Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm going to get a new light for my new cage, what should i pick...

Exo_terra ReptiGlo 2.0 , 5.0 , or 8.0?

and other than that, all I should need is a good heatlamp...but if im going to get a UVB already from teh ReptiGLo, is it safe to get the Zoomed Powersun as well, since it will also emit UV?

also, has anyone ever tried using any humidity kits with their tegu? and if so, what do you reccommend?

thanks,
chris and diego

Personally I find the flourescent UVB bulbs useless unless your tegu is sitting on them. You're lucky to get 12" of UVB with even the highest level flourescent UVB bulb and would have to replace it at least every 6 months. I would definately use the Powersun though. I've been using them for a year now. Although they are supposed to last for 2 years, I get maybe 6 months out of them. But the good thing is, they have a great warrenty. Send them your old one with receipt, they send you a new one.

I don't use a misting system, rather a ultrasonic humidifier that I got from Walmart. Stick a 1 1/2" PVC pipe in the opening, and you can route it inside your cage. It's a lot better than these "reptile" foggers. I've adapted mine to 1" flexible tubing, so it's easier to maneuver when I'm refilling the tank.

>>I'm going to get a new light for my new cage, what should i pick...
>>
>>Exo_terra ReptiGlo 2.0 , 5.0 , or 8.0?
>>
>>and other than that, all I should need is a good heatlamp...but if im going to get a UVB already from teh ReptiGLo, is it safe to get the Zoomed Powersun as well, since it will also emit UV?
>>
>>also, has anyone ever tried using any humidity kits with their tegu? and if so, what do you reccommend?
>>
>>thanks,
>>chris and diego
>>

I agree that you don't need to get a flourescent UVB bulb if you have a zoomed powersun. The mercury vapor lights put out so much uv that a flourescent uv bulb wouldn't even factor in. You could save money by getting a regular flourescent bulb if any at all. It might seem like I'm just trying to save you money but I wouldn't bother with a mister for the cage either. I mean tegus spend like almost all their time in the hide box anyways so as long as it's moist in there that's all you should have to worry about. I rewet the mulch in the rubber maid hide box about once a month then check it for mold off and on. I don't ever worry about cage humidity and I don't have any sheding problems with either of mine. A lot of the time it's no more humid in the cage then in my house besides they are walking around my house or outside just as much as they're sitting out in their cage anyways.

thanks for the great responses...

i think id like to get him a new hidebox too, i know they sell some fancy looking caves and such for them, but are these actually good for the reptiles' health since it would be hard to keep them moist? what kind of hideboxes is everyone using now? and rollin.....only mist ONCE A MONTH?????

c and d

I was using a permanent melimine hide box . The problem I had was I was using a Rain maker JR misting system and there was too much moisture in the hide box . I got a fungas in the cage and on him . The fungas is now gone and so is the hide box.So i now us a large morter mixing tube . There about 11.00$ at Home Detpo. I cut a hole in It so he can get in and out of it . Its 2' wide and 3' long. They have smaller ones also . You can also use a cat liter box for smaller tegus . I use the bigger one since Santaigo is 4' 2" and 16 lbs. Good luck Russ

i use a sterilite thats about 3' long and 1.5' wide. i cut a square hole in the end of it and drilled holes all along the side and all over the top lid. then i stuffed it w/ damp cypress mulch. my almost 2yo red tegu spends 80% of her time in there. its very easy to clean and maintain -k

I use a Rubbermaid hide box with a hole cut into the side for them to enter. I fill it most of the way full with moist peat moss. You have to keep it completely covered with substrate too so it's dark in there. Actually I just dump a little water in there then mix it up, once a month at the most. It keeps the moisture in there so well because it's plastic with only one hole. The only time it's gotten dry is when they hibernated for 6 months. I used to mist their cage everyday but what a pain and it's not really necessary. If you read www.bluetegu.com he also stresses the importance of a hide box for humidity needs.

I think that new link Rowad put up explains it nicely.

"Whatever method you use, make sure that there is substrate, hay, or something else which will hold moisture without getting moldy inside of the hide box. Tegus naturally spend much of their lives inside of their burrow and so rely on it to be very humid. Good shedding, and consequently a healthy animal with all of its toes and tail, depend on a humid hide box."

My experience mirrors what he said. The only bad shed I've seen was when I first got my girl and didn't use a moist hide box.

thanks again everyone....

but ROLLIN, when you say you completely cover the hidebox wtih substrate, do you mean bury the entire thing, or just the bottom lip of it? basically, just somewhat dig a hole for it and leave an opening fot them in the side, right?

chris and diego

I been using the rubbermaid containers that aren't very tall so I can cover it. If they see any light they will try to push the substrate to block it.
I suggest what Bert says for substrate "Ground coconut fiber (such as Bed-A-Beast or ZooMed Eco Earth) is a good substrate to use as it is very absorbent and easily spot-cleaned. It does very well in the hide box/burrow as well, since it holds moisture for a long time but is not prone to mildew or mold. Cypress mulch also works well"

Here's a pic of the entrance hole of the rubermaid, all of the rest is covered with peat moss. The whole hide box is about 4' by 2' but all you can see is this little corner of it (for them to go in and out of). Any other questions? Sorry this is hard to explain.

Nope, I got it. thanks again ROllin. how deep is your substrate then, it looks really deep in that picture?

Yeah it is I'd say about 8 inches or more. I don't have hardly any on the basking end though. Dispite all the deep substrate they only really dig in the hide box : / but I do wet down the substrate outside the hide box regardless. I use about 3 gallons about once a month at the most. The hide box hardly gets any cuz it just stays moist.

Maybe it's not quite 3 gallons a month but it's a lot. And speaking of rewetting if you use peat moss you really have to mix sand or something else in there because otherwise when it gets dry the water runs through it and it just floats on it. BTW don't worry I'm more then glad to help you and any others with some ideas.

thanks so much rollin, ill let you know if i have any more questions...hope to pick up the cage the weekend after this and am planning on ordering supplies and decorations from black jungle this weekend...should look awesome, ill be sure to post some pics when its completed.

chris and diego

Rollin how big are your tegus and How big is your cage?thanks Russ

how important is it that the hidebox has a floor to it?

Taz my B&W boy just hit that 4 foot mark. I haven't measured Jazz girl lately but she's between 3 and 3 1/2 feet long. My cage is 8' by 3'. I measured that hide-box for you as good as I could with it being buried, I got 3.5 feet by 22". I've used different sized rubbermaids as they've grown. I've noticed they like to make a tunnel around the inside wall of it with a bigger chamber at the end. If the box is too small or not enough substrate they plug the hole (because of the light). With this Rubbermaid box their tunnel is long enough that they haven't had to plug the hole yet. I put the hole in the corner so they can make the tunnel turn enough to block the light.