How? Setting up a terrarium Useful tips for ... - Reptiles Greece
How? Setting up a terrarium Useful tips for ... - Reptiles Greece
How? Setting up a terrarium Useful tips for ... - Reptiles Greece
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What – Why – <strong>How</strong>?<br />
<strong>Setting</strong> <strong>up</strong> a <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
<strong>Useful</strong> <strong>tips</strong> <strong>for</strong> beginners
Contents Page<br />
1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1<br />
2 FIRST THINGS FIRST: WHERE DO ANIMALS COME FROM? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2<br />
3 THE TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3<br />
3.1 THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3<br />
3.2 THE LOCATION OF THE TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />
3.3 THE CLIMATE OF THE TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />
4 TYPES OF TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5<br />
4.1 THE DESERT TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5<br />
4.2 THE RAINFOREST TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
4.3 THE ACQUA-TERRARIUM OR PALUDARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9<br />
SUITABLE FLOOR-COVERING MATERIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />
5 TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12<br />
5.1 LIGHTENING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12<br />
5.1.1 THE DESERT TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />
5.1.2 THE RAINFOREST TERRARIUM AND THE AQUA-TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15<br />
5.2 HEATING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16<br />
5.2.1 HEATING IN A DESERT TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16<br />
5.2.2 HEATING IN A RAINFOREST TERRARIUM AND A DESERT TERRARIUM . . . . . . . 18<br />
5.3 PROVIDING HUMIDITY AND WATER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18<br />
5.4 VENTILATION IN A TERRARIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />
6 FEEDING THE TERRARIUM ANIMALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21<br />
6.1 HOW OFTEN TO FEED? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21<br />
6.2 FOOD FOR “ANIMAL EATERS” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22<br />
6.3 FOOD FOR TURTLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23<br />
6.4 FOOD FOR VEGETARIANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24<br />
6.5 VITAMINS AND MINERALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24<br />
7 TERRARIUM CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26<br />
7.1 CLEANING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26<br />
7.2 USEFUL TOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26<br />
8 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27<br />
8.1 SELECTING THE ANIMALS . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27<br />
8.2 QUARANTINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28<br />
9 PRODUCT OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .<br />
28<br />
Published by<br />
JBL GmbH & Co. KG<br />
D-67141 Neuhofen<br />
www.JBL.de<br />
1 st edition 2004<br />
Text: produced on the basis of copy from Uwe Dost<br />
Foto’s: Uwe Dost, Heiko Blessin, Dr. Rainer Keppler
1 INTRODUCTION<br />
In our increasingly hectic world, a little<br />
bit of nature in the home gives many<br />
people the opportunity of relaxing as<br />
they observe their pets in peace at the<br />
end of a day's work. For example, by<br />
losing themselves in a richly planted<br />
indoor jungle with a waterfall and various<br />
inhabitants such as anolis,<br />
Madagascar geckos and small, colorful<br />
frogs. Observing the fascinating<br />
behavior of all these animals gives<br />
great pleasure. This is made possible<br />
by the enormously wide range of highquality<br />
technical equipment and<br />
diverse accessories and types of food<br />
as well as a wealth of in<strong>for</strong>mation on<br />
the needs of these pets which is all<br />
available in well-stocked pet shops.<br />
This small in<strong>for</strong>mation brochure is not<br />
intended as a comprehensive guide to<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>-keeping, but provides in<strong>for</strong>-<br />
mation and help <strong>for</strong> people toying with<br />
the idea of taking <strong>up</strong> this hobby. It<br />
should point people in the right direction<br />
and describe how the numerous<br />
JBL products provide help in setting<br />
<strong>up</strong> and caring <strong>for</strong> a <strong>terrarium</strong>.<br />
Particularly when keeping a <strong>terrarium</strong>,<br />
it is vital to know the exact requirements<br />
of the animals you intend to<br />
keep in order to avoid unpleasant surprises<br />
later. Your local specialist pet<br />
shop keeper will be an important<br />
source of in<strong>for</strong>mation and s<strong>up</strong>port.<br />
In<strong>for</strong>mation gathered from books and<br />
the exchange of experiences with<br />
other <strong>terrarium</strong> enthusiasts are also<br />
important.<br />
We at JBL are also constantly<br />
expanding our<br />
experience and understanding<br />
of the habitats of<br />
these <strong>terrarium</strong> animals.<br />
The knowledge of the natural<br />
environments of the<br />
animals which we gain in<br />
special JBL research<br />
expeditions is taken as a<br />
basis <strong>for</strong> the development<br />
of useful products on our<br />
return. After test phases<br />
conducted by experts in<br />
the laboratories, the products are later<br />
to be found on the JBL shelves of<br />
specialist retailers.
2 FIRST THINGS FIRST:<br />
WHERE DO THE ANIMALS COME FROM?<br />
It is worth learning as much as possible<br />
about the natural habitat of the<br />
animals. The more detailed the in<strong>for</strong>mation,<br />
the closer the conditions in<br />
the <strong>terrarium</strong> can resemble the natural<br />
environment. As almost all <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
animals are cold-blooded (poikilothermic)<br />
animals, their body temperature<br />
depends on the temperature of their<br />
surroundings and the sun's rays, in<br />
contrast to warm-blooded creatures.<br />
The animals control their body temperature<br />
through certain behavior,<br />
such as sun-bathing or seeking out<br />
Dry rock biotope with wide local Agama sunning themselves in their habitat A shady stream in the rain<strong>for</strong>est<br />
temperature variations<br />
cooler zones, adjusting it to the optimum<br />
range <strong>for</strong> them. Only then can<br />
digestion and the metabolic processes<br />
work effectively and the animals<br />
display the range of behavior specific<br />
to their species.<br />
This behavior must be taken into<br />
account when keeping reptiles. Desert<br />
creatures only appear at first sight to<br />
live in hot conditions. Anyone who<br />
has been to the desert knows how<br />
extremely cold it can get at night there<br />
and would also try to apply this experience<br />
to <strong>terrarium</strong>-keeping. In contrast,<br />
the situation in tropical rain<strong>for</strong>ests<br />
is quite different. Relatively<br />
constant temperatures, high humidity<br />
and no harsh light are the environmental<br />
conditions under which the animals<br />
in the jungle live. <strong>How</strong>ever, many treedwelling<br />
species have the opportunity<br />
of spending time in sunlit places.<br />
In the following chapters we would<br />
like to present two types of <strong>terrarium</strong>s<br />
as examples to illustrate setting <strong>up</strong> a<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>, the equipment used and<br />
subsequent care. One type is a desert<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> and the other a rain-<strong>for</strong>est<br />
environment, representing the "jungle<br />
behind glass". As a variation on the<br />
rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>, the paludarium or<br />
aqua-<strong>terrarium</strong> is mentioned, which<br />
can be more or less close in design to<br />
an aquarium.
