- Contemplating if this kiss is worth it…
Repticon Pensacola 2010 Scrapbook
Since many of you couldn’t be there with us, we thought we’d show you some of the highlights on our blog
There were lots of cool and unusual animals, along with a fantastic venomous display that had my adrenaline racing! I’ll admit it was hard to concentrate on working after that “up close and personal” show!
Gorgeous bright orange bearded dragons, the cutest baby turtles, and even a snake I’d never seen before! And of course, ReptileSupply with great products to care for every animal available!
Click on the link at the end to watch a “highlights” quick video
Pixie Frog (so ugly he's cute!)
Great use for our Flexi Branches!
That's me up close and personal with a Gaboon Viper - trying not to look scared 
Look! The cobra's happy to see me!
Okayyyy.... the albino eastern diamondback rattlesnake is a little TOO happy to see me...
Not venomous but cool anyway! "Calico Sunbeam"
Question: Does the heat on the Hovabator turn and off accordingly? When I turn the dial to set it at the 
temperature I need, the light turns on. Then, the light will turn off after about 15 minutes. Does it regulate the temperature to stay at the level I set it to?
Answer: Yes. When the temp drops below the setting you selected, the light will turn on (letting you know the incubator is heating back up). This is normal.
Ball Pythons are a fairly docile snake (although apparently my spider ball didn’t get the memo), quite beautiful, and
available in an array of ” color and pattern morphs”. Being nocturnal, UVB lighting is not necessary. Long lived, and not over-sized they are considered a great snake to keep as a pet.
Bedding: Most popular choices are Aspen and Bark based substrates:
Aspen:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=aspen
Bark:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=repti+bark
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=douglas+fir+bark
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Exo-Terra+forest+bark
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=cypress+bed
Large Water Bowl:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=large+bowl
Note: for baby snakes please choose a smaller, more appropriately sized water bowl
Hide Caves (recommended to use one on the warm side of the tank, and one on the cooler side). Please choose one of an appropriately size for your snake.
Rock Dens:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=rock+den
Reptile Caves:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=ball+python+cave
It is recommended to use moistened sphagnum moss in the cave area to raise humidity:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=sphagnum
Heating (75 degree ambient air temperature with a warm area of approx 95 degrees is recommended).
Various Sized Heat Pads:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=hot+heat+pad
Humidity and Temperature control:
Fogger to help raise the humidity in the enclosure (please refer to your breeder or caresheet recommendations):
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=2394
ZooMed’s HygroTherm – Humidity & Temperature Controller (digitally set it, and it automatically turns your heating and humidity devices on and off as required to maintain your ideal habitat levels) :
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=2472
Digital temperature and humidity gauges:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=hygrometer+therm
Here is a checklist for one of the most popular reptiles in the reptile hobby today. The Crested Gecko. Popular due to their manageable size, calm dispositions, and variety of color and pattern combinations, they are also quite easy to take care of if set up in the correctly.
>Humidity levels must be kept between 60% and 80% (misting will be required)
>Temps should average 72 to 78 degrees (so basking bulbs or heating devices are not necessary if your home’s ambient temperature is already averaging that).
>They are a nocturnal species meaning they are active at night. No UVB is required, however to simulate a day/night cycle, a low wattage day bulb or low percentage UVB bulb can be used. Temps must not exceed 85 degrees at the highest “basking” area, so high wattage bulbs are not necessary.
>Glass tanks such as Exo Terra’s Glass Terrarium’s or ZooMed’s Naturalistic Terrariums are well suited to their needs.
>Bedding should be a bark or coconut variety that can retain moisture.
>Plenty of naturalistic decorations (for your enjoyments and theirs). Artificial vines, branches, and plants will simulate their natural habitat, allow them to hide, climb, hunt, etc…
>A water dish and food dish
>A mixed diet of insects (ie: crickets, mealworms), and prepared crested gecko diets (that can be mixed with water or baby foods to form a wet mixture that they readily lick clean).
Humidity:
HabbaMist (an automatic timed water spraying device):
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=320
MotoMister (handheld spraying device that is battery operated and amazingly efficient with an incredibly fine mist):
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=2395
Various foggers to help raise the humidity in the enclosure:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=fogger
ZooMed’s HygroTherm – Humidity & Temperature Controller (digitally set it, and it automatically turns your heating and humidity devices on and off as required to maintain your ideal habitat levels) :
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=2472
Digital temperature and humidity gauges:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=hygrometer+therm
Lighting:
2.0 Fluorescent bulbs (low UVB):
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=repti+2.0
Compact Fluorescent fixtures:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=compact+fluorescent+hood
Linear Fluorescent bulb fixtures:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=reptisun+hood
Low wattage bulbs:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&s=1&keywords=low+wattage+bulb
NOTE: Wattages of heating products used will depend on the size of the enclosure you are trying to heat, and the ambient temperature of your home. Keep in mind, Crested Geckos prefer their temps on the cool side.
