Aisian Long Tailed Lizards

[Twixy]

Hi guys.
I'm looking for some help. I'm looking at getting some Asian long tailed lizards, but having not kept reptiles before I have no idea where to start. The sort of thi i envision with these is maybe four or five in a set-up with mostly live plants and grasses.

My main problem is I'm struggling to find any diagrams as to how the actual tank needs to be set up, and what I would need to include in the set up itself. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[RMorrow]

Your on the right track. I used to punch a bunch of small holes through cardboard strips and feed 1/4" twine through to a length about equal to the heighth of the tank. Then I would suspend it upside down from the top of the cage so it looked like an upside down wig. The lizards would weave in and out in a somewhat natural behavior taking advantage of the vertical space. This also allowed for better thermoregulation by the lizards since the basking area was stratified fully from the top of the cage to the floor. And let's face it, they are much better at taking care of themselves than we will ever be at taking care of them. Most of the time these animals live and thrive dispite the things we do. Also, it was cheap and disposable.

 

[Twixy]

Sounds like a good use of space. I think the main thing I'm looking for though is how the actual lay out of the viv and the lighting and heating works. Being a real rookie I don't know what type of bulbs I need and where the bes placement of them would be.
Just trying to get my head round basking lamps as well do you need one for UV and one so you can see them? or does one bulb do both.

A diagram would be most useful
Thanks

 

[Sylvias]

The simplest way to set up a vivarium is in layers.
-Bioavtice substrate on the bottom (usually made of little clay water absorbent balls)
-A screen layer to keep the substrate separate from the clay, the only reason i have seen for this is if you intend on changing the substrate but you wont really need to if you have an effective system.
-a layer of small rocks or gravel for drainage
-fertile soil, I use a mixture of peat, organic top soil and eco earth
if you want to ad a water feather it's as simple as getting a little pump, sticking it to the bottom amidst the clay and running the hose up behind some rocks or something to make a water fall, when you put water in it should be about to the gravel layer and a pump system will help to bring it to the surface, it will also let you know when the water level is running low. I have a full mini water feature and pond in my vivarium and because there are also fish in there i have a small canister filter.
I will try to get pics of my set up on here, you can see the layers on the side.

 

[RMorrow]

I would recommend a good UV source, how you accomplish that is up to you and your budget. As far as heating, I would make a basking site on one side that is about 90ish, which is a bit warmer than normal and then let the cool side do its own thing and try and maintain an ambient temperature of mid to low 80s and medium to high humidity. This allows the lizard to choose. Like I said earlier, they are much better at this than we are. The secret to success is the formation of as many micro-niches in the cage as possible.

 

[Twixy]

Right, well I was looking into something like the Vivexotic Ax 24 to house them in so would i need something like a heatmat as well as a basking lamp to keep the temperature up in there? as well as how its set up I'm looking for a basic shopping list to get started.

 

[Twixy]

Bump