3 THE TERRARIUM<br />
Nowadays specialist retailers offer a<br />
wide range of <strong>terrarium</strong>s, mostly<br />
made of glass panes with silicon<br />
adhesive. These usually<br />
have sliding doors at the<br />
front. There are also small <strong>terrarium</strong>s<br />
ones <strong>for</strong> invertebrates<br />
with folding doors at the front<br />
instead of sliding. It is only<br />
worth building your<br />
own <strong>terrarium</strong>nowadays<br />
if you<br />
have a cheap<br />
s<strong>up</strong>ply of<br />
glass panes or<br />
you need a particularly large<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> which is not commercially<br />
available. As a construction material,<br />
wood is only really suitable <strong>for</strong> dry<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>s. Since plastic panes are<br />
usually just as expensive as glass and<br />
often become opaque quickly or are<br />
easily scratched, glass remains the<br />
ideal building material <strong>for</strong> <strong>terrarium</strong>s.<br />
3.1 The size and shape of<br />
the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
The shape, size and equipment<br />
used depends on the<br />
specific requirements of<br />
the species, the size of the<br />
animals and the range of<br />
movement required. As a<br />
general rule, the larger the<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>, the better. The<br />
equipment should always<br />
be based exactly on the<br />
volume of the pool, so that in<br />
the event that the temperature control<br />
system becomes faulty, there are<br />
no immediate losses due to overheating.<br />
Suitable decoration should<br />
be used in the living environment to<br />
provide the animals with seclude<br />
places to hide, whilst maintaining a<br />
good overview <strong>for</strong> the owner and the<br />
best possible hygiene conditions.<br />
For ground-dwellers, the floor surface<br />
is of course the most important<br />
area, whilst <strong>for</strong> tree-dwellers the<br />
height of the <strong>terrarium</strong> is a crucial<br />
factor. Due to the many different<br />
requirements and adaptations of the<br />
animals, strictly separating <strong>terrarium</strong>s<br />
into a few standard types of
<strong>terrarium</strong> makes little sense particularly<br />
as the transition between <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
types is often very fluid.<br />
3.2 The location of the<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong><br />
Actually, any location within a house is<br />
suitable, with few exceptions.<br />
<strong>How</strong>ever, the position should be chosen<br />
so that the animals can be<br />
observed in com<strong>for</strong>t from your<br />
favourite chair. It is also important that<br />
regular care work can be carried out<br />
without resorting to physical contortions!<br />
Care should also be taken that there is<br />
no risk of overheating through direct<br />
sunlight, such as next to a window.<br />
Attic apartments, which scarcely cool<br />
down at night in summer, are not suitable<br />
<strong>for</strong> keeping heat-sensitive animals.<br />
And finally, in the case of large<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>s, the weight-bearing capacity<br />
of the location should be taken into<br />
consideration.<br />
3.3 The climate of the<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong><br />
The climate in the <strong>terrarium</strong> is the<br />
most important factor <strong>for</strong> the wellbeing<br />
of the animals. Only if the equipment<br />
is carefully chosen to reproduce<br />
the typical climate <strong>for</strong> the direct environment<br />
of the animals as closely as<br />
possible, will they display their full<br />
repertoire of behaviour and can live<br />
healthily. The most important climatic<br />
factors in the <strong>terrarium</strong> are the temperature<br />
(air and ground temperature<br />
as well as localised spots with higher<br />
temperatures), the light (duration,<br />
intensity and light quality), the relative<br />
humidity as well as the ventilation. As<br />
in the wild, the individual climatic elements<br />
interact in the <strong>terrarium</strong> too,<br />
and are subject to fluctuations<br />
throughout the day. The relative<br />
humidity will, as a rule, decrease the<br />
longer the lighting and heating are in<br />
operation. This should be taken into<br />
consideration when selecting the <strong>terrarium</strong>.<br />
In small volume containers,<br />
the individual climate levels will fluctuate<br />
rapidly. These must then be<br />
adjusted using sophisticated control<br />
systems or constant adjustments in<br />
order to be able to provide the best<br />
conditions once again. On the other<br />
hand, in large volume containers the<br />
climatic factors are significantly slower<br />
to fluctuate and, furthermore, zones<br />
with differing micro-climates can be<br />
easily created (zones with varying<br />
temperatures and humidity), enabling<br />
the pets to seek out places which provide<br />
the climatic conditions they<br />
require at any particular time.
