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Post by viridis on Oct 7, 2011 8:55:31 GMT
Does anyone know of where I can buy this in the U.K. that will deliver?I am coming up with blanks as no one seems to stock it.apparently its used for sunbeds.
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Post by viridis on Sept 18, 2011 9:20:35 GMT
My adults seem to have.The youngsters are still up.Down here we are having warm days and cool nights. Why not get a few tropical lizards for inside?
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Post by viridis on Sept 14, 2011 7:06:58 GMT
In my opinion they will be fine for hibernation ,I think that the amount of ultraviolet it will have little effect on them if they are adult.Youngsters may be another story. The problem that I had this year was with the adult females getting enough ultraviolet in the breeding season.I would guess that you might have this problem as well next spring.You could supply extra light wiyth ultraviolet tubes/bulbs but this would probably be costly.Otherwise take the glass off the top of the enclosure or use utraviolet emitting glass.Most of my enclosures have half mesh and half glass tops.In the spring I need to make them fully mesh. In my opinion the adults emerged from hibernation and stayed under the glass because it was warmer and therefore didn`t get enough ultraviolet light.
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Post by viridis on Sept 13, 2011 9:32:48 GMT
It all depends on the species.Those from Northern Europe will have a much greater seasonal range than those from Southern Europe..The length of daylight is obviously dependant on the seasons and to be honest I would try to replicate our daylength in the U.K. if you are eventually going to release them in outdoor vivaria.
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Post by viridis on Aug 18, 2011 19:08:57 GMT
I cant really comment on the Tegus or Water Dragons but I really think that you are over complicating things for the Lacerta.I would be tempterd to dig down a couple of feet and backfill the hole with rubble,earth and sharp sand.That way the lizards can find their own hibernaculum without any problems. As you said there is no guarantee that they will use your barrel or they may dig under your barrel and not nbe able to suface.The lizards will need it damp but not soaking wet,so you may want to cover the enclosure with bubble wrap.I find that a good layer of leaves acts as a good insulator.
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Post by viridis on Jun 17, 2011 19:24:51 GMT
I use sharp sand which I guess equates to coarse builders sand.At first I used fine sand but was advised away from this as it could get in their eyes and noses.The sharp sand works well as it does not waterlogue.
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Post by viridis on Jun 12, 2011 18:20:48 GMT
In my opinion people worry too much about hibernacula.If you can dig down to around 18" and fill the hole up with coarse sand and old rubble the lizards will burrow down naturally to hibernate.Some plants and rubble at surface level will help. With regards to the overhang I would always cover any outdoor vivaria to keep pests out.Podarcis are vey good escape artists so they to covered in my opinion.
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Post by viridis on Jun 8, 2011 12:19:43 GMT
Leaves are a very good at insulating,I use them in conjunction with the bubblewrap.It really depends on the plants.I have had some die and some survive.Some of the succulents have done quite well but a few of the heathers have died off.I took the view that it was better to save the animals than the plants.
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Post by viridis on Jun 6, 2011 19:39:44 GMT
Nice pictures.Are the Holapsis a montane species?
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Post by viridis on Jun 6, 2011 7:33:25 GMT
Hi Chris in the past I have used www.meshdirect.co.uk .I dont know if they are the cheapest but I found them efficient.Perhaps look at their website then have a look on Ebay.One thing that I would add is I would not go for mesh under 1/2" square as small mesh really cuts out the sunlight.This is unless you have very small lizards or lizards that climb a lot like Wall Lizards. If you want to see your lizards better its worth painting galvanised mesh black. It might be worth investing in a U.V. monitor.They are not cheap but nor are the ultraviolet tubes.They will tell you when to replace tubes.It is also interesting to note how little ultraviolet the tubes give out as opposed to natural sunlight.I am talking about the T8 tubes here I have not yet tried the T5s which are supposed to be better ( certainly in terms of brightness if not ultraviolet).
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Post by viridis on Jun 2, 2011 13:45:26 GMT
My outdoor vivs are all sand based.Over the last couple of years I have increased the depth of the sand in the sunniest spot to around 6" more than the general depth.On top of this I have put an old roof tile.This year it has worked and the females have laid underneath the roof tile .I believe that it is a combination of these factors.The roof tile gets warm and offers somewhere to retreat.Of course you will get the odd female that doesn`t think like a human.
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Post by viridis on Jun 2, 2011 9:29:09 GMT
They will colour up in time.If you can give them a varied diet with wild caught insects this will help.If you can keep them outside in the sunlight their backs may go greenish as well.
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Post by viridis on Jun 2, 2011 9:22:35 GMT
Very nice.A couple of questions though,do you get any aggression between the Wall lizards and argus?The argus are considerably larger. I would be concerned that the lizards may hibernate in the sand that is on the top of the concrete and therefore freeze.They may not realise that the hibernaculum is there.Iin my view too much is made of man made hibernacuklums,lizards will hibernate if given enough rocks and depth of sand where they want.I know you put the concrete there for the mice.You could always wrap the outside in bubblewrap or old carpet in the autumn to ward off the worst of the weather.
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Post by viridis on May 28, 2011 17:50:33 GMT
A mixed bag for me,eleven infertile bilineata but three fertile P.m.nigriventis ;D.Hopefully I will get some more bilineata but now the weather has turned back to typically British summer weather.
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Post by viridis on Apr 13, 2011 9:47:01 GMT
For sale.L.alpestris eggs believed to be alpestris alpestris from captive bred adults that I have had since the early 1980s.NOT for release in the wild. £12 for two dozenish including postage.
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