Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First of all thank you for the wonderful helpful replies.

To answer a question below. Yes, he was using wood shavings. He is going to put paper towels down now. He poop was kind of like a mouse poop yesterday. Today, I didn't see it. Son did, he said it was watery.

Vitamins and electrolites, yes the pet store owner said we needed them and the directions say to spray on his body everyday. Should I put these same spray vitamins on his food or should I get other vitamins.

Vets...trust me, no vets around here to take care of lizards or birds. In fact, they didn't have a clue about rabbits. So, all I have are y'all. So, I'll find the para??? online and get it shipped out to me and hope for the best.

We have some canned dog food so we will smash up some of that until we get the baby food.

Now I think someone answered the question below but I want to ask this again. If the bulb that I have says that it produces UVA do I still need one that produces UVB? What's the difference?

This is what we have...

Day Glo Daylight Lamp Bulb 100W It's a desert & tropical Terrarium Lamp. Is this the right bulb for the basking? Son told the owner what he needed and those are the two items that he gave him.

It says on the bulb box: $9.79

BRoad spectrum daylight bulb for terrariums
Creats heat gradients for thermo-regulation.
Increases ambient air temperature
Stimulates natural behaviour through UVA rays
Can be combined with Night Glo or Heat Glo for 24h cycle.

So do I still need a bulb that produces UVB rays or is this all I need?

He was off of his rock for a change. Maybe his home is warming up enough so that he doesn't feel like he needs to be on the rock all the time.

Again, thanks for all of the help. If Houston makes it, it will be because of all the help here.

I don't know if those spray vitamins are going to be particularly effective; I've never tried them. Certainly it is more likely to metabolized by the lizard if it's on his food as opposed to sprayed on his skin. However, I'd recommend getting the powdered calcium and vitamins instead. They can be used to "dust" his food. I just put my crickets in a cup, add a little powdered mixture, and swirl them around for a few seconds; then I feed them to the lizards.

About the types of bulbs you need--this should help clarify things: UVA is in the visible range, and is responsible for normal behaviors such as feeding, diurnal movement, mating and others.
UVB is a non-visible wavelength, and allows the synthesis of vitamin D3, which helps to process calcium and prevent metabolic bone disease.

So to answer your question, yes, you do need a full-spectrum flourescent bulb in addition to the one you bought for basking.

Keep asking questions. We'll be here for ya!

élan
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1.1.0 Collareds
1.0.0 Mali Uromastix
0.0.1 Butterfly Agama
1.0.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Chinese Dwarf Newt
2.0.0 California Newts
0.0.1 White's Treefrog
0.0.1 Fire bellied toad
0.0.1 American Bullfrog
0.0.1 Midland Brown Snake
1.1.0 Felines
0.2.0 Canines
1.0.0 Equine

Thanks for explaining that. It helps me to get the whole picture. This place is great!

We do have a calcium powder that we sprinkle on the lizards. Is that what you are talking about and is that sufficient?

I wish I could see you post while posting this so that I don't ask the same question that has already be answered. Being able to edit my questions would help too but I don't see a button for that.

Not complaining though. The pet store owner tried to help or maybe not. Maybe he was hoping we would have to buy another lizard. Speaking of another lizard...do you think I should get a female to hang out with him or are they loners?

I could hug everyone of you!

Do you mean you sprinkle the calcium powder on the lizards or on the crickets? If it's powder that you sprinkle on the crickets then yes, that's what I meant. I'd get some vitamins, too.

I agree, an edit option would be nice. I haven't found that button either. I'm too OC about grammar and typos!

I think a female companion is a great idea after you've gotten Houston back on his feet. Though honestly, I have never noticed my collareds really interacting with one another in a social way. Mostly they respond to other lizards that they view as possible threats (like when they're being territorial) or possible mates, but they don't really just hang out together, if you know what I mean. Right now, while he's sick, he doesn't need any added stress. A new cagemate could prove to be very stressful to Houston in his weakend state.

I'm headed to bed now. I hope we've been helpful. Please update us with his progress and post pictures. We love pictures!