4 TYPES OF TERRARIUM<br />
In the following we would like to present<br />
two types of <strong>terrarium</strong>s in detail,<br />
the desert <strong>terrarium</strong> and a rain<strong>for</strong>est<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>, as examples of the wide<br />
range of types of <strong>terrarium</strong> which are<br />
possible. As an interesting variation on<br />
the rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>, the paludarium<br />
or aqua-<strong>terrarium</strong> is also mentioned.<br />
There are, of course, a whole<br />
range of conceivable combinations of<br />
climate types, which cannot be dealt<br />
with in the space available here. Tips<br />
are given on sources of appropriate<br />
in<strong>for</strong>mation.<br />
4.1 The desert <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
The habitat of the desert is generally<br />
understood to be a really hot one.<br />
<strong>How</strong>ever, when you look closely, you<br />
learn that the environment of reptiles<br />
in the desert is characterised by extremes<br />
of temperature, depending on<br />
where the animals are. At night the<br />
temperatures plunge dramatically. In<br />
order to reach and maintain the temperatures<br />
required <strong>for</strong> metabolic processes<br />
and typical behaviour (display,<br />
defending territory etc.) desert animals<br />
deliberately move between warm,<br />
sunny areas and cooler, shady ones.<br />
It should be noted that desert animals<br />
in particular need localised (!!) spots<br />
where the temperatures should easily<br />
reach 50 - 60°C, but they do not<br />
spend all day there. In the natural environment,<br />
the length of time spent at<br />
the source of heat is influenced by the<br />
air temperature and wind movement.<br />
In spring, with cool air temperatures<br />
and strong winds, they need to sun<br />
themselves <strong>for</strong> long periods in order to<br />
reach the preferred temperature. In<br />
contrast, in summer, with 38°C air<br />
temperature and no wind, they avoid<br />
direct sunshine in order not to overheat<br />
above their optimum temperature<br />
(<strong>for</strong> many desert animals this is between<br />
35 - 42°C). An important factor<br />
in the heating of a <strong>terrarium</strong> is there<strong>for</strong>e<br />
the variation in heat levels throughout<br />
the <strong>terrarium</strong>. The animals should<br />
always have the opportunity of finding<br />
cooler places when they have warmed<br />
<strong>up</strong> sufficiently. By careful choice of<br />
technical equipment and its use (e.g.<br />
never covering the entire floor of a <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
with a heating system), the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
keeper should ensure that different<br />
climate gradients are created in<br />
the <strong>terrarium</strong> rather than a uni<strong>for</strong>m<br />
sauna climate. The most important<br />
point is the creation of a drop in temperature<br />
in the <strong>terrarium</strong>. No reptile<br />
can survive core temperatures of over<br />
48°C.<br />
A desert <strong>terrarium</strong> can be set <strong>up</strong> as<br />
follows: any type of sand is suitable as<br />
a floor covering. JBL offers red, yellow<br />
and white sand under the name<br />
TerraSand. Red TerraSand is s<strong>up</strong>plied<br />
damp and can be shaped when<br />
spread. It hardens slightly as it dries,<br />
giving burrowing animals the possibility<br />
to dig caves. According to the requirements<br />
of the animals, the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
can be designed with stone constructions<br />
or with caves.
Corn snake on JBL TerraBark Leopard lizard on red TerraSand<br />
For the safety of the animals, stone<br />
constructions should be glued together<br />
using aquarium silicon, <strong>for</strong> example,<br />
such as JBL AquaSil. In large<br />
aquariums, the weight of stone constructions<br />
may be a problem. Imitation<br />
stone made of plastic is available from<br />
specialist retailers and is to be recommended<br />
here. Dry wood is also suitable<br />
as decoration in desert <strong>terrarium</strong>s.<br />
Appropriate plants, such as succulents,<br />
round off the picture. Cacti<br />
should only be used in the plastic imitation<br />
<strong>for</strong>m, to avoid the danger of<br />
injury from the spikes of real cacti. If<br />
large, active animals are kept, plants<br />
usually have little chance of surviving<br />
long. Many suitable imitation plants<br />
are available from specialist pet s<strong>up</strong>pliers.<br />
Collared lizard (female) on red<br />
JBL TerraSand<br />
A summary of the technical equipment<br />
<strong>for</strong> a desert <strong>terrarium</strong> (more<br />
details in the chapter "Equipment").<br />
� Heating mat: JBL TerraTemp<br />
� Temperature and humidity<br />
regulator: JBL TerraControl<br />
� Heating stone: JBL ReptilTemp<br />
� Fluorescent tube: JBL SOLAR<br />
REPTIL Sun<br />
� Heater: JBL ReptilHeat<br />
� Special mounting <strong>for</strong> heater:<br />
JBL TempSet<br />
� Heat lamp: JBL ReptilRed<br />
Star tortoise on JBL TerraBark<br />
A <strong>terrarium</strong> <strong>for</strong> sun-loving tortoises<br />
can be set <strong>up</strong>, in principle, in the same<br />
way as a desert <strong>terrarium</strong>. <strong>How</strong>ever,<br />
sand should not be used a floor-covering<br />
material. JBL TerraBark is ideal in<br />
this case. Further details can be found<br />
in specialist literature or by consulting<br />
your specialist retailer.
4.2 The rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
When they hear the term "rain<strong>for</strong>est<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>" most people think of a<br />
jungle behind glass and automatically<br />
associate this with high humidity and<br />
more or less constant "tropical" temperatures.<br />
This is not as far from reality<br />
as <strong>for</strong> desert <strong>terrarium</strong>s. It is a fact<br />
that the characteristic climatic factors<br />
<strong>for</strong> rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>s are relative<br />
constant temperatures of around 25 -<br />
30°C with slight cooling during the<br />
night and relatively high humidity. The<br />
temperature and humidity levels required<br />
vary according to the species of<br />
animals. Appropriate in<strong>for</strong>mation is<br />
vital <strong>for</strong> successful care.<br />
JBL TerraBasis or JBL TerraBark is<br />
excellently suited <strong>for</strong> use as groundcovering<br />
material in rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>s.<br />
Plants play a key role when setting<br />
<strong>up</strong> a rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>. A wide<br />
variety of suitable plants are available<br />
from specialist pet shops or well-stokked<br />
garden centers. In principle, any<br />
plant which is suitable <strong>for</strong> a windowsill<br />
can be used in a rain<strong>for</strong>est terrari-<br />
um. The size should, of course, be<br />
governed by the space available.<br />
Plants with large, smooth leaves are<br />
suitable <strong>for</strong> reptiles with adhesive fingers,<br />
e.g. geckos, as they would<br />
otherwise spend their most of their<br />
time on the panes.
