Staring at Puff's viv has just ticked me off for the past few days, so I decided to do something about it 
Here's before. This is what the tank originally looked like when I got it from the owner.
There was:
Dirty regular sand.
Dirty branches.
Sun Glo 100W Basking Spot Lamp
Repti Glo 10.0UVB Compact Fluorescent Lamp
No thermometers
Generally not pleasing to look at, though the tank is in good condition (no cracks)
So I got rid of the sand and scrubbed down the tank using bleach and water. I rinses, and rinsed, Windex'd, and rinsed. I put in some ZooMed Excavator Clay, but did not use very much water. I used it really as a grout for the textured ceramic tiles I picked up (holy were they ever cheap!)
I disinfected some craft rocks with boiling water to add a little funk in the sand/"clay"
I also put in some plants I had gotten from the petstore.
Gave him a smaller food dish. Added thermometers (which I will be upgrading to digital next paycheck)
And also installed a Solar Glo Mercury Vapor Bulb - 160 watt
I do have a brand new Sun Glo 100W Basking Spot Lamp on hand if the above bulb burns out.
During the next few days I'll be making my own backdrops for him as I hear it's more pleasing and less stressful on him.
Also, the Styrofoam is great. He likes to climb on it and it looks nice... but he does destroy it. I'd have to replace it.
It wouldn't be so bad if the crickets didn't constantly go back there to hide. Now he can't get his food and it sucks to continuously remove for him. So as soon as it's too beat up I will take it out and just have the backdrop on the sides.
I feel like this is a good change for him and I hope he likes it
I cannot wait until my boyfriend and I get a house next year. I have big plans to make my own giant viv! Woo-hoo!
Cool Side:
Warm Side:
NOW ONE MORE THING!!!
This is a pretty hot bulb I'm working with.
I'm wondering if the petstore fake plants I put in the viv are a fire hazard risk? As it says don't put the bulb near curtains and that.
Here's before. This is what the tank originally looked like when I got it from the owner.
There was:
Dirty regular sand.
Dirty branches.
Sun Glo 100W Basking Spot Lamp
Repti Glo 10.0UVB Compact Fluorescent Lamp
No thermometers
Generally not pleasing to look at, though the tank is in good condition (no cracks)
So I got rid of the sand and scrubbed down the tank using bleach and water. I rinses, and rinsed, Windex'd, and rinsed. I put in some ZooMed Excavator Clay, but did not use very much water. I used it really as a grout for the textured ceramic tiles I picked up (holy were they ever cheap!)
I disinfected some craft rocks with boiling water to add a little funk in the sand/"clay"
I also put in some plants I had gotten from the petstore.
Gave him a smaller food dish. Added thermometers (which I will be upgrading to digital next paycheck)
And also installed a Solar Glo Mercury Vapor Bulb - 160 watt
I do have a brand new Sun Glo 100W Basking Spot Lamp on hand if the above bulb burns out.
During the next few days I'll be making my own backdrops for him as I hear it's more pleasing and less stressful on him.
Also, the Styrofoam is great. He likes to climb on it and it looks nice... but he does destroy it. I'd have to replace it.
It wouldn't be so bad if the crickets didn't constantly go back there to hide. Now he can't get his food and it sucks to continuously remove for him. So as soon as it's too beat up I will take it out and just have the backdrop on the sides.
I feel like this is a good change for him and I hope he likes it
I cannot wait until my boyfriend and I get a house next year. I have big plans to make my own giant viv! Woo-hoo!
Cool Side:
Warm Side:
NOW ONE MORE THING!!!
This is a pretty hot bulb I'm working with.
I'm wondering if the petstore fake plants I put in the viv are a fire hazard risk? As it says don't put the bulb near curtains and that.
.