My pygmy enclosure - Page 4

galad · 04-26-05, 12:55 AM

if you have the use of a vehicle and a national park near by go out into the woods and collect some moss and branches that are free of any insects. Wash them out a bit with warm water and they should be fine. It would be the same thing as you growing the moss in your backyard, just alot less time consuming

ws

newticus · 04-26-05, 10:45 AM

i have some more questions. For keeping R. brevs, do i need a screen lid, or can i use my aquarium lid? The aquarium lid would keep the humidity up. I use screen lids on my cresteds and have a problem with humidity. Another Q is how easy is it to breed brevs?

meow_mix450 · 04-26-05, 01:04 PM

A screen lid is better so that fresh air can pass through. Humdity is easy to keep up when you have live plants and forest bed as substrate. Also misting it twice a day will keep the humdity up just fine. But does the aquarium lid have any holes?

Meow

vipervenom · 04-26-05, 01:57 PM

galad, the reason I asked was because when I go out and actually find moss, which is plentiful, I often find baby centipedes, millipedes, and other unwanted guests after a while in the cage, even if thoroughly washed, which is why I inquired about the sterilisation. Lol, I think I am going to do an experiment, I will try to put live moss in boiling water for a minute, and immediately wrinse it off with cold water, and see if that does anything, and continue to see if it dies. I will try different ways to sterilise, and I will post my finding for others to see.

As you know, chameleons require good ventilation. Even though pygmies are much more exceptional to this rule, they still must have fresh air, aka, yes, have a screened lid.

Breeding, is not necessarily easy. Usually you are lucky for one to survive for an extended period of time, even more to breed them, however it has happened, and the most commonly bred is rh. brevicaudatus. It takes time and patience, and much trial and error, and even more research, but it can be done. Occasionally eggs are found when re-arranging the tank, or sometimes, eggs actually hatch in the tank, but it is best to artificially incubate.

galad · 04-26-05, 02:42 PM

Yea that would be cool if the moss was able to withstand the temps and live. Worth a try.
If it doesn't work try letting the washed out moss sit for awhile. There are probably eggs left after the washing maybe letting them hatch and crawl away would work.

ws

meow_mix450 · 04-26-05, 03:35 PM

how about just buying a bag of moss? haha I bought a bag of moss for like about 5 bucks, and Ive never had problems with it and still have a bag full. Its also clean

Meow

newticus · 04-26-05, 03:52 PM

why are baby centipedes and stuff bad? do they hurt pygmies? or are they poisonous? oh, has anyone ever added plants they collected from the wild aside from moss? My aquarium lid has a hole in the back for a filter and heater, i could also leave the lid open, there are no sticks that get high enough for them to climb out.

newticus · 04-26-05, 04:10 PM

Let's see if this works,, this is my terrarium so far

meow_mix450 · 04-26-05, 04:29 PM

Wow it looks good. I can see that you have added a few cm's of gravel, live plants, sticks, and dead leaves etc. Have you added the springtails yet? Also what kind of substrate you put in?

Meow

Collide · 04-26-05, 05:43 PM

Id just be concerned with the acual plants u are using i know ivy is toxic and i think that bigger one is too i have two that look like that and reciently found out they are toxic as well. id sugest looking them up to be safe.

newticus · 04-26-05, 10:36 PM

the one that looks like ivy, is actually some kind of herb, and the other is a type of fern, not ivy. I'm using triple mix soil, as i'm on a budget. I wasn't sure if i should add the spring tails, cause there's no poop yet.
Should i be adding more plants? everyone elses tanks look so lush

roocat71 · 04-27-05, 07:01 AM

I would prefer a bit more cover, other then that it looks great.

-roo

vipervenom · 05-01-05, 10:07 AM

I see you have Baby's/Angel's Tears in there, great plant! Another awesome plant to get is called Jacob's Ladder. I would also add a taller plant that may provide cover and shade, such as a small pothos.

Centipedes and millipedes are poisonous if eaten, and also will bite the chameleon if gievn the chance and their bite is also poisonous (besides millipedes). Also I find it somewhat anoying to have all of these critters running around in the tank.

newticus · 05-01-05, 07:13 PM

You know what's kinda weird. I went to the Home Dept plant section. I was looking for pothos. I figured they would have some. I couldn't find it so i asked the lady there. She didn't know what it was, I figured anyone who ever did anything with plants would know pothos. I guess i was wrong. Good to know about the centipedes and millipedes. I'll keep my eye out cause i gathered moss from outside.
Yeah i saw the baby's tears and thought,, hmm this would look cool. I'll deffinately check out jacobs ladder

vipervenom · 05-03-05, 04:49 PM

Yeah baby's tears are awesome and very soft and fluffy plant, great decision. My Jacob's ladder is getting huge though! Make sure your tank is a good 30 gallons before getting one!

Another plant I suggest is called the air plants. Actually closely realted to broomelaids and known as tillandsia. They are relatively cheap, med growers, and do awesome in terrariums. Just glue or attach one to a bracnch or driftwood (anywhere basically) and they grow awesome and turn out beautiful, a whole new level of decorating! I highly suggest them!