All kinds of damp-resistant branches<br />
or cork bark are suitable as structural<br />
elements in a rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>.<br />
Roots of wood available <strong>for</strong> use in<br />
aquariums are excellent as they have<br />
no humidity problems. Many artificial<br />
branches or liana-type decorations<br />
made of non-rotting materials are<br />
offered <strong>for</strong> sale. Branches decorated<br />
with plants such as<br />
bromeliads provide a<br />
focal point in any<br />
rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>.<br />
The side and rear<br />
walls can also be<br />
incorporated into the<br />
design of the landscape,<br />
whether by<br />
attaching flat stones<br />
to them, or plant elements<br />
made of coir,<br />
or painted polystyrene<br />
shapes with a<br />
sturdy covering layer.<br />
There are almost no<br />
boundaries to the<br />
design ideas <strong>for</strong> rain<br />
<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>s.<br />
<strong>How</strong>ever, the needs of the animals<br />
and the limitations posed by cleaning<br />
must always be taken into consideration.<br />
Moving water in the <strong>for</strong>m of waterfalls<br />
in conjunction with more or less large<br />
water containers are a further interesting<br />
design element. Many animals,<br />
such as chameleons, prefer drinking<br />
from water which is moving. When<br />
installing water containers or waterfalls<br />
it is important to remember to<br />
provide a way <strong>for</strong> any animal to climb<br />
out of the water if it falls in, either deliberately<br />
or inadvertently.<br />
And finally plastic plants have to be<br />
mentioned as a design element.<br />
These are always used when relatively<br />
heavy animals, such as tree<br />
pythons, are kept as these will flatten<br />
most living plants in time. JBL offers a<br />
wide range of such plants under the<br />
name TerraPlanta.<br />
Waterfall in rain<strong>for</strong>est Juvenile tree python changing colour<br />
A summary of the technical equipment<br />
<strong>for</strong> a rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong> (more<br />
details in the chapter "Technical<br />
Equipment").<br />
� Heating mat: JBL TerraTemp<br />
� Temperature and humidity<br />
regulator: JBL TerraControl<br />
� Ultrasound mist generator:<br />
JBL Foggy<br />
� Fluorescent tube: JBL SOLAR<br />
REPTIL Jungle<br />
� Heater: JBL ReptilRed<br />
� Water pump <strong>for</strong> waterfall:<br />
JBL ProFlow mini<br />
� Inner filter <strong>for</strong> water:<br />
JBL Pro Cristal
4.2 The aqua-<strong>terrarium</strong> or<br />
paludarium<br />
The aqua-<strong>terrarium</strong> or paludarium<br />
(Latin palus = marsh) is in principle a<br />
rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong> combined with an<br />
aquarium. Breath-taking tropical landscapes<br />
with waterfalls and streams or<br />
lakes can be designed in large aqua-<br />
Turtles sunbathing at a pond<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>s. The typical care routine of<br />
aquariums apply to the water section,<br />
including the same decorations and<br />
technical equipment. More details can<br />
be found in the JBL "What - Why-<br />
<strong>How</strong>?" series of advice brochures.<br />
Aqua-<strong>terrarium</strong>s with particularly large<br />
waterfalls or even an island as the<br />
land element are best suited <strong>for</strong> the<br />
care of turtles. Many of these creatures<br />
can also be kept in garden ponds<br />
in summer. A suitably secure enclosure<br />
is vital as these animals are real<br />
escape artists.<br />
A summary of the technical equipment<br />
<strong>for</strong> an aqua-<strong>terrarium</strong> (more<br />
details in the chapter " Technical<br />
Equipment"): in addition to the points<br />
listed <strong>for</strong> rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>s:<br />
� Aquarium heater: JBL ProTemp<br />
� External filter <strong>for</strong> the aquarium:<br />
JBL CristalProfi<br />
Turtles in an aqua-<strong>terrarium</strong><br />
10<br />
imals
Suitable floor-covering material<br />
<strong>for</strong> <strong>terrarium</strong> animals<br />
TerraBasis<br />
Indian python/regal python, corn snake, pilot black<br />
snake, Arizona king snake, water agama, mountain<br />
dragon, anolis, common iguana, garter snake, tortoise,<br />
tree frog, toad, dart frog, red-bellied toad, hairy<br />
mygalomorph, emperor scorpion, Madagascar gecko,<br />
chameleon<br />
TerraCoco compact<br />
Dry as <strong>for</strong> TerraCoco,<br />
wet as <strong>for</strong> TerraBasis<br />
TerraCoco humus<br />
Indian python/regal python, corn snake, pilot black<br />
snake, Arizona king snake, water agama, mountain<br />
dragon, anolis, common iguana, garter snake, tortoise,<br />
tree frog, toad, dart frog, red-bellied toad, hairy<br />
mygalomorph, emperor scorpion, Madagascar gecko,<br />
chameleon<br />
TerraCoco<br />
Extra-giant boa and python species, large monitor<br />
species, large water agama, large common iguana<br />
TerraWood<br />
Extra-giant boa and python species, large monitor<br />
species, large teju, large water agama, large common<br />
iguana
TerraSand white<br />
Bearded dragon, leopard lizard, rubber<br />
snake and turkish sand boa, horned toad,<br />
common agama, desert iguana, spiny lizard,<br />
ridge-tailed monitor, mastigure, rainbow<br />
curly-tailed lizard, desert scorpion<br />
TerraSand yellow; red<br />
Bearded dragon, leopard lizard, rubber snake and<br />
turkish sand boa, horned toad, common agama,<br />
desert iguana, spiny lizard, ridge-tailed monitor,<br />
mastigure, rainbow curly-tailed lizard, desert<br />
scorpion<br />
TerraBark 0-5 mm<br />
Indian python/regal python, corn snake, pilot black snake, Arizona<br />