Substrates:
Coco fiber bricks:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=brick
Cypress Bedding:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=cypress+bed
Jungle Bed:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=jungle+bed
Cage Furniture:
Plants and Vines:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/index.php?cPath=31_56
Water bowls and food dishes:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/index.php?cPath=31_57
Food and Books:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&s=1&keywords=crested+gecko
After reading an interesting article in Reptiles Magazine on Russian Tortoises (May 2010 issue), we made a checklist linking to items suited to their care, as recommended by the author. This checklist is by no means a definitive list of the items needed (substitute for your favorite brands, or alter as necessary). This is a simply a guide to help you get started:
- - If kept indoors, a large plastic tub (the larger the better).
- - Ambient temps need to average 70 to 75 degrees during the day (with a basking area between 90 & 90 degrees). Nighttime temps must not fall below 40-45 degrees.
- - Basking bulb or heat emitter
- - They require a UVB bulb
- - Low rimmed shallow bowl for water
- - Hide Cave
- - Coconut Bedding bricks for substrate
- - Temperature and humidity gauge
- - Calcium supplement
NOTE: Wattages of heating products used will depend on the size of the enclosure you are trying to heat, and the ambient temperature of your home.
Here are some popular heating devices used for tortoises:
Ceramic Heat Emitters in various wattages:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=ceramic+emitter
Clamp Fixtures suited for ceramic heat emitters:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=wire
Dimmable clamp lamp fixtures:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=dimmable
Basking Heat Bulbs in various wattages:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=basking+spot
UVB Lighting
Various 5.0 UVB Bulbs (in fluorescent linear tubes, and compact fluorescent formats):
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=5.0
Hoods that hold either linear tube fluorescents or hoods that hold compact fluorescents:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=terrarium+hood
Various Mercury Vapor Bulbs (which provide UVB and heat all at once):
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=mercury+vapor
Fixtures suited for Mercury Vapor bulbs and Compact Fluorescent bulbs:
(the first TWO larger deep domes in this link are suited to most Mercury Vapor Bulbs:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=deep+dome
Combo fixtures that hold both heating bulbs and fluorescent linear tubes:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&s=1&keywords=combo+fixture
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=combination+strip
Digital temperature and humidity gauges:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=hygrometer+therm
Hide boxes large enough for them to be able to get in and out of:
These are the largest huts (in regards to open space) we carry so far, and will probably be large enough for an adult Russian Tortoise:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=hut+giant
(dimensions are included in the descriptions, so that you can determine if the size will be suited to your particular pet).
Smaller huts:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=habba+hut
Coconut Bedding bricks (that hold moisture but must not be wet. Since they enjoy digging burrows, a slightly
moist substrate that helps retain some humidity works well. In the wild, however, they are from more arid climates, with humidity levels averaging 58 to 60 percent.
Various coco bricks or substrates as recommended in the article:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=brick
Low Rimmed Shallow Water Bowl:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=549
Calcium supplement (with D3) if your tortoise is kept indoors:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=calcium+with+d3
Foods recommended are natural organic mixed spring greens, with occasional treats such as hibiscus, dandelion, rose and prickly pear cactus (make sure these have not been chemically treated in any way).
Here is a commercially prepared food by Zoomed, that shares many of the same ingredients recommended:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=grassland+food
Other extras that might help in the care of your pet:
Lamp stand (to hang your lamp over your enclosure):
http://www.reptilesupply.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=lamp+stand
Russian Tortoise book: http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=2621
I’m using Zoo Med’s Naturalistic Terrarium Hood (the 18″ size) & loving it! Why? ‘Cause it’s an all in one!
I grabbed one off the shelf yesterday (for my own pets) and didn’t realize it had TWO switches! So I have a night heat bulb in one socket , and a compact fluorescent in the other.
They are getting the best of both worlds at one time with an easy to use fixture. They spend the day basking and taking advantage of the beneficial UV rays from the compact fluorescent and when night comes around, I switch off the fluorescent bulb, and they continue to get their heat and sleep, uninterrupted!
It’s lightweight, has a sleek design, is extremely affordable and it can handle up to 60 watts. While it was designed to be used with Zoo Med’s Naturalistic Terrariums, they work great on any tank 10 gallons and over. Check them out on here!
