How Do You........

[Ultrakd]

.. guys that have a lot of Cresties that you are breeding keep them? DO you have multiple glass setups in your room or do you have them in tubs? How do you keep them?

Thanks :main_thumbsup:

 

[Mel&Keith]

We have our breeders in pairs in Glass ExoTerras and our babies in Kritter Keepers. The babies housed are all housed individually.

 

[goReptiles]

Adults larger juveniles in tubs. Smaller juveniles and babies in kritter keepers.

All housed individually, except 2 of my adult females.

 

[Valley Reptiles]

adults and juvies in racks and babies in Kritter Keepers
1.4 or 0.4 per rack tub and babies 2-4 per KK.

 

[Gecko Ranch]

I use top opening large glass tanks, two of them are quite tall (about 30 gal) for trios and some are cubes about 20gal for pairs. Babies are in critter keepers.

 

[Ultrakd]

What size tubs do you guys use for adults? Do you have any pic of your racks?

 

[Valley Reptiles]

What size tubs do you guys use for adults? Do you have any pic of your racks?

I use 66qt sterlite tubs for the juvies and breeders.

Here's a picture of the racks

 

[Ultrakd]

What is the smallest tub size you could use for 1 adult?

 

[goReptiles]

I use 66 quarts for my adults. I'd say that bare minimum for 1 adult would be 20 quart but even still that's pretty cramped.

Eric, love those racks. I hope to make some soon for the cresties once I figure out where to get PVC. Those are the ones from AP that you were talking about right? May I ask how much they were and how tall they are? Do you have them set up with heat or are they in a reptile room?

 

[Valley Reptiles]

Thanks.
They are the AP racks. I wish I could find some PVC too. They look easy to make if you have the right tools.
They were $195 each, shipping is $45 for each rack and the tubs are $10 at Target. So with everything it's about $290 for each rack.
They are around 5 1/2 feet tall and it makes it so much easier than when I had tubs stacked everywhere

They came with heat cable but I didnt use it on these. My room stays in the low 80s during the summer and in the 70s in the winter so it's perfect for cresteds. I'm going to use the extra heat cables whenever I build hatchling racks for the baby leos

I would agree with Whitney, 20 is the smallest I would use for an adult. If you're going with tubs you can get the 66 qt and give the one a lot of room. They are only $5 more than the 20 qt.
20qt are great for juvies though.

 

[goReptiles]

Thanks Eric; my dad as all the tools to make a rack, but we can't find PVC in town so that sucks. $290 isn't bad. Does AP do custom orders? I have 66 quart tubs from Big Lots that are slightly different than my one from Target. (They look like that one you have with the blue handles on the top of the rack on the left.) Plus, I'd like to be able to keep the lid on. I was planning on a rack that would allow to keep the lid on with a portion of the lid cut out and replaced with screen, as I currently have my 1- 66 quart like that. Then drilling holes all around the sides for more ventilation. Plus, I'd feel more comforable with the lids left on... :-\

Plus 66 quarts are more fun to decorate, even if you just use egg cartons. More egg cartons mean more hiding and roaming room for the cresties. I like tearing it into large chunks and setting it at odd angles. They seem to like it more that way than when I just used the sheets of egg carton.

 

[Valley Reptiles]

I dont know if they do custom orders. The target tubs are a little different than the others. I used the others tubs too so I had to buy all new ones for the rack, I still need a few more to to fill the rack.

I was thinking about trying the sheets of wood that has melamine over it and see if that works instead of PVC for the cresteds. It would be a lot heavier but it would save more money that way.

 

[goReptiles]

I may have to contact them to see if they do custom orders... I would really like one where I could keep the lids on. That or just use melamine. :-\ I'd so much rather PVC as it's so much lighter... I'm going to have to find a few sign shops (as I just mentioned in another thread, someone referred me to check them to see if they knew where to get PVC). I really like the design of the AP racks you have, but because they're sush a simple design, it may be cheaper to make one. I dunno... Something to look into. Right now The majority of my cresties are juveniles and still in large kritter keepers, but some of them are going ot need an upgrade real soon. And I'm going to have to start throwing tubs around everywhere. Ha.

 

[Ultrakd]

O kI want to do what is right for the animal. Can a 66qt hold more that 1 or is it best to keep 1. Could it hold a breeder trio or is it not good to have the male with the females all the time?

 

[Valley Reptiles]

I use the 66 qt for my breeders. It can house up to 1.4 breeders.
My males stay in the group with the females all year until it's time for their break. You will need to seperate the male for at least 3 months during the winter to give the females a break from laying eggs. After they stop laying for about 3 months then you can put the male back in for the next breeding season.

 

[goReptiles]

What Eric said, but I personally just keep 2 females in 1- 66 quart. I put the male in there for a few month and then he goes to his own tub. It can be hard to tell what females laid what eggs if you have multiples in a tub like that.

 

[Valley Reptiles]

What Eric said, but I personally just keep 2 females in 1- 66 quart. I put the male in there for a few month and then he goes to his own tub. It can be hard to tell what females laid what eggs if you have multiples in a tub like that.

I feed for eggs and when they feel fully developed I know that female is almost ready to lay. I have to check each female every week and keep a list on the ones that are getting close to laying and check the egg box every morning. That usually works well unless you have two or more in the same group that lay eggs the same night.