king snake, water agama, mountain dragon, anolis, common i<br />
guana, garter snake, tortoise, tree frog, toad, dart frog, red-bellied<br />
toad, hairy mygalomorph, emperor scorpion, Madagascar gecko,<br />
chameleon<br />
TerraBark 5-10 mm<br />
Indian python/regal python, corn snake, pilot black snake,<br />
Arizona king snake, water agama, mountain dragon,<br />
anolis, common iguana, garter snake, tortoise, tree frog,<br />
toad, dart frog, red-bellied toad, hairy mygalomorph,<br />
emperor scorpion, Madagascar gecko, chameleon<br />
TerraBark 10-25 mm<br />
As <strong>for</strong> TerraBasis, but only <strong>for</strong> large animals such as<br />
boas, pythons, water agamas, monitors, common<br />
iguanas and large tortoises
5 TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE TERRARIUM<br />
5.1 Lighting<br />
As cold-blooded animals, <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
animals are far more dependent on<br />
light, i.e. its quality and intensity, than<br />
warm-blooded or homiothermic vertebrates.<br />
Activity, taking in nourishment,<br />
digestion and resting phases<br />
are all influenced by the change from<br />
day to night and above all by the<br />
intensity of the light. Added to this is<br />
the fact that many <strong>terrarium</strong> animals<br />
also associate light with warmth and<br />
seek out light places in the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
to "sunbathe". This should be taken<br />
into account, particularly in the heating<br />
of desert <strong>terrarium</strong>s. Depending<br />
on the source of light used, there are<br />
differences in the yield and quality of<br />
the light. Fluorescent tubes, <strong>for</strong> example<br />
provide a lot of light with little heat,<br />
whereas bulbs convert the majority of<br />
Daylight spectrum<br />
the energy taken <strong>up</strong> to warmth and<br />
only a small portion to light.<br />
The question of which light quality is<br />
most suitable <strong>for</strong> a <strong>terrarium</strong> is easy to<br />
answer if you look at nature: in a long<br />
process of evolution over millions of<br />
years, plants and animals have adapted<br />
to what the sun sends to earth.<br />
Looking at the spectrum of sunlight<br />
(meaning the part of the sun's rays<br />
which are visible to us), you recognise<br />
a very even distribution of all the<br />
spectral colours. For this reason,<br />
lighting <strong>for</strong> the <strong>terrarium</strong> should have<br />
as balanced a spectrum as possible<br />
without gaps. At the same time, all<br />
plants and animals appear in their full<br />
naturally glorious colours. In the case<br />
of fluorescent tubes, these are the<br />
full-spectrum tubes which JBL offers<br />
in two versions <strong>for</strong> <strong>terrarium</strong>s: JBL<br />
SOLAR Reptile Sun and JBL SOLAR<br />
Reptile Jungle. HQI lamps also s<strong>up</strong>ply<br />
a very balanced spectrum and<br />
provide excellent lighting <strong>for</strong> larger<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>s. Bulbs have a very strong<br />
red element in the spectrum which<br />
can, however, be more or less compensated<br />
<strong>for</strong> by colouring the glass<br />
bulb.<br />
A significant factor in the lighting of<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>s is UV light, in the UV-A and<br />
UV-B ranges. Depending on their origins,<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> animals need more or<br />
less UV light <strong>for</strong> their well-being. UV-B<br />
stimulates vitamin D3 synthesis from<br />
the pre-stage of vitamin D2. UV-A stimulates<br />
pigmentation.
Spectrum JBL SOLAR Reptil Sun<br />
Tip: The use of high-quality reflectors,<br />
such as JBL SOLAR Reflect, can<br />
significantly increase the light yield of<br />
all the lighting recommended here.<br />
For example, the JBL SOLAR Reflect<br />
shield made of robust, non-corroding,<br />
mirror-finish aluminium can be simply<br />
attached to all commercially available<br />
26 mm fluorescent tubes by means of<br />
clips.<br />
Spectrum JBL SOLAR Reptil Jungle<br />
The animals show the full brilliance of their colours under full-spectrum lamps e.g. JBL SOLAR Reptile Jungle
5.1.1 The desert <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
Characteristic of the desert environment<br />
is its extreme brightness. The<br />
UV light of the sun can shine on the<br />
ground unhindered. There<strong>for</strong>e desert<br />
animals need very bright lighting with<br />
a high proportion of UV light. The JBL<br />
SOLAR Reptile Sun fluorescent<br />
tubes with 36% UV-A and 8% UV-B<br />
provide the right intensity of light <strong>for</strong> a<br />
desert <strong>terrarium</strong>. Since fluorescent<br />
tubes with high UV section give off<br />
relatively little light in the visible range,<br />
a combination with full spectrum<br />
tubes with a high proportion of visible<br />
light is strongly recommended. The<br />
JBL SOLAR Reptil Sun is the best<br />
choice here, providing ample light in<br />
full-spectrum quality in the visible<br />
range with a low section of UV, i.e. 2%<br />
UV-A and 0.5% UV-B. A desert <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
with a depth of about 50 cm can<br />
be easily lit with 1-2 JBL SOLAR<br />
Reptile Sun tubes and 2-3 JBL<br />
SOLAR Reptile Jungle tubes.<br />
3 x JBL SOLAR Reptil Jungle<br />
2 x JBL SOLAR Reptil Sun with reflector<br />
In order that the animals can also use<br />
the UV light, it is important that the<br />
JBL SOLAR Reptil Sun tubes are<br />
positioned inside the <strong>terrarium</strong>, without<br />
any glass pane between the animals<br />
and the tubes. Protective wire<br />
mesh may be used to prevent the animals<br />
coming into contact with the<br />
