ValueAquatics are pleased to announce the NEW AX Vivariums and CAX Cabinet range from Aquapac.

Aquapac have redesigned the AX Vivariums for arboreal reptiles which like to climb rather than being at ground level. The AX range is available in three sizes AX24, AX36 and the AX48 all are 2’ deep by 4’ high.

Because of the size of these vivariums a central rail that divides the glass pains giving two glass sliding doors at the top and bottom section. This offers better access to the bottom for cleaning etc.

A divider will be available shortly so that you can turn the vivarium into two the top section into an arboreal vivarium and the bottom into a standard type vivarium.

The CX cabinets have also been re designed and are an open shelved unit with no doors for ample storage and measure 465mm (18.6”) wide

All the AX Vivariums and CAX Cabinets are available in three colours; Winchester Oak, Ellmau Beech and Tobacco Walnut.

John

These canopies are designed to fit on top of the Exo Terra Glass Terrariums, they are a combination lighting system for both Fluorescent tubes and Halogen Spots. The canopies are extremely well made from Anodized Aluminium, they can take two fluorescent tubes and up to two 35w Exo Terra Sun Glo Halogen Basking spots. There are two switched power cords so that the fluorescents and or the Halogens can be used together or separately. 

With the two bulb system you can tailor the lighting to suit the animal the Halogens will raise the ambient temperature of the air temperature whilst the fluorescents can be used to give the correct level of UV creating a perfect UV, visual and heat combination for your reptile.

Here at ValueAquatics we carry in stock the three sizes to fit the Exo Terra Glass Terrariums.

Gives the most favourable levels of heat and ligh
Holds two fluorescent tubes and one or two Halogen basking spots
Two switched cables for independent control
Made of strong rigid anodized aluminium
Halogen GU-10 fitting
Can be mounted on the back or the front of the Terrarium screen

To fit the following Exo Terra Glass Terrariums

John

At ValueAquatics we are often asked for a bearded dragon set up and normally we tailor the set up to the individual’s preferences. Most people are buying a baby or juvenile Dragon and are told to start with a small 24” vivarium as it causes stress in babies if they are kept in too large a vivarium.

Show me in the wild where they are restricted to a small area? I have been keeping reptiles for more than 30 years including Bearded dragons (Pogona Vitticeps) and have always kept them in a large vivarium from the start with no ill effects. Youngsters can hide for a day or two when they are first introduced to their new environment, this is normal behaviour weather the vivarium is large or small. Beardies being very inquisitive by nature will soon be out and about exploring their new home and smells.

So for a single baby Beardy to adult I would go with ValueAquatics VX48 vivarium they are extremely robust and well made.

The next thing to consider is lighting as Dragons come from areas of high intensity light they require high UV output lighting for 10/14 hours a day. The best lighting is a Mercury Vapour lamp these lamps give out heat and UV at as close to natural sunlight as you can get. Exo Terra Solar Glow bulbs are excellent and come in two wattages 125w and 160w. I have used the 125w in a 48” vivarium and the heat levels were in the correct ranges. These bulbs also bring out the animals colours much more than conventional UV fluorescents. Mercury vapour lamps do not work on a thermostat you regulate the basking temperature by raisin or lowering the lamp. If you cannot get the correct basking temperature then either upgrade to the 160w Solar Glo or add an Exo terra sun glo spot lamp. If you go the spot lamp rout remember it will need a dimming thermostat. Both the solar glo and the spot lamp will need safety guards to stop the beardy from getting burnt as both lamps get hot. The best guard for the solar glo and the spot lamp is the Komodo Black Dome Ceramic lamp holder 21cm with the Zoo Med 20cm safety covers.

The Décor is of personal choice some people add artificial plants but I have found that Beardies will try to eat them; If you want to try artificial plants go with the plastic plants rather than the silk ones as they are much more robust and less likely to be chewed.

Even though Beardies do not take water from a bowl as they cannot see still water a water bowl like the Exo Terra water bowls should be included in case they do require water, I have had Beardies that learnt to drink from a bowl. When they are babies place them Into the water bowl and gently push their nose into the water do this for four days and if they have not learnt by then stop. As long as they have plenty of vegetables and greens in their diet and you spray them once a day they will get their required water intake. Feeding bowl to keep the salad in place is a good idea they can be messy eaters.

