First steps!

[chondrotastic]

Alright, so I finally bit the proverbial bullet and bought a cage from LLL Reptiles. I also bought a huge pothos plant from Home Depot, cost me 25 bucks! But it is going to look sweet in the cage. Also, going to order a repti sun 5.0 18 inch 15watt light. Does anyone have any recommendations for a brand of 60 watt basking light? Also, what should I put at the bottom and around my cage so the water doesnt go everywhere?

Thanks,
Chondrotastic

ps. Im planning on a jackson, but has anyone ever bought one from the columbus reptile expo?

 

[laurie]

Alright, so I finally bit the proverbial bullet and bought a cage from LLL Reptiles. I also bought a huge pothos plant from Home Depot, cost me 25 bucks! But it is going to look sweet in the cage. Also, going to order a repti sun 5.0 18 inch 15watt light. Does anyone have any recommendations for a brand of 60 watt basking light? Also, what should I put at the bottom and around my cage so the water doesnt go everywhere?

Thanks,
Chondrotastic

ps. Im planning on a jackson, but has anyone ever bought one from the columbus reptile expo?

And so the questions and opinions began. The 60 watt basking can be any regular (non florescent) bulb.

When you say what to put at the bottom, I don't know what you mean, for water? paper towels. Around the outside plastic will keep the water from spraying out.

What size cage did you get and what size Jackson are you planning on. I have never been to the Columbus expo -sorry.

 

[chondrotastic]

I mean, I dont want the water spilling out of the cage and soaking the floor. I was thinking of like a homade tray, if anyone has any ideas. Also, I was going to shoot for a sub adult. I'm a beginner to chams and I have read that jacksons can get too much supplements in their diet. Whats a good dusting schedule?

 

[chondrotastic]

Oh and the cage size is 18 by 18 by 36.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

In my opinion 60 watts is too hot for a Jackson's.
You can use a regular incandescent household bulb ... 25 or 40 watt is plenty (I use 25 for this species).
I have nothing under my screen enclosures, there are heavily planted tubs inside.
How much misting are you planning to do?
I have never had a reason for any kind of drainage system.

-Brad

 

[skully23]

Under my veileds cage atm is a floor mat for infront of a door and my new cage has a plastic liner that goes up 5inches of the new cage. You can buy plastic liner if you can find the size for your cage

*aka tray* http://www.reptilesupply.com/images/768676072782.jpg

I use soft white house bulbs for basking

 

[chondrotastic]

Im not planning to do a ton of misting, just what the jackson requires, I thougt maybe the water would spill through the mesh cage. I have never used mesh, so I am not sure how it retains water.

 

[Carlton]

Im not planning to do a ton of misting, just what the jackson requires, I thougt maybe the water would spill through the mesh cage. I have never used mesh, so I am not sure how it retains water.

A mesh cage (when we say mesh we mean something like fiberglass windowscreen or petscreen, even a vinyl-coated hardware cloth) won't hold water in, and jax do require a lot of misting depending on the temps and humidity levels in your house. You can make a drain pan for the cage many ways. Look for a cement mixing trough, an under bed storage box or sweater box, a Reptarium "soft tray" that LLL Reptile might have, a hydroponics ABS plastic flood table, or you can make a tray to fit your dimensions out of cut rigid plastic panels and silicone them together. You can fit the tray with a drain so the overflow drips into a bucket placed underneath it.

A couple other items you should consider: a good digital humidity gauge and an accurate temp gun. From your signature I wondered if you work with chondropythons. If so, you probably use those anyway.

 

[Chameleon Loco]

Jackons dont like it that hot like veileds do as for a basking light try a 40 watt zoo med light

 

[nick barta]

If you are hand misting, you don't need a collection tray, just paper towels to soak up the moisture. The LLL cages have a solid plastic bottom, and they also have trays that the cage sits on.

Nick

 

[chondrotastic]

Thanks for the advice! When I get the cage, i will check it out. I do work with chondros so I am familiar with the whole misting schedule. How many crickets does a sub adult typically eat in a sitting? Also, what is a good supplement dusting schedule for these guys?