tubes.<br />
Note that invertebrates, such as spiders<br />
and scorpions, do not need UV<br />
light - it may even be harmful to them.<br />
Invertebrate animals, e.g. bird spiders (hairy mygalomorph),<br />
do not need UV light
5.1.2 The rain<strong>for</strong>est<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> and the<br />
aqua-<strong>terrarium</strong><br />
Sufficient light, particularly full-spectrum<br />
quality, is necessary <strong>for</strong> the<br />
many plants in a rain<strong>for</strong>est<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> to<br />
flourish. This can be<br />
ideally created using<br />
the corresponding<br />
number of JBL<br />
SOLAR Reptil Jungle<br />
tubes. Animals from<br />
the rain<strong>for</strong>est, however,<br />
particularly amphibians,<br />
need relatively<br />
little UV-light as<br />
they are shaded from<br />
the sun's rays by the<br />
lush vegetation in their<br />
natural habitat. The<br />
low UV-sector of JBL<br />
SOLAR Reptil Jungle<br />
is ideally suited <strong>for</strong><br />
this.<br />
The lighting in a rain<strong>for</strong>est<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong><br />
For animals which live in more open<br />
areas of the rain<strong>for</strong>est or by the water,<br />
<strong>for</strong> example turtles, or tree-dwellers<br />
which actively seek sunlight when<br />
required, we recommend the additional<br />
use of JBL SOLAR Reptil Sun.<br />
1 x JBL SOLAR Reptil Sun<br />
1 x JBL SOLAR Reptil Sun<br />
3 x JBL SOLAR Reptil Jungle
Insulatingmaterial<br />
against heat loss<br />
5.2 Heating<br />
Heating in a <strong>terrarium</strong> should always<br />
be planned such that, if the control<br />
system should fail, the animals will not<br />
Insulating material<br />
against heat loss<br />
be "cooked", i.e. a small <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
should not be equipped with an oversized<br />
100 W heating cable with regulator,<br />
but with a small floor heater with<br />
only 15 or 7.5 W, <strong>for</strong> example.<br />
In addition, the heating effect of the<br />
lighting should be taken into account.<br />
When the heating is turned off at<br />
night, the temperature will also drop.<br />
Tip: In order to reduce the heat loss<br />
from the <strong>terrarium</strong> and save energy<br />
costs, the side panes may be insulated<br />
on the outside with insulating<br />
material. Foam underlays, such as<br />
JBL AquaPad, reduce heat loss from<br />
the floor of the <strong>terrarium</strong> and prevent<br />
the floor pane cracking due to unevenness<br />
of the s<strong>up</strong>porting surface in<br />
the event that no external floor hea-<br />
ting mat is used. If an external floor<br />
heating mat is used, the instructions<br />
with the mat should be carefully<br />
observed to ensure adequate ventilation<br />
of the heating mat.<br />
5.2.1. Heating in a desert<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong><br />
As already mentioned, desert animals<br />
combine heat with light and automatically<br />
seek out light areas to warm<br />
themselves. At the same time, cooler<br />
places should be provided in the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
in order to offer the animals<br />
places to withdraw to when they have<br />
warmed <strong>up</strong> sufficiently. This is easier<br />
to achieve in larger <strong>terrarium</strong>s than in<br />
small ones, which are relatively quick<br />
to warm <strong>up</strong> completely. A heater can<br />
Spotlight<br />
Floor heating (heating mat)<br />
be set <strong>up</strong> in a desert <strong>terrarium</strong> as follows:<br />
one half of the floor is fitted with<br />
a JBL TerraTemp heating mat.
The heating mat should never be fitted<br />
in the middle of the <strong>terrarium</strong> floor in<br />
order that the animals can still retreat<br />
Agama sunbathing in their habitat<br />
to the other half of the floor when<br />
necessary. Sun-worshippers which<br />
Bearded dragons sunbathing under a spotlight in the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
like to burrow are still able to avoid the<br />
heat by burrowing.<br />
A spotlight (bulb with reflector) is fitted<br />
as a heat source on the side with the<br />
heating mat, towards the side pane,<br />
rather than in the middle. A spotlight<br />
provides the brightness which the animals<br />
need. Spotlights with colour-cor<br />
rected glass also provide a very natural-looking<br />
light with good colourreproduction<br />
properties (JBL product<br />
in development). Using this method, a<br />
range of temperature zones can be<br />
created, from hot, to temperate, to<br />
unheated floor space. This allows the<br />
pets to seek out different temperature<br />
zones according to need, as they<br />
would in the wild.<br />
Twilight or night-active species, such<br />
as leopard lizards, should be provided<br />
with warm areas using the JBL<br />
ReptiTemp heating stone made of a<br />
special material which ensures even<br />
heat distribution in the stone. The surface<br />
of the stone warms <strong>up</strong> to a<br />
moderate 30 - 45 °C. The JBL<br />
ReptiHeat, in the appropriate wattage,<br />
is an excellent source of radiant<br />
heat and can be safely installed using<br />
the JBL TempSet (ceramic fitting with<br />
cable and switch). The red lamps, JBL<br />
ReptilRed, provide moderate heating<br />
and, at the same time, lighting <strong>for</strong><br />
night observation. Smaller <strong>terrarium</strong>s<br />
can be lit and heated during the day<br />
using JBL ReptilBlue, a bulb with<br />
colour-corrected spectrum. The glass<br />
bulbs of ReptiBlue and ReptiRed are<br />
not painted, but made of coloured<br />
glass and there<strong>for</strong>e do not fade<br />
after long use.
