Checklist HELP (please)

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Minibixxibunny
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Checklist HELP (please)

Postby Minibixxibunny » Thu Nov 09, 2017 1:55 pm

Hello! :D I am new to the Blue Tongue Skink world. I am planning on going to the Reptile Super Show in California in January but I can't decide on what exactly I need for my BTS. I am hoping to get a Northern and probably an adolescent or adult. I am hoping that the people on this site can help me by compiling a list of great products along with links and/or prices so that I can know what terrarium is best to purchase and what to purchase for decoration and estimate the sum. If you would like to comment or message me, either one is fine. Thank you! If anyone else is going to the Reptile Super Show, feel free to let me know! Thank you!
kingofnobbys
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Re: Checklist HELP (please)

Postby kingofnobbys » Fri Nov 10, 2017 12:41 am

Minibixxibunny wrote:Hello! :D I am new to the Blue Tongue Skink world. I am planning on going to the Reptile Super Show in California in January but I can't decide on what exactly I need for my BTS. I am hoping to get a Northern and probably an adolescent or adult. I am hoping that the people on this site can help me by compiling a list of great products along with links and/or prices so that I can know what terrarium is best to purchase and what to purchase for decoration and estimate the sum. If you would like to comment or message me, either one is fine. Thank you! If anyone else is going to the Reptile Super Show, feel free to let me know! Thank you!


For starters my list would be as follows :

1) an adequate tank = 4ft long x 2ft wide x at least 18in tall , best If solid timber with front sliding glass doors if the BT is older than 12mnths

2) at GOOD quality UV light and proper REFLECTOR hood to suit = either a 10%UVB or 12%UVB T8 or T5HO tube , mount under lid (especially important to put it UNDER the lid if you buy a glass tank which has a mesh lid (mesh will block at LEAST 40% of the UVA and UVB if the UV source is placed ontop). Make sure the UV tube is about 2/3 - 3/4 the length of the tank with one end right next to the basking globe).
GOOD QUALITY T8 and T5HO uv tubes are made by ARCADIA REPTILE (GERMANY) & ZOO MED (USA) ,all other brands of T8 & T5HO uvb tubes are dodgey Chinese clones and best avoided.

3) basking globe provide daytime light and heat ( NOT A COLOURED globe , domestic colourless par38 incandescent or halogen globes are fine )

3a) a domestic light timer to automate you 14-16 hour light cycle ( turning the basking globe and UVB tube on and off for you ).

4) ceramic (HI TEMP) e27 light fittings for the basking globe & the ceramic heat emitting.

5) a ceramic heat emitter (mushroom shaped globe which emits NO LIGHT when on) + a thermostat with a remote temperature probe. (I'd run the ceramic heat emitter controlled by a thermostat 24/7)

6) water dish (shallow & heavy with rough internal surfaces)

7) stainless shallow dish for feeding veg & greens and salad and other dead foods

8) digital refrigerator thermometers with probes on long cables at least 3x (See Ebay)

9) live insects to give as food
>> best for an adolescent or adult BT are :
>>> BSF lavae
>>> silkworms (med - large)
>>> crickets
>>> locusts
>>> roaches
>>> cultivated garden snails

wont hurt to have some Repashi VEGEBURGER and GRUBPIE on hand as backups for those times when you can't get live insects or fresh veg greens .

10) suppliments
>>> calcium powder - I live ZOO MED REPTICALCIUM ( I don't use the VitD3 fortified version - as my gang get adequate UVB and plenty of dietary calcium & make their own VitD3 in their skin
>>> reptile vitamin powder - I use ARISTOPET REPTI-VITE

I keep eastern BTs , on a mix of course KRITTERS KRUMBLE & natural dry bluegum leaf litter .

Don't buy the skink UNTIL you have the tank setup properly and the UV gradient right and the correct temperatures at the basking spot, the warm zone and the cool zone - refer to northern BTS care sheet for temperatures and guidance on substate .
Don't buy your 4 legged scaley until you have boned up on it's caresheet and needs.

If buying from a show : make provision in your budget to have a local reptile specialist vet do a wellness assessment on it to make sure you have a fit and healthy pet from the getgo (a lot of shonky reptile sellers out there and you can not trust anything they tell you about it's history and health status) .
Aim to buy from a LOCAL hobbyist breeder rather than a commercial lizard farmer or a pet shop chain , this way you are likely to get healthy pet and you can perhaps get to see it's mom and dad and siblings.

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