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 #1662713


Coolguy132435
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 What I need to know?

hey, im going down to Texas in the summer(used to live there) and im going to catch a few of these and keep one or two. I just want to know what the basic requirements for them are like cage size, diet, substrate, breeding info. Can u keep a male and female in a 20 gallon or is that two small for a texas spiny lizard(Sceloporus olivaceus)
03/16/08  09:50am

 #1662898


Marshall92
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1662713


 What I need to know?

10gal. is good for one maybe two. 20 gal for two would be better. couple inches of loose dirt, rocks and branches for basking and hiding, shallow dish of water, and dusted crickets should be the staple.

basking should be about 105-115 with the rest of the cage about 72-80. daily mistings are needed so they can lap up droplets. i just squirt into the shallow dih and it sprays onto the side of the tank.



03/16/08  12:45pm

 #1663483


Reedie
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   Message To: Marshall92   In reference to Message Id: 1662898


 What I need to know?

Forget fish tanks, those are for fish!!! I use 30 gallon rubbermaid storage containers (the kind that you can see through). They work 13214654231654234654 times better than fish tanks. Measured with a temp gun that measures surface temps, I keep my basking spots at about 130*F, so it’s about 115*F or so ambient temps. Hot side stays in the 90’s cool side in the 80’s. A few inches of dirt for substrate. Lots of logs, sticks, and rocks. If you can, try and get a sexual pair and try your hand at breeding them. It’s a worthwhile undertaking IMHO. Perhaps if more CBB became available people would collect them less and less. It really saddens me that these animals are collected to be "pets" as much as they are.

Anyway, good luck and well wishes,

-Reed
03/16/08  06:53pm

 #1663495


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Reedie   In reference to Message Id: 1663483


 What I need to know?

ive thought about using a rubbermaid storage container before, how much do they cost. It wont get too hot in there will it. What kind of basking light do i need(probably a strong one) I have a spare uvb hood lamp should i use reptisun 5.0,8.0, or 10.0(i use reptisun 5.0 for my anoles). some caresheets ive read said to use sand and others said potting soil, what should it be or should it be a mix, are they easy to breed
03/16/08  07:00pm

 #1666450


Reedie
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1663495


 What I need to know?

Rubbermaids work great because...
1. They hold in heat an humidity 100000000 times better than glass fishtanks
2. They are cheaper, usually costing around $30 or less depending on what size you get and where you get it. They are usually priced at around $17-$20 where I find them.
3. You can buy them opaque so you can see the lizards, but the lizars can’t see you, so the you can watch and stare at your wonderful captive without him stressing out.

It shouldn’t get too hot. I use 45 watt halogen flood bulbs. They work great!! I highly recommend them! 40-60 watt house bulbs will work also. Though I know a few people that have successfully kept and bred scelops without UVB, for these diurnal insectivorous lizards I prefer to use it. I use the Reptisun 10.0 tube UVB bulb. I dig up my own soil from outside where I find the lizards. Sand and potting soil will both work, but I prefer the outside stuff for many reasons. They are relatively easy to breed, but it requires some time and patience. It’s more than just throwing in a male and a female and letting them do their thing. It does require some work but I wouldn’t consider it too challenging.

-Reed



03/18/08  08:30pm

 #1667393


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Reedie   In reference to Message Id: 1666450


 What I need to know?

thanx



03/19/08  03:09pm

 #1667539


Jake and Rex
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1667393


 What I need to know?

but.... it would be better for the lizard , so if you can get an aquarium you should use that.
03/19/08  04:55pm

 #1669277


Reptilefreak23
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   Message To: Jake and Rex   In reference to Message Id: 1667539


 What I need to know?

Coolguy... are You plannin on catchin our spinies, becuz the fence lizards here have like totaly disapeared.

Im a Texas spiny and desert spiny breeder and I warn you not to take them out of state.

PLEASE DONT! Any one u catch You will eventualy have to release, or you will take away
there purpose of life... breeding. And if they are released out of state they still wont get that chance or they die in captivity.

But if you breed them in captivity thats okay. (even if they are wild caught)


Just be careful I have dedicated my life to these animals(along with many others and knowin how texas wildlife is decreasing.


Just be careful... Good Luck!
03/20/08  09:27pm

 #1669712


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Reptilefreak23   In reference to Message Id: 1669277


 What I need to know?

i was going to get like 1 or 2 from my grandparents’ house in Victoria where they are everywhere, but maybe Ill just buy a pair online i know a website that sells them for 6.50 each and i think they are captive bred, they also sell a pair of emerald swifts for 20.00.



03/21/08  10:43am

 #1669964


Reptilefreak23
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1669712


 What I need to know?

What is this website?????
Ive never herd of anyone seling them except for local breeders.
And why are they so cheap?

Well anyway good luck with your buy and or catch
03/21/08  02:54pm

 #1670030


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Reptilefreak23   In reference to Message Id: 1669964


 What I need to know?

well they just sell fence lizards(no idea on the exact species) which are going to be pretty similar to texas spiny lizards and have similar care(im guessing). the website is diamondreptile.com they have lots of stuff. they sell blue phase green anoles(youre on the anole form i know) but theyre like 60$ and you have to be put on a waiting list cuz they only get like 5 or 6 annually
03/21/08  03:53pm

 #1670554


Reptilefreak23
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1670030


 What I need to know?

Thats cool I will look into that, thanks
03/21/08  09:45pm

 #1675694


Reedie
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   Message To: Reptilefreak23   In reference to Message Id: 1670554


 What I need to know?

Quote:

but.... it would be better for the lizard , so if you can get an aquarium you should use that.


What exactly do you mean by this message? Aquariums are not better than rubbermaids. Period.

-Reed
03/25/08  08:32pm


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