A hide is a good idea something similar to the Exo Terra caves/hides get one to suit your dragons size, Rocks especially under the basking spot is a good idea as it will heat up and radiate the heat and the dragon will enjoy laying on it. Some stout branches should be included as the love climbing especially babies to get as close to the UV light as possible. Most branches are excellent especially from fruit trees like apple, plumb or pear. Do not use pine, conifer or cherry as the resin in these is harmful to reptiles.

Simply wash the branches in hot water with a tablespoon of bleach to a washing up bowl and rinse well and leave outside in the sun to dry, if you can smell the bleach rinse again and dry out.

The substrate for a baby should be paper kitchen towel or newspaper for the first year or 18 months then use a mixture of play pen or Calci sand and either peat or Coir mixed 1:1. The babies can ingest the substrate when feeding which can cause impaction of the gut and can kill them, when they are older they can usually cope with small amounts.

An excellent video on setting up a dragon’s home and the care of Click Here.  Note: There is an advert at the start of the video.

List of Equipment

Vivexotics VX48
Light/heat       Exo Terra Solar Glo
Exo Terra Sun Glo tight beam spot bulb
Dimming Thermostat for the spot bulb
Komodo 21cm Black dome ceramic lamp holder or the Exo Terra 21cm Glow Light ceramic lamp holder
Zoo Med safety covers
Water bowl
Feeding dish
Cave/Hide

John

There is a lot of talk about which substrate is the best as some have a bad name for causing impaction of the gut or intestine.

We must look at the pro’s and con’s as there is no perfect substrate, if you look at the natural habitats they have all sorts of health and safety issues and impaction occurs even in the wild. The difference is we care for our animals and try to give them the best.

For snakes in general I have found that Aspen is the best type of substrate to use for Rat snakes, Corn snakes, Milk snakes, Gopher, Pine, Bull snakes and most Pythons and Boas to mention a few. It can also be used for many lizards especially the burrowing ones like Blue Tongue Skinks and also as bedding for rodents and other small animals.

Aspen is clean, non toxic and almost dust free. It completely absorbs odours and moisture quickly, it is also very easy to spot clean.

For very young snakes and lizards I would recommend keeping them on newspaper or kitchen towelling for the first year as this is when they are most at risk from impaction.

ValueAquatics have Aspen available in two sizes 1kg or multiples of and a bulk buy 14kg sack

John

I have found the Exo Tera Snake Caves excellent for Corn snakes, Milk Snakes, Californian King Snakes or any of the slim snakes that do not get bigger than 4’–5’.  Creating a stress free hide or nesting box for various species of Snake, lizard or even amphibians.

They are made of resin and finished to look like a stone, so they are easily cleaned inside and out, and looking very natural in a desert or forest floor set up.

They come with some natural moss which makes them ideal as a moist nesting or shedding box for many species of snakes, lizards and amphibians.

Includes Moss
Excellent for snakes, Lizards and Amphibians
Looks natural in most set ups
Easy to Clean
A secure hide or nesting box
Helps prevent stress
Stable and not easily tipped over

ValueAquatics can offer you The Exo Terra Snake Caves in three sizes at great prices.

John

Here at ValueAquatics we are always trying increase our stock for our customers, and we have just got in stock some Heater Guards for the Exo Terra Ceramic Heat Emitters. They come in two sizes medium and large so they can be used for spot bulbs and Infra Red bulbs as well.

I can not state too highly the need to use guards especially for Ceramic Heat Emitters, Infra red heat bulbs and incandescent spot bulbs. All these get very hot and will burn badly anything that can touch them. I know it is an extra cost but put that against the cost of vet bills not to mention the animals well being the extra is worth it.

The guards are simple to fit there are various ways the easiest is to just screw it in place in the vivarium (screws not included).

Available in any colour as long as it’s BLACK.
Large 23.5cm x 12cm x 12cm (9.4” x 4.8” X 4.8)
Medium 16cm x 11cm x 11cm (6.4” x 4.4” x 4.4”)

John

ValueAquatics now have in stock the Zoo Med Clamp Lamp Safety Covers. These wire mesh covers clip onto the front of the Clamp Lamp to stop the animal from burning itself on the Bulb or Ceramic Heat Emitter. Snakes are most prone to this and can wrap themselves round the bulb etc., Royal Pythons seem to be attracted to the heat source probably due to their heat receptors. Also Reptiles do not seem to feel pain until it is too late and the damage is done.

