Sceloporus malachiticus(emerald swift)

[Johnvin]

Hey guys I found this forum via google.

Im planning on buying a male Emerald Swift in about a month (once I have his habitat good and ready).
The Picture of the little guys home so far is below.

So far Im using Cocoa something or other substrate with orchid bark. both by monkfield nutrition. Going off reccomendations for its high humidity retention(I believe I need 60 percent).

I havnt Bought the lamps yet or fitted a housing to the top of the tank, I plan on building a roof with fans blowing air into the enclosure to maintain alot of airflow and I plan on buying a UVA and a UVB light with one side of the tank cooler than the other, one for basking and one for sleeping/retreating when he gets a bit too warm. I plan on changing his water probably once a day(mabe more if he needs it) and spraying the tank with water so the humidity stays up

Any hints/tips on looking after this species of lizard would be greatly appreciated!
does anyone know if you can buy a "thermomiter" sort of thing to keep an eye on the tanks humidity too ?

thanks

 

[acpart]

I don't have experience with emerald swifts, though I've admired them. The set-up sounds similar to what I have for my fire skink. I don't think you need the fan as long as you have the screen top. I don't worry that much about measuring humidity either, I just mist daily.

Aliza

 

[Johnvin]

Thanks for the feedback, could you clarify what you mean by a screen top I was thinking of getting a mesh over the top with the lamps sitting above shining light through and then casing around, Opposed to being in the tank and risk burning the lizard.
Do you have any tips on making the lid.

thanks

 

[acpart]

By "screen top" I meant a mesh covered lid. If you're getting standard size tank, you should be able to get a standard size screen cover. If you're making your own tank and are planning to put lights on top of the cover, I recommend building a frame out of wood or aluminum pieces if you can do that and buying some vinyl screen (you can get a roll at Home Depot or equivalent) and attaqching it to the frame.

Aliza

 

[DoubleZ]

Lots of companies make a thermometer/hyrdometer so you can measure temps and humidity.

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...a-digital-thermometer--hygrometer-with-probe/

 

[Johnvin]

Hey guys just a quick update, ive purchased 2 tubes one uva and one uvb and a basking lamp, fitted with a thermometer, the basking spot is about 90-95 degrees which i think is right. then a few days ago, ive ordered the little guy online with some crickets, and meal worms, alls ive got to do now is make his enclosure a bit more homely with a few plants and a little bit more to climb on and buy some dusting nutrients and some food to gut load the prey.
here is the enclosure so far. Ill keep you posted on how it goes.

 

[Johnvin]

just a thought ive looked at a few emerald swift enclosures and the basking lamp is much higher, do you think its too close to the enclosure and needs to be higher up? i dont want to cook him

 

[acpart]

measure the temperature on the ground below the basking lamp and see what it is. You can always use a lower wattage bulb.

Aliza

 

[Johnvin]

Here he is. the thermomiter is showing up as like 110 degrees but that surely cant be right i think it must be broken. Im going to firstly buy a really good thermomiter through the week and then change the wattage of the bulb accordingly. Ive called him elliot. I was expecting him to be alot bigger but i guess he's only a baby I was affraid his tank wouldnt be big enough but its all working out great. Im gonna give him a week to settle in. ive put 3 meal worms in his food bowl but he hasnt touched him I guess he just needs a little time to adjust. lovely creature great temperament. They sure can Jump and dash so if you get one i'd suggest you really fasten down the Lid on the tank.

picture link below encase above doesnt load.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/705/26241524558631879924810.jpg/


Thank you !