5.2.2 Heating in a rain<strong>for</strong>est<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> and a desert <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
The relatively even temperatures in a<br />
rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong> can be ideally<br />
created using "gentle" floor heating,<br />
such as JBL TerraTemp. The tropical<br />
plants then have "warm feet" which<br />
encourages growth. The lighting also<br />
contributes to the heating of the rain<strong>for</strong>est<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> from above.<br />
Heating mat<br />
Floor heating (heating mat)<br />
Aquarium heater<br />
In larger <strong>terrarium</strong>s, heating mats can<br />
also be fitted to the outside surfaces<br />
of the sides, providing these are not<br />
covered with decorations. This provides<br />
additional heating to bring the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
<strong>up</strong> to the required temperature.<br />
If larger areas of water are integrated,<br />
with or without a waterfall, an aquarium<br />
heating rod in the water is recommended.<br />
If terrapins or other tropical<br />
sun-worshippers are kept, a spotlight<br />
should also be installed as a bright<br />
source of heat <strong>for</strong> "sun-bathing" on<br />
the land section.<br />
5.3 Providing humidity and<br />
water care<br />
In addition to light and warmth, a s<strong>up</strong>ply<br />
of drinking water, relative air humidity<br />
and the right dampness of the<br />
substrate are important factors in the<br />
care of these pets. Not only reptiles,<br />
but also to a far greater extent the<br />
thin-skinned amphibians constantly<br />
lose water during respiration and<br />
above all through their skin.<br />
Amphibians, in particular, absorb<br />
water almost exclusively through the<br />
skin and, in contrast to other <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
animals, hardly drink at all. There<strong>for</strong>e<br />
the <strong>terrarium</strong> should be misted regularly,<br />
preferably at least once every<br />
morning, even desert <strong>terrarium</strong>s. In<br />
regions with high daytime temperatures<br />
and drastic cooling at night, fog or<br />
dew often occurs in the early morning.<br />
For many animals, this moisture on<br />
their bodies or condensed moisture<br />
Water droplets on a tree python<br />
on objects is sufficient to meet their<br />
daily need <strong>for</strong> water.<br />
Some species of animal, e.g. chameleons,<br />
prefer moving water. The drops<br />
of water which collect on leaves or<br />
decorative objects after misting are
sufficient <strong>for</strong> young animals, but often<br />
not enough <strong>for</strong> fully-grown animals.<br />
We recommend installing a drip<br />
system which provides water over a<br />
longer period of time. The<br />
animals then have the possibility<br />
to take as much water<br />
as they need and vitamins<br />
can be added to the water<br />
from time to time (e.g. JBL<br />
TerraVit fluid). Installing a<br />
waterfall (JBL product in<br />
development) or indoor fountain<br />
driven by JBL ProFlow<br />
Mini water pumps or installing<br />
a larger waterfall on the<br />
back wall, driven by JBL ProFlow<br />
Maxi water pumps, complete with<br />
water reservoir is another option to<br />
provide moving water <strong>for</strong> the animals.<br />
Finally, ultrasound<br />
mist generators<br />
e.g.<br />
JBL Foggy<br />
can be used<br />
to increase<br />
humidity. By the way, the operating life<br />
of a mist generator can be significantly<br />
prolonged by using soft water<br />
(lower lime content).<br />
Certain care measures must be followed<br />
when providing water in a <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
to prevent it turning into a cloudy,<br />
germ-laden so<strong>up</strong>, which is harmful to<br />
the health of your pets. In the case of<br />
drinking containers, care is fairly sim-<br />
ple. They should be washed and refilled<br />
daily. Larger areas of water in the<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>, also those connected to a<br />
waterfall, require similar<br />
treatment to an aquarium.<br />
More details on<br />
water care in the aquarium<br />
are given in the JBL brochure<br />
"What - Why -<strong>How</strong>", books 1 and 2.<br />
The following steps should be briefly<br />
mentioned: after the water area has<br />
been filled with tap water, a water conditioner<br />
should be added (e.g.<br />
JBL Biotopol T), which renders<br />
any chlorine harmless and binds<br />
pollutants such as heavy metals.<br />
An appliance should be installed<br />
to filter the water. For smaller<br />
volumes of <strong>up</strong> to approx. 50 l, an<br />
internal filter <strong>for</strong> aquariums such<br />
as JBL ProCristal is sufficient.<br />
For larger volumes, an external filter<br />
<strong>for</strong> aquariums should be considered.<br />
Professional external filters<br />
in the JBL CristalProfi range<br />
are available in specialist pet<br />
shops.
Regular changes of about 30% of the<br />
water every 2 weeks should also be<br />
carried out, as <strong>for</strong> aquariums, and the<br />
fresh water conditioned with JBL<br />
Biotopol T.<br />
When keeping terrapins<br />
and turtles, the installation<br />
of an efficient external<br />
filter is recommended<br />
(JBL CristalProfi)<br />
on account of the enormous<br />
metabolic rate of<br />
these animals. When<br />
selecting the model, a<br />
size larger than that<br />
recommended <strong>for</strong> a corresponding<br />
aquarium<br />
should be chosen. JBL´s<br />
EasyTurtle is a<br />
product which effectively accelerates<br />
the breakdown of the<br />
large quantities of excreta produced<br />
by turtles, and there<strong>for</strong>e<br />
prevents unpleasant odours.<br />
This contains specially bred<br />
cleansing bacteria which are<br />
absorbed in a mineral granulate.<br />
The granulate is simply<br />
strewn on the floor of the area<br />
of water or mixed into the<br />
ground-covering material.<br />
5.4 Ventilation in a <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
The amount of fresh air needed<br />
depends, like all other climatic requirements,<br />
on the natural habitat of the<br />
animals and varies widely from species<br />
to species. Ventilation of a <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
is usually provided by 2 ventilation<br />
grids on different sides of the <strong>terrarium</strong>,<br />
which prevent stuffy air collecting.<br />
Fitting a ventilation grid under the<br />
front pane has the advantage that the<br />
view remains "unclouded". The air in a<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> heats <strong>up</strong> from the heating in<br />
the floor, the lighting and the heat<br />
radiators and subsequently<br />
rises. Some of the warm air<br />
escapes through the ventilation<br />
grids, usually in the top of<br />
the <strong>terrarium</strong>, causing fresh<br />
air to flow in through the grid<br />
fitted under the front pane.<br />
The air circulation helps to dry<br />
the glass panes and the<br />
objects in the <strong>terrarium</strong>.<br />
Without any ventilation in the<br />
bottom third of a <strong>terrarium</strong>,<br />
moisture-saturated air<br />
quickly builds <strong>up</strong> in a<br />
humid<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>,<br />
leading to<br />
steamed <strong>up</strong><br />
side glass<br />
panes. This is<br />
the reason why<br />
aquariums are<br />
not suitable <strong>for</strong><br />
keeping <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
animals.<br />
Ventilating a <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
The optimum humidity can be created<br />
in a <strong>terrarium</strong> by increasing or decreasing<br />
the size of the ventilation gaps<br />
and the heat does not escape as fast<br />
as from an open aquarium.
