vivarium? Would 2x 50W (one at either end) be a good place to start or just get 2x 150W and reply on the thermostat to keep the right temperature? I know it'll depend on the ambient outside but not sure whether to go big and let the thermostat do the work or try to match it to the conditions? Do the CHE's need a mesh guard, the viv is 24" high with a hatchling.

Mesh guard is not required. I would get two 100W. 150W is more than enough to heat 6x3x2.5 vivarium when room tempetature is 60F (16C). If 200W is not sufficient I would look into insulating vivarium (cheap EPS foam sheets will work, at expense of some aesthetics).

 

[Bash82]

Thanks, I’ll go for 2x 100W and see what the temps look like.

 

[Bash82]

Just to double check before I start screwing things in.

I have the basking light at the back right in the dome, T5 12% UVB at an angle then the Jungle Dawn LED running across the front but more towards the basking end then the CHE on the right for ambient/night heat. Is this the correct placement?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Just to double check before I start screwing things in.

I have the basking light at the back right in the dome, T5 12% UVB at an angle then the Jungle Dawn LED running across the front but more towards the basking end then the CHE on the right for ambient/night heat. Is this the correct placement?

View attachment 377346

Yes, almost. If possible move CHE towards the middle of the enclosure for more even heating at night when basking lamp is off.

 

[Bash82]

Yes, almost. If possible move CHE towards the middle of the enclosure for more even heating at night when basking lamp is off.

Thanks for the quick reply, I’ll move it so it’s a third of the way down the LED bar