Eastern Six-Lined Racerunner - care questions

Question
QUESTION: We just found a small Eastern Six-Lined Racerunner.  We live in Va Beach, VA. His/her tail is still blue.

Setup: tank (24 L, 15 H, 12 D). Right now we are using dirt substrate, but wondering if we should buy burrowing substrate from pet store.

I had a 75 watt basking light from another animal, but I don't think it's intense enough.  Should I buy higher?  Also, should I buy any other heating device in tank?

I've fed small crickets, and I bought mealworms today.  He has a little water dish.

ANSWER: Hello Dawn,

Oh those are so cute!  A blue tail, how pretty.  :-))

The size of tank is fine, no problem.  You can use a burrowing substrate just nothing that he can ingest & become impacted with.  Eco earth or Bed a Beast are both pretty good.  The dirt is probably fine, as well.  Don't use sand, or walnut shell they can be dangerous. Make sure you have things for him to climb on, too.

What are you measuring the temps with, a digital probe or a temp gun?  The basking spot should be around 80-85 with the humidity of around 60% or so.  

Good you have a water dish in there too.  I would get a hygrometer to help maintain the humidity properly.

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Thank you!

Yikes.  I was just using a small room thermometer, but it didn't make sense because when I laid it on the rock, it didn't really increase in temp.

He has a cave(under the basking light) which he sits on during the day.  He also likes sitting on a very thick limb (like a log).  I have a rock sculpture thing that could be more fun for climbing, though.

He burrows every night when evening comes, and doesn't come out until late in the morning.  Does this seem normal?

It has been perfect timing for us, because we are currently studying reptiles in our homeschooling.  It has been great for the boys to really understand their "cold-blooded" trait.

Would he burrow through the winter around here in his natural Virginian habitat, or would he still come out to sun?  Just curious what to tell my boys.

ANSWER: Hello Dawn,

Yeah, it takes a specific type of thermometer to measure the basking temps.  
Good, it sounds like you have plenty of things for him to climb on & in.  So he burrows down for the night then?  What time in the morning does he come out then to bask?  Is his tank pretty bright?  
Well, nature does take over when the seasons change.  While he is in captivity, he can still sense the colder weather as well as shorter days.  Yes, it is usually what lizards do, to come out from time to time in order to bask during the winter.  If it is cold enough, alot of times they don't come out for days.  
That is great you are homeschooling your boys!  That is super you are teaching them about reptiles, too.  :-))
Let me know how things are going.  

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Well, I bought a 150 watt basking bulb, and he definitely seems happier.  I saw him eat a mealworm that had fallen into his water dish.  He comes out around 11:00 am and stays out until around 4 pm.  I'm thinking it should be longer than this.  He is still pretty timid.  He runs away pretty easily when he sees people looking at him or making movements.

There are two lamps on the bookshelf top, which is where the tank is, and the basking light lights up about 3/4 of the tank.  He hasn't been lying on the cave or the log, but rather the dirt.  Sometimes he goes inside the cave, but he eventually burrows. I also keep the front window blinds open for him.

Thanks (re: homeschooling).  We are finishing up reptiles with snakes, and then we will move onto fish.  We studied amphibians first.  Last year we spent the year learning about invertebrates.  Homeschooling is so rewarding -- the boys are really thriving.  We are actually having a graduation celebration this Saturday for our eldest son (18).  I began homeschooling him in the fourth grade.

Answer
Hello Kim,

Great things are going better now.  What are the temps at now?  Remember don't get the basking temps higher than 85 or so.  
Well, that is not bad though, at least he is coming out.  It is getting to be winter so the days are shorter & that is just as much as he might want to be out right now.  Do you have a UVB light too?
They do need full spectrum UVB.  The best one is the Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb.  You can get it from  www.petmountain.com  for much cheaper than the petstore.  Don't get the coil or compact or the Reptiglo 10, or any Zilla lights.  They are not good, & there are not many good UVB lights out right now.
That is great they are learning all about animals, how cool!  They don't teach all of that in public schools.  Public schools are government run so they are not good now.  Congrats on your son's graduation.

Talk soon.
Tracie