Check list

[New2Blues]

I am highly considering getting a BTS. I just want to know if I have the correct things so far:

-Temp gun
-Fake plant
-75 watt basking bulb
-5.0 UVB bulb
-Two hides
-Hygrometer
-Food and water dish
-Grapewood for whatever the skink wants to do with it
-Soft coco chips

Of course, when the time comes I will have food for the skink. I have an enclosure, not sure how big it is though. It is outside so I have to measure it and of course thoroughly clean it. It needs a top as well. If it is too small then I will have to get an enclosure.

I want to go to the reptile super show this weekend but do not know if I can. We'll see.

Let me know what else I would need. I feel like I am missing a light or something...

Thanks,
Amy

[A.VinczeBTs]

From my understanding a lot depends on the dimensions of the tank. Example, how high is it? 75 watts might (and probably won't) get the basking spot to the proper temperature of 90-100 range, and might not get ambient temp high enough either.
I think 10.0 UVB is the usual, however any UVB is good if it can reach the bottom (check the box, usually says max 20cm or so). You can always substitute with d3 in calcium.

Only one fake plant? Might need more, but provided enough hides it's not a huge issue.

Again, I think most here depends on the size of the tank, but I'm sure others will give better advice.

[Nae]

Using the heat gun, have a play around with temps - Many buy a variety of common house globes and try them all out to ensure they have the proper temp, as what watt they will need varies on the dimensions of the tank, substrate used, how how the basking spot is etc~

Some calcium with D3 and plain calcium is also good to sprinkle on the food. As long as there are adequate places to hide, fake plants are nothing but atheistically pleasing Hmmm....Many people also have a piece of something like slate to act as a basking spot. A lid for the enclosure is definitely a must have! And thats all I can think of...

[New2Blues]

I am most likely going to get a 60 gallon tank some where from craigslist. So I will probably have to mess around with the temps and bulbs.

I redid my list. lol

I am going to buy a few fake plants from the craft store and fix them up in the enclosure.

-Bulbs from walmart (it's cheaper there and you can get 4 in a pack! lol)
-Temp gun
-Repti Sun 10.0
-Hygrometer
-Pyrex pie plate (for water)
-Small food dish
-lamp clamp from home depot
-Half log hide
-cork bark round (for hiding)
-Repti Sun light fixture
-Calcium with D3
-A piece of slate
-Soft coco chips

I still feel like I am missing stuff, and I probably am. I know I need food but that will come when he comes lol.

What am I missing?

Edit: Oh and I am probably going to have more than two hides, it's just all I could see online. They probably have more at the store or maybe I could make some.

[Linnea]

i think two hides and plenty of nice substrate is actually plenty for a bluey that just moves in to his/her new home you can always put in more later. reptiles may not like surprises very often, but my bluey looks so entertained whenever something new is happening and he gets time to figure out what it is. it even takes priority over basking (but not eating)

this is just my own opinion, more experienced bluey owners may think completely the opposite of what i said, and you should probably listen to them if so.

may be a good idea to scout in the local stores so you know what veggies there are, how they look like when theyre fresh and bad, and the average prices and such

[New2Blues]

Thanks, yeah I just wasn't sure if two would be enough. I may add a third just in case or maybe just see if he likes it when he comes with just the two hides if not I'd add more. =)

[Katrina]

I wouldn't bother paying for a food dish. I just use tupperware lids, the plastic ones, and throw them in the dishwasher when done. Anything like that will work, some people use paper plates, any flat dish will work just fine. You don't need to pay for a reptile one, anything fairly shallow that they can eat off and you can clean will be fine.

For number of hides - get the enclosure first and see how many you can fit in there. Again - you don't need reptile specific ones, some people use cardboard boxes and I just put up a little how-to for raised hides. I love cork bark, but you really don't need to buy anything at a pet store. You can quite easily make nice hides if you have room or think he could use another.

Don't worry - with that list you will be off to a great start. Buy that stuff and set up the enclosure, you can always buy different / more stuff later, but if you get the stuff on that list then all you are missing is a bluey!

[New2Blues]

I wouldn't bother paying for a food dish. I just use tupperware lids, the plastic ones, and throw them in the dishwasher when done. Anything like that will work, some people use paper plates, any flat dish will work just fine. You don't need to pay for a reptile one, anything fairly shallow that they can eat off and you can clean will be fine.

For number of hides - get the enclosure first and see how many you can fit in there. Again - you don't need reptile specific ones, some people use cardboard boxes and I just put up a little how-to for raised hides. I love cork bark, but you really don't need to buy anything at a pet store. You can quite easily make nice hides if you have room or think he could use another.

Don't worry - with that list you will be off to a great start. Buy that stuff and set up the enclosure, you can always buy different / more stuff later, but if you get the stuff on that list then all you are missing is a bluey!

Yeah I was thinking of using a paper plate or something like that but I saw the dish and it was only 1.99 but it's better to save 2 bucks than to waste it when I don't need it right? lol

I will check out your how-to. It sounds interesting!! I will figure out some cheap ways to make hides probably. =)

Thanks! I was worried I was missing stuff. Can't wait to get started. =D

[Katrina]

I bought food dishes as well, but ended up never using them. Tupperware lids were cheaper and bigger, so they could eat off it and not get any substrate in the dish or food... and just more convenient.

I love decorating skinky homes! I find that I really like the look of rocks of all sorts and wood, if you have room in the enclosure you can add some rocks from outside if you wash them or I love getting pretty rocks and pieces of wood at aquarium stores.

This is a bad picture of egg eating (he lifted it out of the dish and made a lovely mess), but it shows rocks, wood and he is perched on a raised slate hide I made. The basking rocks I found in the mountains and just brought them home and washed them, I bought the red slate and the wood at an aquarium store.

DSC_0003.JPG

[New2Blues]

I love rock and wood looking enclosures too, but I also love plants! lol I love decorating enclosures I have found, since getting my tarantula. If I go hiking with my friends again anytime soon I will have to remember to bring back some rocks! There is an aquarium store not too far from here I can check out, also.

Thanks for the ideas! I will have to search around for rocks and logs. I am going to get plants from the craft store as well.