Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm new to keeping lizards, but I have been keeping turtles for a long time and I'm going into a new direction.

Here are my questions:

The substrate that I'm using is Zoo Med Repti Bark. They advertise it for humid habitats, but according to my research, the humidity should only be 50-60 percent. So am I using the wrong substrate in my plated?

I am using a 2 full spectrum uva/uvb lights. Are these the right bulbs to use or should I go with a uvb only bulb? Also I have a under tank heating pad, but I do not have a basking light, and the temp in the tank is about 75 degrees. If i purchase a basking light, will this raise the temp in the tank to about 85 degrees, and do I need a basking light?

thanks.

If your spectrum lights are not producing hot spots for your lizard to thermoregulate then a basking light is important. Your lizard needs these basking spots to help achieve its optimum body temp so it can complete it's daily needs. I used wood chps for years without problems, but have since moved onto dirt mixtures.

If you just recently got your plated lizard, I would keep it on papertowels. For a month or so, you should be monitoring its poops to see if they are runny, really dry, have worm eggs, etc. Papertowls make it easy to spot feces, whereas beddings can make it kind of difficult.

You definately need to provide a basking spot. 75 degrees should be your night temperature, not your day temp, and certaintly not your basking spot temp. It is good that you are using the uva/uvb bulbs. They will help keep your plated lizard healthy. You still need a basking spot though. I would set it right above the heat pad so that your lizard associates that spot of the tank with heat. It helps because at night you will want your plated to know that that is where the heat from the heating pad will be eminating. They aren't always the brightest

It is hard to tell how much wattage you will need to raise your temps to the appropriate level without your cage size.

You should invest in two thermometers though. One for the cool end and one for the warm. Cool should be 75 degrees. Warm should be 85. Basking spot directly should be 95.

What kind of plated lizard do you have? That would help me answer your question about the humidity and bedding, as different plateds come from different areas.

Hope I helped a little.
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~Sara~
5 ball pythons
1.0 Black-lined plated lizard (Lizzy Butt)
0.1 Burmese Python (Pixil)
lots of Rats
1.1 Dogs (Ozzie and Mandy)
0.1 Cat (Isis)
0.0.1 Synodontis Catfish (Big Spotty Fish)
0.1 Convict Cichlid
0.0.1 blood parrot cichlid
0.0.1 African Featherfin Catfish

Cage ambient temps should range 75f to 82f, spot light area "air temp @92f to 95f" with ceramic tile/Terra Cotta Saucer "surface temp 95f to 110f". Be sure there are many hiding areas as Plated Lizards DO NOT like to be in the open. Never have the cage in direct Sunlight.

Depending on the species depends on the cage size; example: Sudan Plated lizard avg. SVL 18" so cage should be min of 75 gallon or wooden cage 5 ft Long x 2 ft Wide(30" to 36" perferred) x 2 ft High. A Red Infrared Spot Light bulb is more acceptalble in that you never change it unless is goes out. Also the use of 12" x 12" or 16" x 16" ceramic tile(s) under the spot light allow for belly heat to rasie body temp.

more information or pictures are needed to help you. Why are you feeding live mice? and why at this time of year? This is Brumation time/not same as Hybernation. Scroll down "Plated Lizard Forum" pages to see previous care/husbandry/breeding infromation posted by myself and others--this will help.

Also for shedding you need a humidity/nest box with Sphgnum Moss & cocnut husk(H2O expanded) so they can burrow under substrate to enter humidity box; this is where they recieve the moisture to shed. Read the previously most information them post or email me and I will help anyone the best I can. I have been keeping/breeding Zonosaurus & Gerrhosaurus speices since the 1970s' and have much experience to offer.

Also there are expienced others on this forum that have much help to offer so use as much infromation from many sources to see what works for your animals. Not every animal reposonds to any particular setup or diet and it is up to you to see how your animal responds to what techniques you are using. Learn from your lizards what they need or respond to,