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Proper enclosure size for juvi henkeli?

tazziesmommy Nov 29, 2004 04:33 PM

I got a baby henkeli about 2 months ago. He is now about 3 months old and weighs 3 grams (my scale doesn't show anything more accurate) and his SVL is about 3.25". I was keeping him in an aquarium that is 18 3/4" H x 30" L x 12" W. It has peat moss substrate, live plant, fake plants/vines, waterfall, cork bark, thick branches, 5.0 repti sun UVB, 50 watt red light on one side (on all the time) and he is misted twice daily. Other than being a little worried that the enclosure might be too big for him to find his crix, I thought he was doing fine. He had difficulties with his last shed though, and, when increasing the daily mistings didn't solve the problem, I put him in a plastic "critter keeper" where I could better control the humidity. He completely shed within 24 hours.

Now... my concern is that his enclosure really is too big for him right now. What do you think? Should I move him to a 5 or 10 gallon tank until he gets a little bigger? Or should I just get better control of the humidity and keep him in his "big" tank? Is his size/weight ok? If so, then he is obviously finding enough food, right?

I tried suggestions I found here - putting some crix in a bowl with a small sponge in the bottom, but I don't know if he ate them or if they got out. I also tried small mealies, and some mango baby food with added calcium, but he ignored both of those things.

I had an adult male henkeli for about 2 1/2 years, but I found him dead one morning with no warning whatsoever. I bought him as an adult, so I don't know how old he was, but still... I don't want anything to happen to my baby.

Sorry for my first post to this uro forum to be so long, but I'm really worried about my little guy. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Lisa

Replies (4)

bsmith251 Nov 29, 2004 05:24 PM

This topic has been covered... read the following threads starting at this link...
Juvi Henk enclosures

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Ben

tazziesmommy Nov 30, 2004 12:10 PM

Thanks
Lisa

PHEve Nov 30, 2004 01:40 PM

Sure hope you got the answers you were looking for from Bens posts, He knows what hes talking about

If you need to know anything else your not sure of , give us a holler.

There are some very experinced, and NICE people on the forum, who would be pleased to help you out anytime.

Nice to have you!

Enjoy
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Eve / PHEve

flamedcrestie Nov 30, 2004 02:30 PM

plus we all love to see eachother's animals. so feel free to post pictures whenever you're able.

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