Good night,

élan
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1.1.0 Collareds
1.0.0 Mali Uromastix
0.0.1 Butterfly Agama
1.0.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Chinese Dwarf Newt
2.0.0 California Newts
0.0.1 White's Treefrog
0.0.1 Fire bellied toad
0.0.1 American Bullfrog
0.0.1 Midland Brown Snake
1.1.0 Felines
0.2.0 Canines
1.0.0 Equine

You know, do they like to be held and given human attention? My son held him all the time when he first got him and he would jump from him to me and to one of the other kids. Then someone told my son that they weren't supposed to be held a lot so he quit holding him.

Okay, before I head off to sleep, the name is "Parazap." I've never used it because I have a local vet who has prescription meds to give them, but it can't hurt.

Also, about the handling: do I think they need or like it? Probably not, but it helps keep them tame. They respond much better to handling than some other lizards like chameleons, for example. They don't get as stressed as some lizards, but I'm sure that given their druthers (I know that word's probably not in the dictionary, but I couldn't think of a better way to put it) they'd rather stay on their rocks basking in the sun and not being bothered.

élan
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1.1.0 Collareds
1.0.0 Mali Uromastix
0.0.1 Butterfly Agama
1.0.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Chinese Dwarf Newt
2.0.0 California Newts
0.0.1 White's Treefrog
0.0.1 Fire bellied toad
0.0.1 American Bullfrog
0.0.1 Midland Brown Snake
1.1.0 Felines
0.2.0 Canines
1.0.0 Equine

just to reiterate, there are tons of power supplements out there so make sure you are buying the correct thing and not two vitamins or two calciums. i would say get a good retile vitamin powder to use once a week and a calcium with a ratio of 2 calcium:0 phosphorous to use 4 times a weeks, maybe a little extra right now. insects have lots of phosphorous so lizards don't need it to be supplemented.
UVB is very necessary and i hear even if the basking bulbs say they have it, it is never a sufficient amount (except i think some of the really expensive ones have it) i would say take back one of the bulbs and put the money towards a UVB strip lamp
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

> I just have to put in my two cents!

It sounds like your pet store is just in it for the money. Jerks. I hate stores like that. Lizards do absorb some moisture through their skin, but they're not like frogs! Spray the stuff on their food, or add it in their water. I used an electrolyte spray on Tobias and Novia when they got dehydrated, but I put them in a container with 8 ounces of lukewarm water and 2 teaspoons of the liquid- That gives them the chance to absorb what little (if any) moisture they can, plus also drink! It especially helps if it is scented, mine was watermelon.

Calcium and Vitamin powders are deffinitely best. Make sure you're not giving too much of one or the other though. Everyone is mentioning this Repti-Glow 5.0 UVB... I have an 8.0, I got the highest they had since Tobias was so ill and it seems to be working well. Hope it's not too much. =/

It's good that you are getting him on paper towels. Who ever told you to use wood shavings, or if you chose that on your own, well... They're just not good. I don't even like them for my hamster!!

I don't know if anyone has told you, but try getting a cricket keeper... There are a ton of varieties, and they help with the feedings.

Collareds can be tamed or they can be just a viewing pet. My Tobias is very tame, he loves to have his head rubbed, and his belly. He gets kisses all over his head and belly every day. But if you decide to tame yours, be careful. They have a pretty good bite for a lizard, and they can break the skin.

Good luck with the dog/baby food. Do you have the needle-free syringes? If this helps any, I fed Tobias 5mL a day, sometimes more if he accepted it. Just make sure not to overfeed, or they will vomit.

Oh, and parazap... It is GOOD stuff. Stinks like heck (like ginger, actually ) But it helped Tobias and Novia in the beginning. Amazing stuff, lasts a long time.

Okay, I'm done!!
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Amanda ^_^

"Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to." ~Alfred A. Montapert

Annabella just loves being held, petted, and rubbed. If you get in the habit she'll run up to the front of the tank when she wants attention.

Ezra he is okay with it, but uses it as an excuse to leave his tank and explore.

Baby Cory rather be left alone, but I still hold him.
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-Nicole

2.1.0 collared lizards
2.0.0 side-blotched lizards
1.0.0 desert tarantula
small tropical fishes

I don't handle mine much. Amon doesn't like to be held at all, but Amaunette is usually ok with it.

