Good points, and thanks for the info on the halogens. To the eye, they seem "warmer" (yellower) than the CF. We in the pdf world have a constant issue with lighting our vivs. The amount of light required to keep the plants alive (surprisingly, moss requires a LOT of light) usually generates a lot of heat. The frogs are so heat sensitive that this is a bad thing. When CF lights came on the scene for saltwater and freshwater tanks, a few people tried and loved them. But, theyre a bit expensive unless you put them together yourself. Then, you need a fan, an enclosure/hood/canopy etc. You get the idea.
Anyway, my point is that these CF's are available at home depot fairly cheaply, they seem to do a good job (several broms are producing pups for me right now and theyve got great color to them). So, in my infinite wisdom/ignorance, I thought that Id give them a try on this (klemmeri) viv. So far, so good, though Ive no comparison to base that on. Anyway, I promise pics this weekend.
BTW, do your klem's get the "crazies" sometimes? I mean, every once in a while, mine will just feel the need to run around the viv, just like a cat sometimes does!? They dont seem agitated in a negative way, just bursting with energy! Its pretty hilarious....
Chad
--__--__--
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 13:30:15 -0800
From: Doug Johnston <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [gecko]Intro (again?) and an appeal for tips on klemmeri
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Chad...
I didn't say you shouldn't have the running water... I just was not up
to it myself. PDF keepers generally have much better vivs from what I've
seen!!! If you can keep it clean and well aerated, go for it! I'm
looking forward to seeing pics of your setup.
You are right on with the halogen lights... the filaments burn hotter in
a halogen light. That makes it put out brighter, whiter light. They can
even generate small amounts of UV (which is filtered out by the glass
prot ectors). I've also seen noticeable differences in Phelsuma kept
under the halogen spots versus those kept under other lights.
Temp drop to mid 60s should be fine. The combination of lower temps and
shortened photo cycle works well to stop breeding and give the girls a
rest, though!
Oh yeah... wanted to mention that larger, well planted vivs look great,
but I predict you will have problems finding eggs when they start
breeding. I've had some of that problem myself, and my typical vivs
aren't as big as yours!
Chad Mayer wrote:
> Good thoughts, especially on the supplementation. I vary my
> supplementation routine, mostly based on my exeperience with frogs and
> chams, but Ill change that for the klemmeri. I want to take NO
> CHANCES with these guys. Ive really fallen for them.....
> Lighting. Read the Christensons book. LOVED IT. Best book Ive read
> on keepiog any species of exotics. Heres what Iv e done: the basic
> message seemed to be bright white light. For my exotic plants, thats
> a necessity (Ive got broms and moss in with the klemmeri. They need
> huge amounts of light. So do my orchids). For my laticauda, I
> followed their (gregg and leanns) instructions to a "T". For the
> klemmeri, because I wanted to provide lots of verticality (with the
> consequent light issues) and moderate heat problems (needed too many
> fluorescents to get light down to the bottom), I used compact
> fluorescents, about 5000K (daylight). These are from Home Depot,
> security lights, made by lights of america. I just found that I
> couldnt get enough light down low with regular fluorescents, and my
> plants in my frog vivs did SO much better with CF. So, I dont think
> that the amount or color is a problem.&n bsp; Ill up my
> supplementation routine. Also, I occasionally (about 1X per week)
> rotate in a reptisun 5.0, just to make sure. Finally, the halogens
> seemed to make a real difference. Much more activity and color.
> Probably just the heat, but Ive got a sneaking suspicion that the
> color of the light played a part too. Just a hunch, Im probably
> totally off base.
> Gosh, this is so hard to describe without pics. I promise to get some
> this weekend, as Im really pretty proud of the viv.
> Water: yeah, Ive never seen them drink from it either. Bacteria
> might be a problem, but Ive got excellent aeration going, and some
> natural filtration going with the plants. Also, good air exchange
> courtesy of a 1 inch gap on the sides (started out as for the orchids,
> but made the tank much "sweeter" also. Provides good air transfer).
> Finally, I let the tank "cure" for over a month before anything was
> introduced. And, it gets cleaned of feces regularly. RO water only.
> ; So, though Im hearing your concern, I think (hope?) things are getting
> enough good air transfer and filtration that bacteria arent going to
> be a huge concern. Ill keep you posted though.
> Temp drop at night to mid 60's, thats as low as I can get with my
> other animals, and of course me in the apartment too!
> Yup, juvies. Did I mention how much I love these little guys? :)
> Im keeping that email Doug, thanks a ton for the tips. Anything else
> you think of would be GREATLY appreciated.
> Chad
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
>
> Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 10:36:10 -0800
> From: Doug Johnston
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [gecko]Intro (again?) and an appeal for tips on p.
> klemmeri
> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Hi Chad...
>
> Welcome to the wonderful world of klemmeri!!!
>
> I'm assuming, based on the size of food items you are providing, that
> the gex are juvies? Keep in mind that these guys (as with most
> Phelsuma)
> will eat anything the size of their head! Don't be afraid to move
> them
> up to larger prey once they're showing growth. Keep up the varied
> food,
> too! If you're successful with lauticauda, keep the klemmeri the same
> and you'll do fine there. What you're doing sounds great. Make
> sure they
> have some tubes (I use bamboo) leaned up into the corners so it's
> pretty
> much vertical. They will hide in it and probably lay t heir eggs
> there
> too when they're ready to breed. If you can rig a horizontal tube
> across
> the tank within a few inches of the top, they will spend a lot of
> time
> on that. My tanks have several inches of potting soil/peat with
> plants
> directly in it. I use sensevaria, pothos, corn plants... anything
> vertical really. I then spread a layer of medium or fine orchid
> bark on
> the soil.
