Lancelot's New Diggs

[Travis]

I posted this on another site and thought it was worth sharing here!

Well I sold a really nice Ibanez acoustic guitar(Cedar top rosewood back and sides,cutaway pickup/EQ) but it was for a good cause.... I bought new diggs for my new male pastel,"Lancelot". Now he has the same ’easy care’ setup that my female normal "Sizzle" has. Two hides,2 UTHs on dimmers(for now),digital thermo/hygro for both sides,BIG water bowl,1/2" industrial insulation on 3 sides(nice cavelike appearance,timed fluorescent light(for power efficiency),low climbing apparatus,lots of viny stuff to shlink around in!!
I moved him in yesterday and he ate F/T again tonight like a champ(I just switched him back from live!). So i guess he is comfy...What do you all think? Did I miss anything? I Hope not because I will miss My Ibanez...LOL
Both of my buddies are in pre-shed so the pics don’t do them justice but, you get an idea of how super beautiful they both are(I am a bit of a doting father)

This is Lancelot...I’m kinda shy you know?...

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture013.jpg

This is Sizzle...Hey Wazzzup?

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture001.jpg

Sizzles Condo

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture029.jpg

Lance’s new Diggs

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture032.jpg




They are both soooo lovely to me and I think they both appreciate their good care (Sizzle was a rescue and Lancelot shared accomodation) by the temperment and good eating habits they have!
When asked for more info:
I start with a 20 gallon long critter cage(the one with the screen top). Cut a piece of 1/16" plexiglas to fit tightly into the area above the screen(24"x9 1/2") this leaves a 3" x 9 1/2" opening at one end that acts as your vent. Because the plexi was 30" x30" to start with I had a 6" x 9 1/2" cutoff that I was able to use as a damper plate to slide open or more closed depending if snakey was in shed or not.(3"=50% humidity,1 1/2"= 75% in my home). Under the tank itself I took 1 large and 1 medium ExoTerra Heatwave heat mats and affixed them under the tank as per instructions. Over the heat mats I taped(with tin foil tape) a cut piece of fibreglas ceiling tile in the recess this keeps everything insulated nicely below.I mount the Large on the left and this is my hot zone, and the medium on the right and this is my cool zone. Then I purchased 2 Leviton or equivalent quality corded lamp dimmers($10 ea at Walmart) and regulate my heat mats with them.This is a MUST!
On three sides of the tank I used a product called Armaflex, it is an industrial insulation like neoprene but any insulating material that looks pleasing will do(cork,foam). This adds security as well as insulation to avoid fluctuations in house temps. This is not a Thermostat system nor have I alluded that it is ,so if your house goes through humungous temperature changes...get a thermostat!
Inside you should have 2 identical hides so snakey doesn’t get to pick faves due to comfort and security, instead of temp requirements. To the cool side hide I ran a probe style thermometer($7 walmart) to monitor temps in the cool hide, and inside the tank I placed an Acurite Thermometer($12 walmart) this monitors ambient temp, humidity and I have the probe going inside the warm hide for inside temp. I adjust my mats from the readings I get from these.(Ichecked them with a laser T meter and they proved accurate!)
I placed the largest Exo Terra granite bowl 1/2 full of water in the middle of the hides but, more to the warm side(see photos). This water must be changed no less than every 2nd day to ensure freshness and stop bacteria growth from the warmth. I use News paper for substrate and never have to mist...Ever!...Since I did this setup(about a month and 2 bad sheds later)I have experienced perfect one piece sheds and perfect eating habits!(even switched a live eater to frozen thawed...I attribute it to husbandry)
Hope this helps and I would love to take credit for all of this but, The expert keepers that answer all the other questions here pointed me in the right directions(through lots of other people’s threads)I just spent some time to make a easy care system..If I missed anything let me Know!....Trav

[Travis]

Sizzle,

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture001.jpg

Lancelot,

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture013.jpg

Sizzles Pad,

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture029.jpg

Lancelots new diggs,

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture032.jpg

Sorry 'bout the picture size...Trav

[Travis]

I resized to 739 pixels wide and you still poo poo'd them wazzup with that Dr Del???

[Travis]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture032.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture029.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture013.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Picture001.jpg

Howzat????

[Travis]

Photobucket resize isn't working ...sorry Del

[deeplove]

Yo DEl...If you need resizing then holla. I'm already digin the setup. Just let me know. 800x600 is pretty normal.

[Travis]

Just an update..Both Sizzle and Lancelot shed on Thursday and Friday....Perfect one piece shed in both Tanks ...Ia m so proud of them...Especially lancelot...Apparently he had NEVER had a perfect shed for the guy who bred and raised him(I really don't think his breeder knew too much when I saw his setups,2 BPs in one tank..one temp...dial gauges...ewwww).And when I got him he was a mess, Covered in loose chunks of skin ,stuck eyecaps and headshed.
So They both look so pretty and handsome respectively. Lots of irridescence in the sunlight...I'll try and get pics...Trav