Follow up Question

Question
Hi Tracie
   Thank you so much for all your help! Going to get new UVB light, Basking light, and reptile carpet for him. What are the best things to feed him? Hoping if I change all these thing he will start to eat again. He was out today for a short while. Was basking on his perch and going through his wrapping paper roll.

Subject: Follow up Question

Volunteer Expert: Tracie Kretzschmar

Question:
They wouldn't let me ask another follow up question so copied old ones hope that is ok.......He will not miss the burrowing with the reptile carpet?
Can you tell me what kind UVB light would be the best?

Subject: Not Eating

Volunteer Expert: Tracie Kretzschmar

Question:
QUESTION:
I am babysitting my sons African Yellow Throated Plated Lizard while he is away at college. I am clueless. Please help......His substrate is ground English walnut shells. He has basking light and UVB light.......He has not eaten in almost 3 weeks. How long can he go without food? I have offered meal worms vegetables fruit and he won't touch any of it. He is active for short times during the day. He has a box with a towel in it that he stays in a lot of the time.Do they have a time of year when they tend to hibernate? Thank you so much for any help you can give me.



ANSWER: Hello Tracy,

Can you post a picture of the African Yellow Throated Plated lizard for me?  How big is he?  
Do you know how old he is?  
Before we assume it is brumation, let's go over your tank setup first.
What type & brand of UVB are you using, is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact or coil light?  How old is the UVB light?
What type of basking light are you using, is it a bright white light or a colored light?
What are the temps in the tank, & are you using a stick on thermometer, a digital probe or a temp gun?  
Do you use calcium supplementation?
They do go through a brumation phase during the wintertime, that they spend alot of time in their hides, or on the cooler end of the tank.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He is about 16" from head to end of tail and about 1 1/2" wide. Do not know how old he is, he is a rescue, but my son has had him for about 2 years.
His UVB light is a florescent tube and about 3 weeks old.
The basking light is bright white and about 3 weeks old.
The lights are on from 7am till 8pm.
The temps in the tank is between 80-90 when lights are on. not sure what temp when lights are off. We are using a stick on thermometer.
We were told to give him calcium but he is not eating so he is not getting it.
Is the substrate we are using ok? I have heard yes and no.

ANSWER: Hello Tracy,

What brand is on the flourescent tube bulb?  The brand should be stamped on the base of the bulb somewhere.  How close is it to him?
A stick on type of thermometer is not very accurate for measuring basking temps.  You will need to get a digital probe or a temp gun for better accuracy.  
The walnut shells have been known to cause impaction if they ingest it.  Does he ingest any of it that you know of?  It can be dangerous because it is sharp, also.
The basking temps should be around 90-95 but no higher, & the cooler area around 80 or so.  
Well, if he is brumating, he wont need calcium.  
I do need to know the brand of the tube bulb, please.
Thanks!
Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The brand is ESU Reptile Desert 7% UVB and it is about 16" from him.
Do I get digital probe at pet store?
What substrate do you recommend?
What is the best way to get the temp up in the tank?
Thank you so much for your help!

Answer:
Hello Tracy,

Ok.  I can just about guarantee you that most of his problem is going to be his lighting.  The ESU reptile desert 7% UVB light does not emit hardly any UVB emissions at all.  What type of UVB did you have prior to this one?  Do you remember?
Here is a chart to show you how little it actually does emit:

http://www.reptilesdownunder.com/reptile/reptilesAsPets/enclosure/uv/uvSA


The best substrate would be reptile carpet, tiles, non adhesive shelf liner are all very good in order to avoid impaction issues & they are easier to keep clean too!
The best way to maintain temps is to have a nice bright white basking light such as a halogen.  Be careful not to overheat him though as halogens get hot.  I would start with a 50 watt for keeping the basking temps around 95 or so.

A digital probe might be able to be found at a pet store.  If not, you can order one from here:


http://www.reptilesupply.com/index.php?cName=Temperature+Control&cPath=31_58


Sometimes you can find a good brand called Acurite, from Walmart in the plants section which works good, too.

Let me know how things are going.

Tracie


Answer:
Hello Tracy,

No, he wont miss burrowing with the reptile carpet.  It will be much safer for him.
The best UVB flourescent tube bulb is the Reptisun 10.  Do not get any compact or coil lights.  
You can get it from:  www.petmountain.com   for around $20.
Make sure & put the basking light directly beside the UVB tube to encourage basking & to protect his eyes.
How is he doing today?

Tracie


Answer
Hello Tracy,

That is great he is up & around a little bit more today.  
They are omnivorous which means he does need plant matter as well as protein too.  Since he is an adult, he doesn't need more than 50-75 feeders weekly, depending on the size of the adult & the rest should comprise of greens & veggies.  
The greens should be dandelion greens, mustard greens, collard greens, endive & escarole are all good.  He can have fruit a couple of times per week, & squash is a good staple item for veggies.
I hope you are able to find the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb quickly.
I hope he is doing better!
Oh don't forget the calcium too.

Tracie