Experimenting with hatchlings

As more baby veileds come into my life I have started considering the amazing differences in growth rates and overall variation among clutch-mates. I have successfully raised them up to selling size (3 inch snout to vent) in both glass and screen enclosures, and contrary to popular opinion find glass Exo_Terra glass to be ideal for the tiny ones. More on that later.

My plan for this clutch is to pick thirty out that are in the median weight range, and house ten communally in Exo Terras and ten in a screen cage of the same footprint, but taller. Another ten, I am open for suggestions for. There is a lot we could vary.... diet, bulb types, sunlight exposure, watering methods, temps, humidity, etc. Anything within my control, I'm willing to entertain. Any suggestions appreciated.

Comments

I would put the third grouping into a plastic tub with screen top and maybe a cpl of screened holes on the sides. I would also try cup feeding some and free range feed others and try a combination of both with the third group. Im interested in seeeing results of that trial.
 
I can do a Sterlite tub easily enough. I'm considering feeding one batch Phoenix worms, greens, gut-loaded crickets, everything I can get my hands on and having one group just get crickets. That group would get no sunlight exposure, etc., just bare bones and see how the others take off comparatively.
 
I too have found the exoterra glass enclosures with the screen tops and vent under the front doors to be ideal.
 
New idea! I'm leaning towards using substrate in every enclosure. I need three different ones. I'm leaning Yesterday's News, Reptibark, and perhaps Calci-sand. I kept and produced more bearded dragons on sand before it became "deadly" than I can remember. Never had an impaction, and we're talking hundreds of dragons every year between me and buddy. I kept my 1st veiled for years on substrate until I found a care sheet instructing me otherwise. I've never tried babies on substrate, but I'm doubtful I'll encounter an impaction. I've seen them swallow bark, dead leaf matter, all kinds of stuff -some I played tug of war with to take it away! I'm so doubtful, that if I suspect one, I will pony up get it X-rayed and proven out one way or the other.
 
New idea #2. I've set up one group using only standard T8 fluorescent lights (no UVB). I' giving D3 orally to the whole group, through a liquid supplement by Exo-Terra. This batch is on Yesterday's News, so substrate injection is highly unlikely, and the safest of the three.
 

Blog entry information

Author
elrojo
Views
1,269
Comments
6
Last update

More entries in General

Share this entry

Back
Top Bottom