Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought 1.2, 5ft-6ft CB adults.
I was going to temporarily house them in a 55 or 75 gal tank, until my new freedom breeder racks arrive. I need help in getting the proper set up. I am using cypress mulch as a substrate, with a heat pad under the tank in one side. I have a big water bowl for soaking and have most of the screen top covered with plexglass to hold the temperature & humidity. Any Tips from or hints???? Thank you for your help and time!!!

MP,
. The tanks should work until you get permanent housing. Ideal setup would provide 75% or more more humidity in the cage and wrm end temperature iin the high 70s to low 80s and low end temperature in the low 70s. You may need to adjust the amount of screen top that is covered with plexiglass. Many people cover nearly all of the screen to get the humidty high enough. Are you sure the freedom breeders will not have too much ventilation? I like Freedom Breeder's high qquality products but I think I remember seeing their racks with large ventilation screens.
Jeff

>>I just bought 1.2, 5ft-6ft CB adults.
>>I was going to temporarily house them in a 55 or 75 gal tank, until my new freedom breeder racks arrive. I need help in getting the proper set up. I am using cypress mulch as a substrate, with a heat pad under the tank in one side. I have a big water bowl for soaking and have most of the screen top covered with plexglass to hold the temperature & humidity. Any Tips from or hints???? Thank you for your help and time!!!

Jeff Thanks!! for the info. If the freedom breeder vents are too much I figured I could just cover them. Once again thanks for you time & info...
MP

Hello and welcome,

The only sugesstion I have is to monitor your temps and humidity very closely over the next 3 weeks and make adjustments accordingly. Enjoy.

Linda

Thanks for the Help!!
MP

A good layer of cypress mulch or mini pine nuggets with a layer of spaghnum moss works great. The spaghnum makes a BIG difference in helping maintain humidity in the cage and all my Brazilians shed in one peice always! Brazilians are naturally fossoril in habits and love to make tunnels through the substrate. The 75 gallon would have more floor space until you get your caging. Good luck!

Have you ever had problems with flies attracted to the moss?? I try not to use it too much because I get these damn, nasty, little, flies that buzz around. I clean my tanks weekly but I still get them.....

When I first my Rainbows I was worried that I would have knats. But I have had no problem. I always make certain when buying mulch, that I don't get the top or bottom of the pile. Buy from a source that keeps it moved quickly and does not store it where flies are present. If you have too large an area of ventilation where a fly or knat can enter your enclosure it only takes 2 days for them to become nasty little wiggly larvae. If there is nothing for them to feed on they shouldn't be attracted to the mulch. I would suggest picking up excrement as it occurs, at lest daily along when a scoop of the surrounding substrate if you are not already doing that.
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

I've seen the flies and moths too! When I set up a cage I will treat it with Proventamite before using it. I use lhollow logs, wysteria vines and live plants so the whole thing needs to be treated and Proventamite is great stuff.