BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Buddy finally got a new enclosure, traded his 4 feet tank for a 6 feet one instead.

I'm kinda unsure about the sphagnum mulch though.. I had a lot of it at home since I use it for my tegu, so I gave it a try. He loves to bury in it but it kinda sticks to the sides of his mouth. What do you guys think about spaghnum mulch, anyone using it?

can't help with your question but i wanted to compliment on your enclosure ^^
Not a fan of fake-backgrounds but the decoration in there looks amazing

Thanks!
Neither am I, it looks an aquarium background. thinking of getting cork tiles or something for background instead.

Wonderful tank! I use peat moss, I think they are about the same consistency? I noticed it stuck to Giddy's mouth quiet a bit for about the first week and then it stopped doing it so much, not sure if he started doing something different (keeping his mouth shut while her burrows? lol) but I rarely see any on his lips anymore. he had a little bit this morning but that was the first i'd seen in about three months. I think you are fine, unless one of the other more experiences members says otherwise. Did I mention how drop dead beautiful that enclosure looks!? If you are looking at doing up the background I highly recommend taking a peak around the dart frog forums, those guys are pretty amazing when it comes to enclosures!

I'm still stumped on how the lighting is hooked up in these tanks! I'm making a custom tank for my bluey and I just have no clue how you do it! How is the lighting set up in your enclosure??

Hot dang that's a handsome tank! Bravo!

Absolutely beautiful setup! That is going to have my wife all over me to improve the ones I am building even more. The metal legs and trim are a nice touch, and I particularly like the tree with the vine.

I have not used that substrate for my bluey, but I did discontinue using EcoEarth in part due to the substrate getting all over my skinks face and nose.

Roarschak11 wrote:I'm still stumped on how the lighting is hooked up in these tanks! I'm making a custom tank for my bluey and I just have no clue how you do it! How is the lighting set up in your enclosure??

I have been meaning to upload the pictures you requested from installing the lights into the enclosures I am building but have simply been too busy to get them up for you. Sorry! It is pretty simple though. NOTE: I AM NOT AN ELECTRICIAN. This information is based on my experience and reading/training from a prior job.

1)Drill holes in the back wall of the enclosure to run the cable into the enclosure to where the lights will be installed.
2)Mount a electrical box (round/octagon type that are used for lighting or those used to mount swivel flood lights).
3)Remove a tab on the electrical box so the cable can be run into the box.
4)Run the wire through the drilled whole and into the electrical box.
5)Strip the ends of the wires about 1/2 an inch so you can connect them to your light fixture.
6)If your fixture has wires use wire nuts to connect the hot (black or colored except green) wires together. Then connect the neutral wires (white). If you are using a cable with a ground connect the green or bare wires. There may also simply be a ground screw (green) that you can connect the ground wire to. Make sure to use electrical tape to cover/secure the connection as well. If your fixture simply has colored screws to attatch the wires to then you connect the hot wire to the brass screw, the neutral to the silver, and the ground if applicable to the green screw. If using a two wire cut electrical cord the wire in a smooth casing is hot and the ribbed casing is the neutral.
7)Using the screws that come with the electrical box or those that come with the light, mount it to the box.
8 )Attatch a plug to the other end of the cable if not using an extension cord. You can also run the cable to a dimmer and then run it from the dimmer to a plug if needed. This allows for more control of your heat and lighting.

If you are not comfortable, speak with an electrician or go to your local hardware store.

Love your setup! What kind of plant decorations did you use?

I love what you've got here, making me think about getting an extra big tank for when I get mine! The vivarium itself looks stylish as well