>
> Not sure where you can get the T-Rex locally, but I got mine from
> Julie.
>
> The only thing about your setup that bothers me is the running
> water. It
> is great for RH, but they will likely not drink from it and it's a
> source of bacteria if not kept scrupulously clean. I tried them for a
> while and gave up. I mist twice a day, applying enough water to
> thoroughly wet all the plants and tank surfaces. My goal is to supply
> enough water to keep the soil and plants properly watered. If I do
> that,
> the RH is fine and the plants stay healthy.
>
> If you've go tten advice from Leann about the 12 vdc halogen spots
> for
> basking spots, you've probably also heard about the need for bright,
> white light? She and Greg have always recommended the Philips TL
> series
> fluorescents, and use no additional UVB. While I can't argue with
> their
> success, I still add a Reptisun 5.0, at least for me! When
> possible, I
> use a two tube fixture with one Reptisun and one Philips. When I can
> only get a single tube on the tank, I use a Reptisun. I think
> that's the
> only area we don't agree absolutely. I'm sure they think I'm going
> overboard, but my results have always been great, too.
>
> Let me alter that last statement slightly... a couple years ago I had
> reduced my supplementation on my geckos along with my chameleons.
> While
> that was great for the chams, it was a disaster for the Phelsuma. My
> animals were getting lethargic and not breeding, and I lost
> several of
> my female breeders prematurely. After thinking it t hrough and
> chatting
> with Julie and Leann, I went back to my old supplementation
> regimen...
> dust food with RepCal/D3 and Herptivite (2:1) at every feeding. I got
> breeding activity a few months after I'd made the change, and the gex
> are much more active! I'm now rebuilding some of my breeding
> groups that
> I lost animals from. I only feed my Phelsuma twice a week, and only
> about once a week in the winter. Babies get food more often, of
> course.
> Never feed lots of insects... that can stress them and put them off
> food. In winter, their photo period is decreased because the
> lights are
> driven by a Helix system with a sensor in the window. Also, the
> ambient
> temps in my house are lower (I allow my house to drop to 55F at night
> and during the day when I'm not there). They have their basking
> lights
> during the day, of course, but I supply no heat at night. This
> results
> in them eating less and breeding activity stops, giving t he girls a
> need ed rest for several months.
>
> Oh well... I've rambled on long enough!!! Have fun with them. I'm
> sure
> they'll do great!
>
> Chad Mayer wrote:
>
> > Hi all!
> >
> > Well, Im not sure if I already did this, but Im awake at
> > my computer late tonight, and am really enjoying the
> > conversations, so Ill jump right in!
> >
> > My name is Chad Mayer, I currently live in Tempe, AZ. I
> > keep a number of dart frogs, laticauda, leos and
> > chameleons, but Ive recently been able to acquire some
> > beautiful p. klemmeri! Im VERY excited by them, and
> > literally sit for hours watching their antics (theyre
> > about them most goofy animals Ive ever owned! So
> > active!). I work hard to make sure that my enclosures are
> > naturalistic and appropriate for the animals I keep. Ill
> > pos t pics of the klemmeri tank soon, but wanted to ask
> > anyone and everyone who keeps these guys for any husbandry
> > tips they might have. Currently, they consume fruit flies
> > (Herptivite and Rep Cal dusted every other time), lesser
> > wax worms (which they love), termites (when I can get
> > them), pinheads, confused flour beetle larvae
> > occasionally and baby food/honey/spirulina/bee pollen mix
> > 1X every week. Sound balanced? Im gonna try to get some
> > of the T-rex day gecko powder based on everyones comment
> > s. Recommended sources? Any other tips? Doug, I know
> > you keep these guys too (in fact, the people I got mine
> > from said that one of mine came from your bloodline. Any
> > thoughts appreciated) Ive got 3 other bloodlines for a
> > total of four animals in what is about a 30 gal
> > enclosure. Actually, its a converted Oceanic Chameleon
> > enclosure with side openings if anyones familiar. Anyway,
> > Im looking for tips on keeping these guys happy as
> > possible, and any breeding pointers would be much
> > appreciated. Theyre misted twice daily, humidity in the
> > enclosure runs from > 90% near the bottom to about 50-60
> > near the top, 95 degree basking spot, compact fluorescent
> > lighting and supplemental halogen spots (thanks for the
> > tip on that Leann!), and have a slowly running water
> > feature in the tank for aesthetics/humidity/drink source
> > when they might feel like it. Whew, lots of stuff, I
> > know, but wanted to get that all in there!
> >
> > So, thats my intro. Im doing well with the laticauda
> > (persistent breeding to the point where Ive separated the
> > male and female to give her a break) and leos (cooling
> > period now).
> >
> > Oh yeah. Was looking at the classifieds and dont see many
> > recent postings. Are people not breeding much right now,
> > or are they finding different outlets? Anyone with a good
> > price on guimbeaui or cepediana please drop me a line!
> > Ive got one more tank available that could house a pair of
> > either.....
> >
> > Well, thats it for now, but thanks in advance for any info
> > you can provide to keep my little klemmeri happy!
> >
> > Chad
> >
>
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