Littlefoot & Cera (New video & pictures) 2013! - Page 43

infernalis · 11-22-12, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noofy

you're keeping 'em well wayne, its good to see such a big size difference in nine months!

you tried transillumination for sexing dude?

No, I am just rolling with it for now. Littlefoot will only tolerate a few seconds of this.

infernalis · 11-22-12, 07:35 AM

My flash charges in 4-6 seconds, the very next picture is this... She has some scratches on her arm from the leap into the enclosure.

monitorlizard · 11-23-12, 12:29 AM

Wayne, did you ever start breeding the Earthworms yet, or do you still by the fishing bait Canadian nightcrawlers?
Also, do you have any set instructions as to how you built this cage, I would like to do something similar, only on a smaller scale for Blue Tongue Skinks (Tiliqua sp)
Lastly, how to keeping sphagnum moss in there work? Did the humidity increase to high, or did it not survive?
Thanks

monitorlizard · 11-23-12, 12:32 AM

Wayne, do you have any instructions as to how to build that enclosure? I would like to do something similar to that, only smaller for Blue Tongue Skinks (Tiliqua sp)
Also, how to the sphagnum moss work in there? Were there humidity problems or did they not survive?
Lastly, did you every start breeding earthworms, or do you still buy the fishing bait ones?
Thanks

infernalis · 11-23-12, 07:13 AM

As far as "instructions" the closest thing I have is this...

New Savannah Monitor enclosure

The moss dies from the heat, grass and vegetation dies because the lizards tear up the dirt all the time.

Pirarucu · 11-23-12, 09:55 AM

Speaking of vegetation, have you thought about adding any bigger and sturdier plants? One that comes to mind is something in the Chinese Evergreens. Aglaonema crispum perhaps? They survive with this guy trampling through them each day, partly due to their structure. He's bigger than ten of your two and about as active, though doesn't dig as much. It'd be interesting to see how they fare in your cage. You can see some of them in this picture.

infernalis · 11-23-12, 09:58 AM

I was thinking about burdocks, I have them wild all over, very hardy plants, and as long as I trim off the flowers, they will never go to seed..

monitorlizard · 11-23-12, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

As far as "instructions" the closest thing I have is this...

New Savannah Monitor enclosure

The moss dies from the heat, grass and vegetation dies because the lizards tear up the dirt all the time.

Thanks!!!
Did you ever start breeding your earthworms?

infernalis · 11-23-12, 03:22 PM

No I have not, my bad.

It would save me money... $3 a cup adds up after a while.

Pirarucu · 11-25-12, 03:59 PM

Over a month with no new videos? Tut tut Wayne...

infernalis · 11-26-12, 09:21 AM

Last night was interesting.

First thing I notice is that Littlefoot was stuck under the basking platform, so we removed the platform temporarily and found that all of the wood that has been in contact with damp soil is rotted already.

Considering I only added enough dirt to cover it a few months ago, I would estimate that exposed untreated wood that is under the soil has about 6-9 months before it becomes soft and no longer structurally sound.

*************************************************

The next really interesting thing to happen was Cera started riding around on Littlefoot's back again, and Littlefoot jumped out of the cage with Cera on his back! as soon as they hit the floor, they seperated and started to run off. Of course Dorothy picks up littlefoot!! Yeah, leave Wayne to pick up the one that bites

I picked Cera up and very quickly placed her back in the cage before she could latch on to me.

Pictures!!!

Deep soil moisture looks good.

The soil directly under the platform was dried out, as expected since the basking light is shining right on it.

Gungirl · 11-26-12, 10:10 AM

Glad you found him and resolved the problem. I love the photo of Cera resting her head on LF's back.

infernalis · 11-26-12, 10:20 AM

Funny thing is, Littlefoot was only stuck because Cera wouldn't let him come out.

When I pulled out the platform, they were both under it, and Cera was blocking Littlefoot from coming out.

However, I always wondered what the dirt was like down deep near the bottom of the cage, so digging things up answered that question.

Secondly, discovering that the ramp leading up to the platform was rotted out was useful to know as well.

I will be building another, and sealing it with resin before I put it in the cage.(same stuff they seal boats with)

jarich · 11-26-12, 10:37 AM

Did you dig all the way to the bottom? How deep is your soil? What was the soil like? Was there any mold? Was it wet or just damp? Sorry for the barrage of questions but Ive always been curious too and just havent bothered to dig mine down all the way to the bottom yet.

infernalis · 11-26-12, 10:42 AM

My soil depth varies, I sloped the dirt up so that it's very deep on the cooler end and about 12-18 inches on the basking end.

There was no mold, just nice soil that looks like the picture of Cera half buried in it.

I dug down all the way to the large flat rock that sits on the bottom of the cage.

I was careful not to destroy too much of their "chamber" that they have dug in the mound.

Not sure if you can tell in the pictures, but this is why it looks like a hillside in there.