just looking for some ideas on substrate. ATM i have him on sand, as i had intended to bring home a kenyan sand boa, but hte hubby persuaded me to let him get "that really cool lizard" so i figured this set up would at least house him temporarily. Now i know sand is generally accepted as being bad for lizards, so i figure i should change this up. substrates i have "on hand" are aspen, cypress mulch, peat moss, sphagnum moss, fish-tank type pebbles (unpainted), topsoil and (play)sand. i cnat find a whole lot of info reguarding these guys, but it sounds like they come from a very florida-like climate (you know, in a considered to be tropical but really some nappy sand pit....) so im leaning at using dry cypress, since cypress looks appealing, and obviously a lizard this insanely colourfull is going to be a display animal (just like those tokays that never come out...) plus it retains the desired humidity well. then again, being low humidity aspen might be the proper choice, since its dry and insanely perfect for reptiles. bah, maybe even peat moss. that always seems like a good "dirt" looking substrate that doesnt coat the animal in the dirt... any input? perhaps a suggestion to go into a completely different direction?
Soaking - since these guys are from a dryer region is it safe to soak them? i've never really had non-tropical lizards so i have no idea if this has a negative impact. Since theres no doubt hes likely WC, im sure he needs rehydrating, plus he just looks like he could use some help getting some old sheds off.
any input greatly appreciated!
-Jayne
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1.3 Dogs (max, tasha, kaya, screw)
1.0 Ghost Corn (Ghost Faced Killa)
0.1 Normal Corn (Tigera?)
1.0 Yellow Rat
0.1 Central American Boa Constrictor (Achilla)
0.1 Burmese Python
0.1 Rose Hair Tarantulla (Grumpy)
0.0.1 Usambar Starburts Baboon Tarantula
0.1 White Knee / Zebra Tarantula
2 ferrets (Otis, Milo)
1.2 Emperor Scorpion
0.0.1 Nile Moniter
0.0.1 Tegu
Jack Dempsey Tank...
i'm thinking i might mix my sand with either peatmoss or topsoil. just to reduce all the "known risks" of keeping herps on sand.