P.m. grandis - UVB

sad_mad

New member
Yea, it aint easy to get any viable informations this days. :)

This top ventilations is not really practical, that's why its problematic. Normally the full question would be "5% ok?". ;) On Polish forum I got one asnwer- 5% Repti Glo inside the terrarium, protected by anything really. But Frans opinion would be really valuable, so I am not doing anything yet. :)

I am thinking about bigger enclosure, but I need to fix this damn terrarium anyway. :)
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Yea, it aint easy to get any viable informations this days. :)

This top ventilations is not really practical, that's why its problematic. Normally the full question would be "5% ok?". ;) On Polish forum I got one asnwer- 5% Repti Glo inside the terrarium, protected by anything really. But Frans opinion would be really valuable, so I am not doing anything yet. :)

I am thinking about bigger enclosure, but I need to fix this damn terrarium anyway. :)

I did notice that you also asked Reptile Lighting about Exo Terra's 5% Repti Glo for inside the terrarium. Unless Exo Terra has vastly improved the specs of their bulbs, Exo Terra bulbs are poor. I have not heard anything good about those bulbs!

Arcadia and Zoo Med ReptiSun bulbs and tubes are TOPS in the industry. I would be comfortable with either of those as long as it is the proper strength.

Is there some way to remove the current top and replace it with mesh? Is the top attached with silcone sealant?

Do you know what "hardware cloth" is? In the USA hardware cloth is a metal mesh one can buy at hardware stores. Hardware cloth comes in many size grids. I bought some 1/8 inch grid. This may need a frame to support weight.
 

sad_mad

New member
I would like to avoid Exo Terra, but I do not know if Arcadias 6% or 7% bulbs will be fine. Repti Glo at least got one vote. ;)

The top is connected to the small piece of glass protecting the guides from the front and to the guides itself (I dunno if "guides" it a correct word- the thingies to keep the front of terrarium :D), so I would be afraid to remove it whole.
Perhaps you know some reliable way to cut part of the glass while its still in place?

Getting some metal mesh is no problem at all. :)
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
I would like to avoid Exo Terra, but I do not know if Arcadias 6% or 7% bulbs will be fine. Repti Glo at least got one vote. ;)

The top is connected to the small piece of glass protecting the guides from the front and to the guides itself (I dunno if "guides" it a correct word- the thingies to keep the front of terrarium :D), so I would be afraid to remove it whole.
Perhaps you know some reliable way to cut part of the glass while its still in place?

Getting some metal mesh is no problem at all. :)

Guides = the frame around the top OR hinges??? :scratchhead:

I don't know how to cut part of the glass (in place).
 

sad_mad

New member
images.jpg

These. :D

It would be the easiest solution (if there is a way to cut just the part of the top). More complicated operations could potentially mean some mistake and the need to rehouse the lizard for a longer time than I am comfortable with.
 

sad_mad

New member
Answer from Fran Baines on Facebook Group Reptile Lightning. This explains everything plus some more. :)
Hi. These grow to be big lizards, up to 30cm long, so you're going to need a much larger terrarium for him. But if he is still small, and you add some more climbing branches (ideally, living plants; a small weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) for example) that terrarium might be ok for a short while.
As for UVB, these are diurnal arboreal geckos, and they are partial sun baskers (between Ferguson Zones 2 and 3); they bask in small patches of sunlight between the leaves, in the rainforests where they live. So you need to add some "artificial sunlight" to the top of the vivarium, with plenty of dappled leafy shade below.
For UVB and basking warmth, you have a problem because both lamps should definitely be above the mesh screen, but you'll find it difficult to fit them both on that little strip of mesh. What a pity that you can't remove the glass and make an all-mesh top... A UV Index of about 3.0 - 4.0 right under the mesh will be safe; it does not want to be any stronger than that because the gecko is arboreal so will climb right up to the mesh, even walking across it upside down.

My first choice for the UVB would have been the Arcadia ProT5 Shade Dweller 7%UVB but it is 30cm long; although it would sit comfortably to one side of the mesh, there would be no space to fit the basking lamp, which must be in a dome reflector to hold it safely over the mesh.
So have a look at a ZooMed Mini Combo Deep Dome Reflector like this: https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/zoo-med-mini-combo-deep-dome-lamp-fixture
and in one of the lampholders, you could put a low-wattage basking bulb (the one you have already might be OK, but measure the temperature it reaches on the mesh and on the nearest branches below, and control it with a dimming thermostat to a safe 35C surface temperature, air temperature elsewhere in the vivarium 23-25C.
In the other lampholder you can put a UVB compact fluorescent lamp. Because of the small size of the dome, you are restricted to the smallest size of lamp, too (or it sticks out below the dome, and so the dome will not rest on the mesh.) The ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 13watt compact fluorescent lamp will be safe to use, even at close range. In a dome, resting on mesh, with this lamp I measured UVI 5.9 right beneath the mesh.
I would advise against using the only other small 13watt lamp which will fit into this dome, the ExoTerra 100. This has a much stronger output, giving a UVI of nearly UVI 10 right beneath the mesh, which is much too high.

But when you get a bigger vivarium for him, I would definitely advise changing to one with a full mesh top and use a linear tube, something like an Arcadia ProT5 60cm, 24watt fixture with the 6%UVB T5-HO tube.
You could still use the basking lamp, and put a daylight (non-UVB) compact lamp in the second lampholder to increase the visible light, which would be good for the gecko and any plants as well.
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
:banana:, Fran! She had just the suggestions you've been searching for!

Thanks to you for sharing her wisdom. :yahoo:

How are you going to proceed?
 

sad_mad

New member
This Dome is easily available in Poland, so are Zoomed compacts (unlike tubes). This seems like a perfect option. :)

And afterwards- bigger terrarium. :)
 

sad_mad

New member
She seems to be 4 years old, according to the CITES paper. Dunno if its true, this paper could be "recycled ". ;)
She seems to be an adult tho.

About the plants- Monstera obliqua, Phlebodium and some Bromelia. I am pretty pleased about the look of this terrarium, but the lizard got offended and became more "jumpy". I just hope that he will forgive me. ;)
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
This morning I sent a message to Matthew Schaefer via Facebook. He confirmed right away that your recent photo of your Phelsuma m. grandis indicates you have a FEMALE!
 
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sad_mad

New member
Well, I'm repeating myself and probably getting pretty boring, but:
thank you so damn much. :) It's really great to find this kind of support. :)

Oh, and of course say "thanks" to Matthew from me.
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Well, I'm repeating myself and probably getting pretty boring, but:
thank you so damn much. :) It's really great to find this kind of support. :)

Oh, and of course say "thanks" to Matthew from me.

Thanks and Likes are never boring. I appreciate both of them. :banana:

I'll let Matthew know. :) He's kept and is keeping many, many, Phelsuma. Matthew is a real Phelsuma-phile.
 
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