I recently acquired a hatchling Sulcata, Spica. The store told me many things that I am afraid were misleading. I have been doing my research, and have some other equipment coming in the mail in hopes that I can better give this little one what she needs.
I have a 30 gallon aquarium (36 long x18 wide x16 tall). It is enclosed with a hinged, wooden lid - with the light fixture on the inside of the lid. The substrate I am using is Coco Coir. They sold me a generic 45 watt bulb that is similar in shape and style to the 100 watt UV PowerSun I later purchased.
For the first 2 days I followed the store's instructions...
I noticed Spica was sleeping a lot under the bulb and when she would walk, she would only walk around the part of the enclosure that was lit up from the bulb.
The temperatures/humidity were
Basking Spot: 90
Warm Side: 84-86
Cool Side: 78
Humidity: 80%
I purchased the UV PowerSun and have both a CHE and a thermostat in the mail. I have been switching out the 45 Watt for the PowerSun (100 Watt) for several hours each day. Spica seems to love it. She becomes active, has an appetite, and walks around exploring her enclosure. My worry with this bulb is that it is larger and hangs a little low (12 inches). Her basking spot reaches 102 after 1-2 hours, and then I begin to worry and swap it back out for fear of cooking her. But as soon as I take it out, she goes back to sleeping under the 45 Watt bulb. The PowerSun takes the humidity from 80% to 75% in that time as well. Another of my concerns about the PowerSun is that the cool side of the enclosure goes above 90. I worry that she may need cooler temps on that side.
Also I have been spraying and soaking her daily. She loves it and becomes more active afterwards. I bought a small packet of Mazuri. I also gave her a cuttlebone and she has been nibbling on one end every once and awhile. I can tell the UV light and the humidity are helping her, she seems much happier since I have made these changes.
My goal is to keep the hinged lid, or make a new design, so that I can use the UV light for more than 1-2 hours each day. I also am needing to set up the CHE so that she can have the lights out at night. My question is should I aim to use the UV light 12 hours each day and then follow with darkness? Should I use the 45 watt in the early morning and evening? If I use the UV light I may have to open up one end and mount it higher above the enclosure to avoid extreme temperatures. What is the best way to keep an enclosure humid when the bulb dries it out so quickly? What would be the best temperatures to aim for - for a 1 month old youngster – for basking, warm side, cool side, nighttime?
Also any other thoughts are welcomed and appreciated. : )
I have a 30 gallon aquarium (36 long x18 wide x16 tall). It is enclosed with a hinged, wooden lid - with the light fixture on the inside of the lid. The substrate I am using is Coco Coir. They sold me a generic 45 watt bulb that is similar in shape and style to the 100 watt UV PowerSun I later purchased.
For the first 2 days I followed the store's instructions...
- Keep the substrate humid, put a shallow water dish on the cool side as well as a hide.
- Keep the 45 Watt (no UV) light on 24/7
- Do not spray or soak the hatchling.
- Do not feed anything other than Kale, Collards, Turnip Greens, Dandelion, Clover and other various weeds. No supplements. No Cuttlebone.
I noticed Spica was sleeping a lot under the bulb and when she would walk, she would only walk around the part of the enclosure that was lit up from the bulb.
The temperatures/humidity were
Basking Spot: 90
Warm Side: 84-86
Cool Side: 78
Humidity: 80%
I purchased the UV PowerSun and have both a CHE and a thermostat in the mail. I have been switching out the 45 Watt for the PowerSun (100 Watt) for several hours each day. Spica seems to love it. She becomes active, has an appetite, and walks around exploring her enclosure. My worry with this bulb is that it is larger and hangs a little low (12 inches). Her basking spot reaches 102 after 1-2 hours, and then I begin to worry and swap it back out for fear of cooking her. But as soon as I take it out, she goes back to sleeping under the 45 Watt bulb. The PowerSun takes the humidity from 80% to 75% in that time as well. Another of my concerns about the PowerSun is that the cool side of the enclosure goes above 90. I worry that she may need cooler temps on that side.
Also I have been spraying and soaking her daily. She loves it and becomes more active afterwards. I bought a small packet of Mazuri. I also gave her a cuttlebone and she has been nibbling on one end every once and awhile. I can tell the UV light and the humidity are helping her, she seems much happier since I have made these changes.
My goal is to keep the hinged lid, or make a new design, so that I can use the UV light for more than 1-2 hours each day. I also am needing to set up the CHE so that she can have the lights out at night. My question is should I aim to use the UV light 12 hours each day and then follow with darkness? Should I use the 45 watt in the early morning and evening? If I use the UV light I may have to open up one end and mount it higher above the enclosure to avoid extreme temperatures. What is the best way to keep an enclosure humid when the bulb dries it out so quickly? What would be the best temperatures to aim for - for a 1 month old youngster – for basking, warm side, cool side, nighttime?
Also any other thoughts are welcomed and appreciated. : )