Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thank you all so much for your input. It all really helped me out. It does seem as though the colour of the bark may be what's rubbed off on him... I should give it a good washing to get all the dyes out! And Eve, I've already done the rock thing. I have lots of tank furniture since I have had a wide variety of frogs in my time, so I had the perfect basking rock to stick in there. As for moisture, well, I'm still not so sure what to do... And yes, I was using sifters for the sand, but it NEVER seemed to get clean enough! And the sand was always ALL over him! So that's when we went for the bark. I noticed a small spot of dead skin on his back, so yeah apparently Tobias is getting ready to shed... Hmm what else... I've decided to lay off the heat lamp and just go with the UVB... maybe use the heat lamp at night... Good, or no? Thanks.
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~Shopunke

No need to leave light on at night.

I dont understand what ya mean you think you will lay off the heat lamp and go with the uvb?

He needs both ! heat should be 100 - 105 in his basking spot, and high 80's to 90 in the rest of the tank.

You can always mist his sand in his sleeping area if ya want.
I have also noticed on some of the hotter days mine sitting near the water.
Or one laying in his shallow saucer. Thats okay!

If it bothers you, just spritz him real quick.

***** Oh and I have to agree about feeding mainly veggies,
these guys are BUG eaters. Plant matter is just for nibbling if they want it, not to survive, they will die on veggies.

BUGS ARE WHERE ITS AT , LOL Gotta keep buying crickets, heheheh get them in bulk 1000 its cheaper!
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Eve

How is Bark chips easier to clean than sand? I would think the bark comes in bags, just as heavy as sand? I would think the feces would hide itself in the chips, making it either harder to see, or harder to get.

I would definately use sand, or try it again. Just cover the bottom with the sand, and don't go any deeper. The sand is sticking to your lizard, because it is moist. I would only give water 2 or 3 days a week, and keep his cage a lot drier.

Where did you get his collared lizard? Since I don't know your background at all, I have to ask...are you 100% sure this is a collared? The voracious eating of greens makes me really wonder...very interesting behaviour you mention.

John Eddington

Although I've just started keeping collareds, I've been keeping other lizards for 20 years including many species of monitor lizards. There is no substitute for the sun. I have no reason to suspect that collared lizards are any different than the myraid of other animals I've observed with regard to their needs.
I would find a way to get them exposed to sunlight at least a few times a week.
Good luck.

Jim

t-rex and zoo-med make 100 & 160 watt UV mercury vapor flood bulbs that are for all intents and purposes, just as good as the real thing. I do, however agree that natural sun is better. If you live in Seattle.....call zoo-med!

BIG D