Intro and Ipcus.

[lefthandedjanice]

I picked up a little pacman yesterday afternoon after spending a few days looking up how to take care of him/her.


So far, his setup includes:
10 gallon tank, screen lid with 2/3rds covered with plastic wrap
50watt basking bulb for day time (I have it clamped about a foot from the tank so it doesn't kill the poor guy)
50watt infrared bulb for night time
1 large plant
1 medium shallow water dish
1 cave type deal if he feel the need to use it
Eco Earth Substrate
UTH under the water dish for humidity


Coming soon:
Mini waterfall (still working on how to pull this off. I'm thinking a little pump in a skinny box to hold the water, have the tube come up over some stacking rocks that lead down into his dish)
A background
Possibly another plant

[S13]

Spot on! However, I'm sure someone else more experienced (GrifTheGreat) will chime in soon, but what I have already learned is the UTH needs to go on the side of the tank on the opposite end of where the water dish is. Having it under the water dish will more than likely make that water evaporate very quickly. Also, having it under the tank in general risks him/her burning themselves since they burrow in the substrate. He/she looks good though congrats.

[pyxieBob]

definitely put the UTH on the side. I use aluminum foil to cover the screen top because it cant ever get burned by the heat bulb. it will trap humidity just as well if not better. very cute little Cranwellis! welcome to the forum.


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[lefthandedjanice]

Spot on! However, I'm sure someone else more experienced (GrifTheGreat) will chime in soon, but what I have already learned is the UTH needs to go on the side of the tank on the opposite end of where the water dish is. Having it under the water dish will more than likely make that water evaporate very quickly. Also, having it under the tank in general risks him/her burning themselves since they burrow in the substrate. He/she looks good though congrats.

That's really the only thing I've been iffy on is the UTH. I'll flip it to the side in a few minutes. Thanks so much. :]

[S13]

No problem, happy to help. He looks like my little Pakku.

[Sue H]

Very cute! I would also get rid of the basking bulb. They don't bask and the light will hurt their eyes and burn off the humidity. The infrared and on the side UTH will give heat and ambient room light is enough for them. Dust his food with calcium every few feeding for the vitamin D and he's good. Post pics of the waterfall when you get it done!

[lefthandedjanice]

Materials for waterfall:

A butter dish cut down to about 3"
His water dish, but I drilled 2 ~3mm holes in the bottom
A pump I ripped from an old fountain we had laying around
Flat rocks I had from when I built an area for my bearded dragon
Cling wrap

How I put it together:

Put the butter dish in the tank about 2" from the side. Packed around it with some eco earth to hold steady.
Put the pump in the dish.
Stacked the rocks about even with the butter dish.
Put his water dish on top of the butter dish, leaving some room for the tube from the pump to get through.
Stacked more rocks around it.
Made a funnel for the water to go through and wrapped it in cling wrap to minimize any spillage.
Stacked the last few rocks on top of the tube to hold it down and cover it up.
Filled in the sides with more eco earth, added water, turned it on and boom.

A completely free waterfall.
I'm going to invest in an actual decent pump once I get some extra cash.

Also, if anyone knows how to avoid getting build-up in the holes of his dish, that would be great.

(I apologize for the poor quality picture. Camera phones are no bueno. He hopped in it almost immediately after getting it set up. Thats what the big blurry thing is.)

[S13]

Very nice. I have a few pumps laying around I might build both of my little guys a waterfall.

[GrifTheGreat]

Very cute! I would also get rid of the basking bulb. They don't bask and the light will hurt their eyes and burn off the humidity. The infrared and on the side UTH will give heat and ambient room light is enough for them. Dust his food with calcium every few feeding for the vitamin D and he's good. Post pics of the waterfall when you get it done!

The basking light combined with a lamp with a dimmer switch is just fine. As long as the bulb is only 50 watts. The basking bulb allows you to heat the ambient air in the tank without dialing the lamp up high so it won't ne too hot or bright. It will also assist in the day night cycle they need.

[lefthandedjanice]

The basking light combined with a lamp with a dimmer switch is just fine. As long as the bulb is only 50 watts. The basking bulb allows you to heat the ambient air in the tank without dialing the lamp up high so it won't ne too hot or bright. It will also assist in the day night cycle they need.

I have it so it rests around a steady 82F during the day and 78F during the night.
As far as brightness goes, I need to invest in something with a dimmer switch. I have the light angled slightly so he has a dark corner to sit in, and the plant takes up the entire back of the tank for shade. The dimmer sounds so much more convenient.

[GrifTheGreat]

[QUOTE.=lefthandedjanice;102527]I have it so it rests around a steady 82F during the day and 78F during the night.
As far as brightness goes, I need to invest in something with a dimmer switch. I have the light angled slightly so he has a dark corner to sit in, and the plant takes up the entire back of the tank for shade. The dimmer sounds so much more convenient.[/QUOTE]

This will work too. A dimmer will prevent it from becoming too hot by allowing you to turn the lamp up just enough to produce the temps you want