New BTS baby....Have a few questions!

[Laneykaz]

I recently got a 2 month old northern BTS. Got him set up in a nice 20 gallon tank with a light and basking rock at one end and a coconut hide at the other end. Ive had him for about 3 weeks now and all he does is sleep under the hide. The only time he comes out to eat or get heat is if i remove him from his hide. Is this normal? I just want to know if they generally spend a lot of time under their hide or if he is still acclimating. I have made sure that he is eating at least every other day and he is going to the bathroom regularly. All seems well except for the fact that I never see him! Please let me know if this is to be expected and any other valuable information i may need. Thanks!

[Rani-May]

hi there He might still be a little shy or stressed from coming into a new environment, so dont worry too much. plus they spend majority of their lives sleeping and hiding/burrowed. As long as you have the heat/basking light there for him. What heat is the tank? The basking spot on a rock should be about 30-35 degrees Celsius, the cool side should be about 20 degrees and no cooler than 18 degrees during the night. but u cant keep the bright basking light on during night. they need 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. so if you need the tnak to be warmed during the night you need one of those night time lights (usually a dark red, blue or purple in colour) so as not to disturb their normal patterns.

[Laneykaz]

Thanks for the reply! I'm happy to know this is normal behavior. I hope eventually he will at least come out and eat on his own, but for now i will make sure he eats at least every other day. I have the temps where they need to be, and he seems to like his set-up. Thanks again for the info, and I'm sure I'll have more questions in the future!

[Kurt]

[Rani-May]

yes, i agree with carl vvv pictures

and you are very welcome

[Laneykaz]

As requested, here are a couple pics of my new baby!





Isn't he so cute??

[Rhianimal]

What a cutie! Sounds like pretty normal behavior, and the temperatures are good. I'm not too familiar with Northerns, but he looks kind of like a Merauke to me.

[Fatal_S]

That is definitely not a Northern. Not even close Beautiful Merauke baby!

[Laneykaz]

Oh, i don't know why i assumed he was a northern...good to know!

[Lea]

He's adorable. As has been said, just check your temperatures and make sure you have a good balance and heat gradient. A 20 gallon is a smaller size and you may find it takes some adjusting, but try just ordinary light globes for your heat source- you don't have to pay a fortune for heat. Using a dimmer also helps to get those temperatures ideal. He will be adjusting to his new home, so hiding is normal at the start. Give him the respect he deserves when you want to handle him, approaching slowly, preferably from the side, so he can see you coming before you grab him. Just placing your hand in the enclosure so he can see and smell you, but isn't being picked up, can help him perceive you as less of a threat and hopefully, he will gradually come out of hiding and feel more confident. Try to resist the urge to dash over and google at him through the glass every time you see him poke his head out, too, at least in the beginning. It will help him come out without thinking he has you in his face every time and his little creature fears of the big human things will lessen.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Susann I told you not to sell any babies!!!!
Where'd you get him from?

[Rani-May]

what a cutie!

[Laneykaz]

I got him from a reptile show in Portland Oregon, but the vendor was from Washington. I'm so glad i got him!

[Laneykaz]

My BTS baby just had its first successful shed since I've had him! His attitude has changed since the shed, he's definitely more active and is out and moving around more! Here is a pic of his new look!

[Laneykaz]

Just had to add one more since it was soooo cute!

[Kurt]

hahaha! love that last one!!!!

[neurotic88]

Very cute baby BTS

What kind of substrate is that?

[Laneykaz]

It's coconut fiber. I talked to a few people and they said it was a good choice of substrate for him.

[Fatal_S]

Have to agree, that's an adorable photo

[Laneykaz]

Thanks for all the nice compliments. He's my first reptile, so there's lots to learn!