Plated Lizard care?

[Geckogirl_88]

Hi
I was in my local rep shop today and a girl came in asking if Jane (owner) could take her plated lizard for rehoming. Unfortunately Dianne is moving house atm so all her animals are in the shop too and she has no more space. So I'v offered to look after it while she finds it a new home
Iv just moved all my leos into RUBs so I have a spare tank which is plenty of room for the lil dude.

Jane is going to give me all the stuff i need to look after him for free, including food, which means my leos will be eatin for free too !!!

Just want to check this set up is ok. As much as I love her, Jane can sometimes get confused over which set up for which lizard lol.

BIG tank (4'x2'x2')
Orchid bark/ eco earth substrate
1x 5.0 UV tube
1x statted heat mat (set at 22C)
1x spot bulb (for heat) above mat.

100F daytime - 22C at night

cork bark hides
large bowl for bathing/ drinking/ pooing

feed on locusts/crickets with the odd bit of veg (romaine lettuce etc)
dusted obviously


that sound bout right?
Tbh i dunno y i need a heat mat set to room temp (22c) for night time. Cant I just use the heat bulb? Or just use the mat? Do I really need both?
Obviously I'll use the UV tube too
xx

[Geckogirl_88]

Can someone please tell me if this is right
xx

[mik3 fenne11y]

all seems right to me.. just keep the heat mat on at night , but not both...

[AmyW]

For my Plateds, I don't use a heat mat.

I just have a basking bulb at about 105f and let it drop at night.
I also use a 10% tube.

But everything else seems ok. I provide plenty of retreats and lots of plants for hiding.
I give a mixed variety of fruit/veg/salad daily and insects every other day.

The only other thing I do is give them a light misting every other day and double check their toes and tails when shed, as they do seem to retain it on occasion.

Can't think of much more. But are a lovely animal to keep, interesting, good eaters and generally placid.

[boost-boy74]

hi, i would use the basking bulb for heat during the day and have a ceramic heater on a stat if it gets to cold like nightime. Im thinking about getting another as my sudan plated died last year

[Geckogirl_88]

Iv got the mat statted at 23C ish for at night time.
Not got the bulb yet as Im picking it up with the lizard today.
Got the UV set up and spot bulb positioned over the mat.
Also provided a tray of water about 0.5'' deep as I hear they like to drink/bathe/poop in a water tray. Got a rock in it so it has a gradual slop to the edge so they can get out easy.
Should I make it deeper? like 1''?
Also, how do I control the heat given off by the bulb/ I was only given a stat for the mat nd she said that the bulbs average heat was the right temp. That sound right?

Got a lil half tunnel for him to hide under (middle of tank) and a bridge type hide at the cooler end.
Covered tank floor in eco-earth, but i could also get orchid bark today?
Have some rocks for climbing/basking too.
Also have a lil clear dish for veg/mealies/crix etc.
I hate crickets so im hoping ur gonna tell me they'll be fine with mealies and locusts lol.

Also, what veg should i use?
When researching beardies, i read that any human grade food is good enough quality, so you can use (defrosted) frozen veg, like peas, carrots, califlour, brocolli etc. That ok?

xx

btw
Picking him up today so need info quick lol
xx

[AmyW]

Originally Posted by Geckogirl_88

Iv got the mat statted at 23C ish for at night time.
Not got the bulb yet as Im picking it up with the lizard today.
Got the UV set up and spot bulb positioned over the mat.
Also provided a tray of water about 0.5'' deep as I hear they like to drink/bathe/poop in a water tray. Got a rock in it so it has a gradual slop to the edge so they can get out easy.
Should I make it deeper? like 1''?
Mine only have a small bowl for drinking did provide a large bowl previously but they never really used it.
Also, how do I control the heat given off by the bulb/ I was only given a stat for the mat nd she said that the bulbs average heat was the right temp. That sound right?
Personally I never use a heat bulb without a stat, it's just not worth the risk.

Got a lil half tunnel for him to hide under (middle of tank) and a bridge type hide at the cooler end.
Covered tank floor in eco-earth, but i could also get orchid bark today?
Have some rocks for climbing/basking too.
Also have a lil clear dish for veg/mealies/crix etc.
I hate crickets so im hoping ur gonna tell me they'll be fine with mealies and locusts lol.
Mine are fine on locusts and mealies but they do enjoy crickets also. I also offer the odd snail or two, occasionally

Also, what veg should i use?
I try to feed a variety. Mine enjoy beans, mangetout, spring greens, carrot, tomato, cucumber, courgette, just give a few things a try.

When researching beardies, i read that any human grade food is good enough quality, so you can use (defrosted) frozen veg, like peas, carrots, califlour, brocolli etc. That ok?
I use fresh veg or freeze fresh veg I have prepared, I don't know if frozen bagged veg is good for them or not, so I stick to fresh.

xx

btw
Picking him up today so need info quick lol
xx

Hope that helps.

[Geckogirl_88]

Thanks
He (think its a he as it has lil spurs on its back legs?) is FAR from settled in lol and is quite a jumpy dude but i'll work at it and im sure he'll calm down in no time
Given him a lil bowl of mealies, mealie beetles (newly hatched softer ones), leaves off brussel sprouts, carot and peas.
Am I right in thinking that whatever is ok for a beardie is ok for a plated lizard?
I bought a beardie book a while bk just for light reading so i know what they can eat etc
xx

P.S
forgot to mention
the heat bulb she gave me was burst (didnt notice till i got home) so I've turned up his mat in the mean time (90 - 100F) and im picking another bulb up this afternoon. Does he really need the bulb if the mat is hot enough?
he still has his UV
xx

[Geckogirl_88]

Ok this is how its finally turned out.

UV half way down tank
spot bulb for basking
heat mat (statted so only on at night)
GIANT exo hide at hot end. Sits on top to bask and goes in at night (over mat)
Bathing/drinking/pooping pool at cool end
soil/orchid bark everywhere (including all over my bedroom floor lol)
Rocks dotted about to keep nails trim/sharp/healthy

sound ok?
Iv no hide for the cool end but added rocks and a pool instead. i figured it could bathe in the pool if it was REALLY hot nd lie on the big rocks to dry.

xx

[Geckogirl_88]

Id like to point out that for some reason the angle of this pic makes her look massive nd the tank look really narrow, but dont worry; she's not that big and the tank is REEEEALLY wide lol
xx