Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys, so our new enclosure that we built is about a 67 gallon tank by measurements. The baby lizards seem to like it and enjoy the added space to explore. We're wanting to add some plants to it, hopefully low-maintenance desert life that wont be too widespread, or grow taller than the height limit allowed (about 18 inches). Main issue is that we do not want to add a toxic plant incase the little guys nibble while we're not around. Looking for something more realistic to their natural habitats, and that will also offer shade. Ideas on which kind works best, and where to find/purchase would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Taken at night after the storm here the other day:

really nice cage, well put together. YOu can use agave desert cactus, and also silk plants for Micheals or the Dollar store. MOst of the cactus and succulants you can buy do well in such a cage. Hey by the way are you a guitarist? I see the strat? What kind of music do you play?
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

Thanks very much for the reply, Repto. I'll look into those ideas and see what we can find. The enclosure turned out pretty nice, very close to the idea we had in our heads before starting. We used acrylic for all sides, wood, water-proof sealant, and a few other epoxy glues, semi-wide chicken wire-type screen for the removable top lids... oh, and spray-painted two different colors. It took a couple days between letting things dry, and about a week before we put the little ones in, mainly not wanting them exposed to any fumes. Just being on the safe side.

I play some sax and a bit of bass guitar. My gf owns a few guitars; strat and a couple Iceman, mainly... that's one of hers in the background. She plays synths also, and has been in a few bands. It's sort of an alternative rock/idie type sound... very different. She plays when the lizards aren't around, of course. Dont want them stressed or disturbed. Though they do like to poke their heads out and investigate when they hear a low, gentle music playing on stereo. They seem to like it.

Do you play instruments?

I agree . . . I think they do like music. My son and I used to sing to ours and they always came walking toward us or turned their heads to "look and listen" when we did. Kinda funny to see. Do you have any photos you could post of yours?

That's interesting to know yours did something similar. They seem to enjoy certain music when played softly. Ours always come out, or calm down when my girlfriend sings to them. Especially the little male when he was very sick. He liked to listen to her voice. At times, it was the only sound/thing that would get him to open his eyes.

Here are a couple of pictures of our little ones.

The male is on far right... female in back. Male used to have a much more pronounced reddish tone, though it is now slightly less with hints of green/gray here and there after his recent shed. Hard to tell colors with these pictures taken outside. You can see some video of him on a new post my gf is currently working on.

Btw, thanks for what you said in regards to us having a "mission" more than a hobby with these guys. It sure feels like it at times. We love them, and hope to help however we can. Keep up the good work informing people of their needs and care. It does make a difference.

Yes I am a professional guitarist, haven't played for awhile, mostly blues and Jazz in a christian orientation with respect to postive message and christian oriented words. Played with a group called "Spirit Breeze" shortly before I moved to Texas and recorder a CD they are still together and are an awsonme concert group. I love playing Blues and can play with the best of them in the blues idiom. I have a double cut-away triple flame mapel Gibson Less Paul and also a very rare Ibanez Artist 2045 Secret agent guitar that was used used by artists such as Eric Clapton, and Sly and the Family Stone and others. It is a 1975 model and has a vintage blues sound that is incredible and I often use it for studio work. I also have a Fender Cyber-twin amp 165 watt two 12" speakers with 200 sounds that can be tweaked to my own liking. This arrangement of instrumentation does everything I want to do. I am more a purist in playing lead guitar as I do not use very many electronic gadgets and gismo's....I play quite a bit like MIke Bloomfield and George Benson combined as far as style preference. Glad your in with music, and maybe your girlfriend might know what I am relating here.........Cheers!!
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

Hey, thanks for sharing. It's great to know more about your interests, Repto. That's cool that you are so dedicated. Always like to know more musicians out there. My girlfriend did read the post and seemed to know some more about the instruments/equipment that you mentioned. She says that she likes Gibsons for their distinctive tone... and that it is a great choice you have. There aren't many purist guitarists out there, from what I have heard nowadays. It's true, there's so much can do with a guitar without all the added effects. Keep playing when you can, and let us know if you record any new material in the future.