ValueAquatics now offer the Zoo Med Clamp Lamp Safety covers to fit the 14cmØ, 20cmØ, and 25cmØ Exo Terra Clamp Lamps and the Komodo 14cm and 21cm Black Dome Ceramic Lamp Holders.

With the vast majority of heat sources a heater or bulb guard should be used as a matter of course for your animal’s safety and vet bills.

Jacqui

How many times have escaped crickets driven you mad chirping at night, we have all been there? Well the Kricket Keeper might be the answer a simple well thought out answer to the problem. Simply it is a critter box with two black tubes fitted into it.  You place up to 150 crickets into the Kricket Keeper and they go into the dark tubes, and you simply take a tube out and shake some of the crickets out into your vivarium and replace the tube into the keeper. A simple but very effective and inexpensive idea that is available from ValueAquatics.

Easy to use
Well ventilated lid with easy access
Comes with a carrying handle
Takes up to 150 crickets

John

Komodo products are made by Underworld one of the biggest suppliers and manufacturers in the UK. Their Komodo Ceramic Light Fitting is heat resistant and designed with the reptile keeper in mind. The Ceramic light fitting is an Edison screw type NOT bayonet and so will take most makes of reptile bulbs and ceramic heat emitters. It comes with a good length of power cable, an inline manual on/off switch and fitted 3 pin plug. Fixing the fitting into a wooden vivarium could not be easier, I use a screw in hook screwed into the inside top of the vivarium and loop the cable in place then secure it with a tie wrap to stop it from slipping. Fixing a heater or bulb guard is easily slipped over the Ceramic fitting and screwed in place.

Can be used with the following lamps and heat emitters all of which can be supplied by ValueAquatics

Arcadia          D3 Compact Reptile Lamp 23w
Exo Terra       Solar Glo Sun Lamp 125w & 160w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Neodymium Daylight Lamp 15w to 100w
Exo Terra       Night Glo Moonlight Lamp 15w to 150w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Neodymium Daylight Basking Spot Lamp 50w to150w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Tight Beam Basking Spot Lamp 50w to 150w
Exo Terra       Repto Glo 5.0 Compact  13w & 26w
Exo Terra       Repto Glo 10.0 Compact  13w & 26w
Exo Terra       Heat Glo Infra Red Lamp 50w to 150w
Exo Terra       Ceramic Heat Emitter Heat Wave Lamp 40w to 250w

SAFETY

All the above should be used with the appropriate thermostat.
Use a heat guard with any heat source.

John

The ADCH Reptile Ceramic Lamp Holder is designed as a bulb holder for fitting into a vivarium, specifically with reptiles in mind. It has a ceramic E27 bulb holder (screw in not bayonet) that is fixed on a metal bracket; the metal bracket is flexible so it can be angled to direct the lamp to a specific spot. It is easily fitted into the vivarium by screwing the bracket into position on a wooden surface (screws are not supplied). The ADCH unit can also be fixed to all glass Vivariums and Terrariums with sticky pads (not supplied) or glued in using Araldite. The ADCH unit comes complete with a good length power cable, on/off switch and fitted plug. It can be used with any screw fitting bulb up to 150w including the following which are available from Valueaquatics.

Arcadia          D3 Compact Reptile Lamp 23w
Exo Terra       Solar Glo Sun Lamp 125w & 160w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Neodymium Daylight Lamp 15w to 100w,
Exo Terra       Night Glo Moonlight Lamp 15w to 150w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Neodymium Daylight Basking Spot Lamp 50w to 150w
Exo Terra       Sun Glo Tight Beam Basking Spot Lamp 50w to 150w
Exo Terra       Repto Glo 2.0 Compact 13w & 26W
Exo Terra       Repto Glo 5.0 Compact  13w & 26w
Exo Terra       Repto Glo 10.0 Compact  13w & 26w
Exo Terra       Heat Glo Infra Red Lamp 50w to 150w
Exo Terra       Ceramic Heat Emitter Heat Wave Lamp 40w to 250w

SAFETY

All the above should be used with the appropriate thermostat.
Use a heat guard with any heat source.

John