Help a newbie with Long Tailed Grass Lizards

[Kob3eight]

I am totally new to lizards. I currently have a 40-gallon tank. I'm planning on giving away my fishes and putting in lizards. Probably going for Long-tailed Grass Lizard since they aren't expensive. Going to buy 4 lizards. So here are my questions, please help.
1) The petco care sheet states gut loaded crickets are one of their primary foods. Instead of buying live crickets, will the canned crickets work as well?


2) It states I should clean the tank and any furnishings at least once a week with a 3% bleach solution. Rinse throughly with water. I'm not sure how this will work.

If I have a log as a decor, do I wipe it down with the 3% bleach solution and then wash it with water? And how am I going to clean the glass after applying the 3% bleach solution?

I'm planning on putting in reptile bark bedding. Will I have to change my reptile bark bedding every week? Seems like a lot of money will be spent if I have to change the bedding every week.


3) It states I need a UVB fluorescent light source 10-12hrs a day. As well as a Incandescent bulb for basking. Would these two really be that necessary since I live in Los Angeles? It's pretty hot here in the summer time. And the 40-gallon tank is facing a window.
Please help,
Thanks.

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[Kob3eight]

I just cleaned out my fish and the water. Should I treat it with any chemicals before adding in the reptile bedding and decor?

[boafiend]

i would probly stick with gutloaded crickets, my geckos wont even eat the dead ones, im not sure about the bedding, but i use a carpet like stuff, it is almost like a really durable felt or something, as for uv light, i hear if they are by a window and get sunlight they will be ok, but keep looking into it,

[Kob3eight]

Did you have to change your carpet bedding?

Or did you just leave it in there and only clean up the poop and do any other maintenance?

[boafiend]

i clean it every 4 days, its really easy to clean, i just scrub for a sec a wash with water dry and put back in cage

http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2030043&Ne=2

wow that is big lol there is the site to it

[Kob3eight]

Thanks a lot.

I think I'll be stopping by the store tomorrow and purchase the necessary items for the setup before I get the 4 lizards.

[Kob3eight]

Oh, and the bedding I'm probably going with will be bark. I like the look of it.

[boafiend]

id recommend not to feed your lizards on bark, i doubt bark is part of their diet and i gurantee you they will swallow some, thats why i use the carpet like stuff, bark is pretty tho

[NicoleRussell]

Originally Posted by Kob3eight

I am totally new to lizards. I currently have a 40-gallon tank. I'm planning on giving away my fishes and putting in lizards. Probably going for Long-tailed Grass Lizard since they aren't expensive. Going to buy 4 lizards. So here are my questions, please help.
1) The petco care sheet states gut loaded crickets are one of their primary foods. Instead of buying live crickets, will the canned crickets work as well?
NO THE FOOD MUST BE LIVE, FRESH AND HEALTHY.

2) It states I should clean the tank and any furnishings at least once a week with a 3% bleach solution. Rinse throughly with water. I'm not sure how this will work.
BUY AN EMPTY SPRAY BOTTLE AND MIX THE SOLUTION...BE SURE TO LABEL IT AS SUCH SO YOU DO NOT MIX IT UP WITH A WATER BOTTLE. BETTER YET, YOU CAN BUY SOME NOLVASAN ONLINE AND KEEP A MIXTURE READY. THIS WILL LAST FORVER AND THE COLOR WILL ALWAYS ALERT YOU THAT IT IS NOT WATER...ALL THIS AND IT IS MUCH SAFER FOR YOU ANIMAL.

If I have a log as a decor, do I wipe it down with the 3% bleach solution and then wash it with water? And how am I going to clean the glass after applying the 3% bleach solution?
THE NOLVASAN CLEANS GLASS AS WELL AS DISINFECTS THE CAGE. WITH WOOD IT'S TOUGH UNLESS YOU WANT TO BAKE IT. FOR THIS REASON I TRY AND BUY REALISTIC RESIN OR PLASTIC DECOR. IT JUST MAKES LIFE EASIER..TRY REPTILEDRIECT.COM
I'm planning on putting in reptile bark bedding. Will I have to change my reptile bark bedding every week? Seems like a lot of money will be spent if I have to change the bedding every week.
AS NEEDED WILL BE FINE---AND CYPRESS MULCH IS MUCH MORE CONVENIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE...GO TO A GARDENING CENTER AND SEE IF THEY CARRY IT IN YOUR AREA. SPOT CLEAN THE SUBSTRATE AND DO A COMPLETE CHANGING MONTHLY OR EVEN EVERY 2 MONTHS.
CHANGE WATER CONSTANTLY.
3) It states I need a UVB fluorescent light source 10-12hrs a day. As well as a Incandescent bulb for basking. Would these two really be that necessary since I live in Los Angeles? It's pretty hot here in the summer time. And the 40-gallon tank is facing a window.
Please help,
HERE IS WHERE PETCO AND MOST PEOPLE WILL GIVE YOU BAD ADVICE. IMO THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE IS IN A BULB.
YES YOU DO NEED A BULB AND A GOOD ONE. NEVER EVER PUT A TANK ANYWHERE NEAR A WINDOW..THE ANIMAL WILL OVERHEAT IN RECORD TIME AND GET NO UVB AT ALL FROM THE SUN WHICH IS FILTERED THROUGH GLASS AND SCREEN.
MAKE SURE TO GET A LARGE MESH SCREEN FOR THE LID...NOTHING TIGHTLY WOUND. GO TO REPTILEUV.COM AND BUY A 100 WATT SELF BALLASTED BULB. THIS IS ALL YOU WILL NEED FOR UVB AND UVA. HAVE IT TIMED FOR 10 HOURS A DAY.
IF YOUR TEMPS FALL AT NIGHT YOU WILL NEED A HEAT SOURCE THAT COMES ON AT NIGHT TO KEEP TEMPS STABLE...IN THE WINTER THIS WILL HAVE TO BE EVEN MORE CLOSELY MONITORED.
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU MAKE OUT.

Thanks.

AND WELCOME TO REDTAILBOA.NET!

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[NicoleRussell]

Originally Posted by boafiend

i would probly stick with gutloaded crickets, my geckos wont even eat the dead ones, im not sure about the bedding, but i use a carpet like stuff, it is almost like a really durable felt or something, as for uv light, i hear if they are by a window and get sunlight they will be ok, but keep looking into it,

they cannot be next to a window for any reason...please read my post.