[rhacoboy]

Hi All,
So I've been keeping my group of Phants, 3.4, in a room in my basement since January. 3.3 are adults and breeding, and the young female is in her own Kritter Keeper. In the room there is also a trio of Ebenaui.

I have been keeping these guys in 18x18x24" Exo Terra's per pair, and the same size for the trio of Ebenaui. I know its only been three months, however due to the temps being around 64 in the room, I have decided to move a couple pairs upstairs to induce breeding. My upstairs room is around 72 and usually warms up in the summer to around 76-80. Are these temperatures too warm for Phantasticus?

Also, I'm not sure if this could have anything to do with it, but the cages seem a bit large for such small animals. The pair I've moved upstairs I also moved into an 12x12x18 and I have a live ficus and the floor is covered in leaves. Does this sound sufficient to you? I'm not sure if this is too small. I'm thinking of having custom made 12x12x24's made for my Phants. I'm also taking into consideration once they start laying eggs, in an 18x18x24 I think I'm going to have trouble finding eggs.

Anyway, give me your opinions! I've got several of each size, so neither is a problem for me to house them in.

Let me know what you think.

-Armen

[Graham_s]

Those temperatures should be ok, but not if they get any warmer (even slightly) IMO.

I personally wouldn't want to risk keeping phantasticus in a room that reaches 80F.

I use a 45x60x45 vivarium for breeding pairs/trios of phantasticus size Uroplatus, and it is a little harder to find eggs (have been looking for some for a couple of days now... I know they are there somwhere but haven't a clue where!!), but it is definately worth it as they make use of every inch of the vivarium. I would feel uneasy about keeping more than one of them in anything much smaller than that.

I wouldn't keep a pair in something as small as 12x12x18, but I think there are probably a lot of people who have success with vivaria of that size.
I would go with the theory that they will use all the space they are provided with, and if you have an gut feeling that they should be in something bigger, then try it.

As for looking for the eggs though - I found that it isn't as difficult as I expected it to be.

[David]

if they are fresh imports, it should be dangerous for your animals to induce breeding with higher temps, as the austral winter is getting closer
(wild caught animals from south hemisphere sometimes need 2 years to get used to our seasons)

[NigelMoses]

18x18x24 is a great size for phantasticus. If the space is available and you have the enclosures go with the larger size.

As far as finding eggs, just use oak leaf litter. Josh's frogs sells bags for $4.99 each, you get plenty for multiple terrariums. I simply place a large pile of leaves in one corner, the corner I want them to lay in. The rest of the vivarium has leaves scattered here and there a top coconut coir but by no means as much as the corner. I have never once had any of my phantasticus lay anywhere other than the pile of oak leaves. Odds are if you can't find a phantasticus female, she is under the leaf pile laying for you, it's extremely exciting. If they are infertile they will waste no time in hiding them.

[rhacoboy]

Thanks everyone.
I got these guys in February, and have been keeping them in the low 60's till now. Hopefully the warm up triggers breeding.

[jadrig]

Also, once you warm them up, make sure you are feeding them more. I think the increase in food has to go hand and hand with the increase in metabolism. I know that the more your female eats, them more eggs she will produce.