My husband's armadillo lizard doesn't look right....last night when we went to bed it was laying on one of its rocks with its front legs pointed back towards his back legs (like when a human lays on their stomach with their arms down at their sides) and wasn't all that interested when i rubbed his back....this AM he was laying on his side between one of the rocks and the aquarium wall, when I moved the rock and picked him up he scrambled a little but he still doesn't look quite right. We've been feeding him 10-15 crickets every other day (per pet store expert) twice weekly sprinkled with nutritional supplement powder, he has water available to him at all times and we mist his tank twice/day. Any one have any ideas to help?
2007-05-08T04:55:23Z
the pet store didn't say anything about a UVB light - not sure what ours is besides heating lamp, it's red i do know that much. sm lizard they told us 10g tank just fine, he has a stick (cork from petstore) to climb up close to the lamp, multiple rocks to climb on and hide, we try to adjust the formation of the rocks every once in a while to give him some variety which so far he has seemed to like, temp stayes around 80-90 (we were told less than 70 he'll freeze above 100 he'll fry - more or less), don't know about the humidity and when i fed him two days ago (tonight is next feeding time) he ate just fine all - 10? 12? somewheres in there - crickets dusted with whatever the powder is they said to use. has the screen lid and i do the water dish every day or every other bc he doesn't usually go near the thing (they said he won't usually drink but if he runs through it and gets wet he knows its there and he will lick the water drops). thanks....
Thea2007-05-08T05:34:39Z
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The front legs back position is a very common basking position for many lizards, no cause for alarm. They are crevice dwellers so finding him between the rock and the wall would also be normal behavior for them. As desert dwellers they can easily take 100 plus temps but in a 10 gal tank it's hard to reach that and also keep a gradient ie. a cooler area as well. Your temps sound fine for your size enclosure. It certainly wouldn't hurt to invest in a UVB bulb but if your supplement includes vitamin D3 then it's not something you need urgently. It doesn't sound like you need to be worried, you're doing a good job.
Use a full spectrum UVB light; this will output good UV rays for calcium absorption so that it can digest its food better. The UVB light should be used for 8-10 hours of ultraviolet lighting. This can be maintained by using a timer. The daytime temperature should be between 75-85 degrees. The Basking area should have a temperature from 90-100 degrees. At nighttime the temperature should be 70-75 degrees. Humidity should be at 45% Crickets and wax worms dusted with calcium. adults should be fed every other day, juveniles can be fed 2 times daily since they will be growing. Shallow dish of water. Water must be changed daily. Also daily misting of cage will help keep humidity up and simulate natural water intake. 29-gallon tank is minimum. Screen Lid required for air exchange. These reptiles need a temperature gradient so therefore you will need a basking spot and a cooler area. Also you will need somewhere where the reptile can hide, this will decrease the stress level. Climbing branches should also be available. Hope maybe this will help
Hello..I don't know how long you've had this lizard but UV - plant grow lights are a MUST for lizards, turtles, frogs...not snakes, as are 80 degree temps ... bulbed grow lights or any kind of bulb HAS to be on Dimmer Switches & over a screened top so the UV rays can penetrate ( same for tubed but NO dimmer swiches & do not ever rely on auto timers, the lights need not be turned off as the UV rays are not like a Hot Sun ) foods need to be varied between soft - like wax worms, grubs & hard - crickets, meal worms ( NEVER ANY lettuce, celery, onions or RAW garlic, HEAT ROCKS for any animal or reptile, EVER !! If he's been without a UV light for some time, like months, chances are it's too late & he will now die :( sorry...can't lie ) IF & WHEN anyone buys a reptile, dog..whatever and the Sellers do not hand out a CARE sheet...DO NOT BUY them from this Seller...also please , everyone ( not just this person ) DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU BUY anything alive, NO Reptile can be housed in plastic cages or containers, EVER cuz of the warmth they need & plastics would be a FIRE hazard !!! Take Care :)
i love when petstores tell you their diet and thats it.... they should tell everything and hand out a caresheet too!! and besides...when they say this reptile needs this this and that...they get more profit!! newbies....pfff. anywhoo they need 8-10 hours of uva exposure...putting next to window does not cut it! flukers makes amazing bulbs and holders...its gonna be 15-28 inches long depending on how long and wide your tank it. get two thermometers, one side needs to be 90-100 degrees and the other cooler side should be 75-85 and nightime it should be 70-75 this can all be achieved using basking, heat, and infarred bulbs. humidity needs to be at least 45% and no more than 50%.... you can buy a humididty gage to read it. misting is a must, and it should have a water bowl that is changed daily. give him a hiding area, some climbing rocks, branches, and vines, and make sure he is in at least a 29 gallon aquarium, and 15 long would suffice too. aslo his diet sounds fine to me!! good luck