kingsnake.com - reptile and amphibian classifieds, breeders, forums, photos, videos and more

return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
 
click here for Rodent Pro
Mice, Rats, Rabbits, Chicks, Quail
Available Now at RodentPro.com!
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Herp Photo of the Day: Happy Hanukkah . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day: Merry Christmas . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - Dec 27, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Suncoast Herp Society Meeting - Dec 28, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - Dec 28, 2024 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Jan 01, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Calusa Herp Society Meeting - Jan 02, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Southwestern Herp Society Meeting - Jan 04, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  St. Louis Herpetological Society - Jan 12, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Jan 18, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Jan 19, 2025 . . . . . . . . . .  San Diego Herp Society Meeting - Jan 21, 2025 . . . . . . . . . . 

New Person on Board with Cage Questions


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Collared Lizard Forum ]

Posted by ETChipotle on May 07, 2003 at 11:54:02:

I just got back last month from a trip to Big Bend to see cactus blooms, and it made me think about getting desert lizards.

I'm new to this message board, and don't have any lizards.
I recently saw a collared lizard in a Petco, but it didn't look like the one I had chased around in Zion National Park 20 years ago. It didn't have much green.

Sorry this is long, but I have questions that require some context and background:

I'm currently outfitting my 90 gallon aquarium as a desert lizard cage, while I decide what to get and look for sources of lizards.

I just welded up a frame for the top, and will be installing a removable dropped mount for a 36" double flourescent light fixture. I haven't picked out a bulb brand and model yet.

This aquarium has holes in the bottom for saltwater sumps, and I'm thinking about running the wires for basking lamps up through the bottom so that the lid doesn't have to be quite as cluttered. I'm planning to use PVC lightposts so lizards can't climb onto a hot light fixture.

Questions:
1. Is 1/4" mesh okay for a lid, or can crickets climb up 24" of glass readily?
2. Using two 36" UVB bulbs in addition to basking lamps, and providing the right temperature gradients, feeding, etc. should I expect collared lizards to keep good green color or do I have to be somehow really really lucky? I'm wondering if I should get aquaflames or something.

Thanks much!
ETChipotle
Minneapolis
ETChipotle.tripod.com


Follow Ups:




[ Follow Ups ] [ Collared Lizard Forum ]