Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We got an appx one-month-old DHL a week ago. We ordered Harvester Ants right away. They were supposed to be to us in 3 days, instead we just received them today...7 days later. In the meantime, we've been feeding him one week crickets (made sure they were far smaller than the size of his head). He was eating about 10 per day. Yesterday, we got some smaller ones and he ended up eating about 20 or so. He's been wagging his tail and seeming very healthy. We finally got the ants today and fed him appx 30. He looks really full. I'm concerned he over-ate, because he was so happy about having the right food. Also, he ate SO much more yesterday than the previous days... I expected there to be more waste, but his little poop was about the same size as previous days (he's been defecating every day, so I took that as a good sign). Anyway, he's showing no negative signs, but I'm concerned I may have over fed the little guy. How much are these young ones expected to eat daily? And also how close to "sun-down" should they be fed? I know they need the heat to properly digest.

I've read a lot on these guys, but haven't been able to find many specifics regarding young ones.

Any help would be great. Thanks!

Sounds like you are doing a pretty good job from what you say. Assuming your lighting and cage size is good I'd say you have one fat happy DHL there.
They do love ants, but they also love variety at times, so the crickets are ok too.
Good luck and let us know how things go.
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Phrynosoma.Com

I would just like to add that 7 days does not sound unreasonable. As a seller of ants myself, I try to ship next day...after payment clears that is. But this does not always happen. Most people ship priority mail...which takes 2-3 "postal employee" business days... to "most locations". They don't gurantee that time frame unless you ship express mail with a guranteed delivery date which would cost you much more.
How close you place your order to the weekend is also a possible delay factor.
It could be worse. I have heard many stories about the well known seller we all know, taking up to 3 WEEKS to get you an order. But there are government employees at work here, so any delay may not necessarily be the fault of the shipper.

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"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

Thanks guys, for those responses. Do you have an idea of how much the little ones should eat each day? Will they over-eat? Like I said, I'm concerned I gave him too much, and here it is almost noon, and he hasn't "woken up" yet. That is, he's still burrowed from last night. Is he just digesting all that good stuff?

Where did you get the lizard?

Everything sounds ok ( not serious ). Once you change a dietary item it may take a couple of days before you actually see a change in the scat. You're not overfeeding. He may be staying down burrowed because of improper temps, or he may be preparing for hibernation. You have proper lighting, including UVB?
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"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

Well, the temps haven't changed at all for the past week and he's normally been coming out by around 10am or so. I put the UVA/UVB light on around 8am, then I turn on the heating lamp about an hour later (trying to duplicate somewhat of a normal sunrise, then the increase of temp). The terrarium is 95-98 degrees on the hot side and 5 degrees lower on the cool side. This is the temps I've had him at for the whole past week and he seemed to dig it.

He finally came out yesterday for a short time. He only ate a few ants, like 5 or 6. Then he went back down a couple hours later. Maybe the dietary change is affecting him more than I thought. For some reason, I feel he was doing better on the crickets. But we'll see. I know they need the acid in the ants. I think maybe it's a hydration thing? He doesn't seem to like the misting at all. I tried putting a really shallow dish in there. But he didn't seem to respond and then the heat evaporated it all. Then I was worried it was too humid...I know how delicate these guys are and I'm just trying to do everything right.

By the way, I did do a lot of research on the UVB aspect. I know it is necessary and I dropped the dough on it. However, I'm curious if there's a certain one you recommend since you have so much experience with horned lizards. I realize you have an outside terrarium (from what I've read on your pages, etc) but is there one you used effectively in an inside terrarium?

I like the powersun and use the 160. You just have to have a large enough tank to dissipate the heat it generates to keep the temps reasonable.
A little humidity at times is good for them. In their native habitat they have summer rains and get quite humid at times. YOu just don't want it so bad or for so long you get mold growing.

See if you can't find a rock with a shallow bowl shape. Place it slightly toward the back but near (not directly under) the hotter part of your lamp. Get a spray bottle at the hardware store and fill it. I keep mine near the edge of the tank by the light so it warms up slightly beyond room temp. After feeding in the morning or evening spray the rock with a direct stream. This will splash the HL's and the glass on the side and back of the tank. Once they get pretty wet they'll start drinking. Keep it up for a few minutes, shifting to a finer mist spray once they are drinking and spray them directly. Also fill the "bowl" in the rock so it makes a small puddle. If the rock is close to the light your HL should climb up on it and will usually sit in the puddle and wallow, soaking it up.
This is the most natural way I've found to present a drink to my hl's and my hatchlings love it. They will often drink the droplets on the side of the tank too. As they roll down the glass they attract the attention of the hl's.
I do this every other day for hatchlings and twice a week for adults. Keep your tank clean or it will smell pretty bad when you spray it. You want to use bottled water as tap water is often hard and alkaline. It's just a hunch, but I think this can upset the acidic balance of the HL's digestive system.
Good luck sir!
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Phrynosoma.Com

Yes, I would have to go with Powersun...or T-Rex Active UV Heat, as I have used both and I like. I've also looked at trying out a Mega-Ray. I try to go for the one's with the best radiated UVB numbers in microwatts for the price range. Only thing I go outta my way to recommend against, is the Sun Seeker crap. They're cheap mercury vapors, for a reason. Brand and price differences vary among people, but the important point here is that you want to use a mercury vapor if you can't provide an outdoor setup with natural sunlight. Flourescent tubes aren't worth a damn unless you're just using them to supplement the mercury vapors or give them a break.
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"A man that should call everything by it's right name, would hardly pass the streets without being knocked down as a common enemy." The Complete Works of George Savile, First Marquess of Halifax 1912,246

Hey guys, just wanted to say thanks for all your help. Your advice is very appreciated. My little guy is doing just great and has already visibly grown in the month I've had him.