Okay, first post...
Brought home a BP last week and in hindsight we were massively under prepared for this. Doing everything we can to get him established and set up for health and long-term success. Can seem to get temps or humidity even close to where they should be and while our BP looks wonderfully healthy, but behavior seems a bit off.
Initial set up is as follows:
Glass enclosure w/ screen top, tapped on 3/4 to help with temps/humidity. Two hides, one on each side, one slightly larger over the UTH and a smaller one the cool side. Ceramic heating element and UTH on a rheostat but I am using a combination of stick on and dial thermometers to measure temps (wr actually have 6 in there now to measure the gradiant). Good news is we have a solid thermal gradiant from low 80s to mid 70s with a basking area close to 90 bad news is it's too cold. Haven't been able to measure temp in the hides. Coconut fiber substrate that we have sprayed down to get humidity up. One heavy multi limb branch and a water dish.
He is very active a couple of times a day and likes to go vertical (future escape artist on our hands if we're not careful). Will curl up in the warm hide or around the base of the branch and get into a tight spot along the edge of the tank. Was basking up in the branch when I checked on him this am. More active overnight and after anytime hands are in the tank and seems highly active for a BP. He hasn't eaten in 4 weeks, we will present again on Monday.
What I think I know...
I need to get temps up 5-10 degrees assuming thermometers are right.
I need to get digital thermometers and an actual thermostat instead of just a rheostat.
Need to maintain humidity instead of the high/low, high/low we are dealingnwith now.
Other than that, at a bit of a loss as to how to get him to settle in.
Any help/suggeations welcomed.
Cheers!
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