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1.0 Common Snapping Turtle (Goliath)
1.0 Brown Anole (Anubis)
1.0 Green Anole (Baal)
1.1 Great Basin Collared Lizards (Amon, Amaunette)
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (Spiega)
1.0 Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Logan)
0.1 Spoiled Mutt (Storm)

You're getting a lot of good advice here. Hopefully, your little guy is going to be ok.

A couple of things that might help you that I didn't notice elsewhere:

- Don't do like I did and buy your UVB bulbs at the petstore! I bought a Repta-sun 5.0, and it cost me $30. Then, I found Repti-sun (with an 'i') 5.0 online for $16. That's a big savings! Also, watch your size. The first time I ordered online, I didn't notice it was default set to the 15" size, and I needed the 18" size. Click here for the site I buy them from

- Dual bulb light fixtures: I use one on mine. but, I also have a hinged screen top, so it isn't as big of a deal that it is heavy. I just lift up a corner of the hinged screen top and toss in a cricket, roach, worm, whatever.

- Companions: I'm guessing most everyone here has more than one. I have two, and I bought them together. I agree that getting a second one now, while yours is weak, is a bad idea. The new lizard might kill it. Also, it can be a very bad idea to have two males.

- It was said once, but is worth repeating: the lizard must be within 12" of the UVB light in order for it to work. Any further and the rays dissipate. Also, the lights need to be replaced quite often. Every 6-12 months or so. One last thing: UVB light cannot penetrate glass or plastic. If your light has a plastic cover over the bulb (usually used for fish tanks to keep it dry) you must remove it.

You also said you wanted pics of other people's setups. I'm more than happy to oblige, since I am so proud of mine!!!

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1.0 Common Snapping Turtle (Goliath)
1.0 Brown Anole (Anubis)
1.0 Green Anole (Baal)
1.1 Great Basin Collared Lizards (Amon, Amaunette)
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (Spiega)
1.0 Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Logan)
0.1 Spoiled Mutt (Storm)

cable, one day you will come home to a cageless house! lol

just one last thing, i would recommend waiting on getting a new guy until your current collared is ok. usually it is good to quarentine the new lizard for 2 months to make sure it will not have parasites or anything bad (just for future reference)

UVB bulbs are cheaper online but since your guy really needs one i would get one ASAP, so maybe pay the extra? just a thought but you will need to change the UVB out every 6 months so keep the internet sites in mind
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

I cannot find the site I was thinking of, which had a breakdown of the UVB output of various bulbs, but I did happen upon this site, which has a pretty good overview of the need for UVB & a "definition" for a full-sectrum bulb (to paraphrase: there is no industry standard set for it, so in essence, it can be anything the manufacturer wants it to be).
http://www.calzoo.com/html/uvlighting.html

And here's another one: Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection. Here's the URL: http://www.anapsid.org/uvtable.html

If I ever do happen upon that site again, I will post it here. It had a really great study of the differences between the bulbs & it was an independant study (I beleive the one that Melissa Kaplan was mentioning from Boston University School of Medicine).
Hope that helps some.
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1.1 Crazy dogs (Sandy & Gizmo)
1.2 Vacationing Kitties (Puddy, PeeWee & Mikey)
1.1 Veiled Chameleons (Charlie & Emma)
0.1 Collard Lizard (Jimmie)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Lily)
0.0.1 AWOL Leopard Gecko (Eddie)
0.1 Amazing Fiance =o)

Of course! I do like to support the boards that are helpful. I will keep my eye out for something to get through here.

Beautiful set up. How often do you change the sand?

I don't. I have a sand sifter thing that is basically a tupperware container with the bottom cut off and some screen glued on. I got it at Pet Smart for a few bucks. It works quite well. I also use it for transporting crickets and roaches from their holding tank to a reptilian doom.

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1.0 Common Snapping Turtle (Goliath)
1.0 Brown Anole (Anubis)
1.0 Green Anole (Baal)
1.1 Great Basin Collared Lizards (Amon, Amaunette)
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (Spiega)
1.0 Chesapeake Bay Retriever (Logan)
0.1 Spoiled Mutt (Storm)