6 FEEDING THE<br />
TERRARIUM ANIMALS<br />
In order to keep <strong>terrarium</strong> pets healthy<br />
it is vital that they are fed the correct<br />
food <strong>for</strong> the particular species. This is<br />
the only way to avoid deficiencies e.g.<br />
rickets or illnesses caused by nutrition<br />
(fatty liver, renal gout). It is important<br />
to know the natural eating habits of<br />
the animals in order to provide a<br />
balanced diet. In a <strong>terrarium</strong>, many<br />
animals eat types of food which they<br />
would rarely find in the wild, or only at<br />
certain times of the year. Some herbivores<br />
will also eat live food insects. If<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> pets are given completely<br />
untypical food, <strong>for</strong> example, bread<br />
soaked in milk, cooked pasta, minced<br />
meat or cat food, a surprising number<br />
will greedily devour this.<br />
These types of food are<br />
unsuitable <strong>for</strong> <strong>terrarium</strong> animals.<br />
<strong>How</strong>ever, not everything which the<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> animals voluntarily eat is<br />
good <strong>for</strong> their health. The reason why<br />
large common iguana do not eat cat<br />
food in the rain<strong>for</strong>est is not that the<br />
tins are hard to open, but simply<br />
because there is none there. Giving<br />
the animals their favourite food, (he<br />
just loves to eat it), just <strong>for</strong> convenience<br />
or out of excessive care is the<br />
wrong way.<br />
6.1 <strong>How</strong> often to feed?<br />
There is not just one simple answer to<br />
this question. The amount of food to<br />
give per meal and the intervals between<br />
feeds vary widely according to<br />
the species. Of course, in the first few<br />
weeks, young animals usually need<br />
feeding daily, whereas adults only<br />
have to be fed 2-3 times a week.<br />
Depending on their age, snakes only<br />
need food at long intervals, whereas<br />
the small, colourful tree-climbing frogs<br />
(Dendrobatiden) develop serious problems<br />
after only a few days without<br />
food. The amount of food given<br />
should also be suitable <strong>for</strong> the pet.<br />
Many animals eat reserves of food<br />
due to the annual dry season in their<br />
natural habitat when little food is available.<br />
Of course, they do not know<br />
that there is no danger of a food shortage<br />
in the <strong>terrarium</strong> and there<strong>for</strong>e do<br />
not stop eating reserves of food when<br />
their owner continually gives them<br />
over-rich food. This is why desert animals<br />
are far more likely to suffer from<br />
excess fat than rain<strong>for</strong>est animals.<br />
Overfed animals become sluggish,<br />
their sex organs may become fatty<br />
leading to sterility, or they die from<br />
organ failure, e.g. when their liver
stops functioning because too much<br />
fat has been stored.<br />
6.2 Food <strong>for</strong> "animal eaters"<br />
Most <strong>terrarium</strong> animals are "animal<br />
eaters", so-called because they eat<br />
whole, live animals. As they are "programmed"<br />
to particular stimuli, such<br />
as the movement of the prey or, in the<br />
case of snakes, the warmth of the<br />
small mammal or bird which is the victim,<br />
they can rarely be trained to<br />
accept substitute food, with few<br />
exceptions. Snakes can often be successfully<br />
trained to accept dead prey<br />
if these are warmed to 37 - 40 °C<br />
be<strong>for</strong>e being offered as food.<br />
Egg snake eating a quail egg<br />
Nowadays specialist pet shops offer a<br />
wide range of live food e.g. grasshoppers,<br />
cockroaches, crickets, house<br />
crickets, flies, fruit flies, springtails,<br />
worms, mosquito larvae, wax worms<br />
or crustacea. Nevertheless, compared<br />
with the vast range available in the<br />
wild, this is still a moderate selection.<br />
In order to avoid deficiency symptoms,<br />
the type of food should be<br />
changed frequently, <strong>for</strong> example, not<br />
always crickets. Finally the live food<br />
animals should be further refined by<br />
fed high-quality food themselves. To<br />
this end they are fed a special mixture<br />
Green tree python eating a rat<br />
of food <strong>for</strong> about two weeks e.g. JBL<br />
TerraCrick, clover, herbs, fruit, vegetables<br />
and minerals, to "feed them <strong>up</strong>"<br />
Bearded dragon eating meadow herbs<br />
and significantly improve<br />
their nutrient value.
The herbs, minerals and roughage<br />
which a cricket eats shortly be<strong>for</strong>e<br />
being devoured itself, are then indirectly<br />
eaten in the <strong>for</strong>m of the "stuffed"<br />
insect by an "animal eater" which<br />
would normally not give vegetable<br />
food a second glance.<br />
In summer, the menu offered to insect<br />
eaters can be improved and broadened<br />
to include meadow plankton<br />
which you can gather yourself. Of<br />
course, these should not be picked<br />
from areas cultivated under intensive<br />
farming methods using herbicides or<br />
similar. Protected species should also<br />
not be caught. Getting permission<br />
from the owner of the meadow may<br />
be advisable.<br />
Tip: If, despite careful<br />
handling, a food crikket<br />
should escape,<br />
any free-roaming<br />
"creepy crawlies" can<br />
be simply caught in a<br />
non-toxic trap (JBL<br />
LimCollect).<br />
6.3 Food <strong>for</strong><br />
turtles<br />
Most turtles are omnivorous, usually<br />
with a preference <strong>for</strong> anything "animal".<br />
The favourite prey are fish and<br />
any kind of aquatic creature. Now and<br />
again a dead fish is devoured. Turtles<br />
also like to eat some aquatic plants<br />
and other "greenery". In contrast to<br />
most other <strong>terrarium</strong> animals, turtles<br />
also eat "dead food" and can there-<br />
<strong>for</strong>e be easily fed on industrially produced<br />
food. The fact that they seem<br />
to stuff themselves with any food offered<br />
should not be seen as a reason to<br />
feed them on cat-food, as sometimes<br />
recommended.<br />
JBL has a wide range of food <strong>for</strong> turtles,<br />
all carefully balanced to meet their<br />
nutritional needs. The main ingredients<br />
are fish, crustacea and algae.<br />
The classic amongst<br />
the food products<br />
offered by JBL is<br />
JBL Turtle Food, a mixture<br />
of dried water fleas, other<br />
crustacea and insects. JBL<br />
Agil, a food in the <strong>for</strong>m of<br />
floating sticks and JBL Tortil,<br />
food tablets which sink in<br />
water, add variety to the diet.<br />
JBL Energil was specially<br />
developed <strong>for</strong> large, fullygrown<br />
turtles. This food<br />
encourages natural movements<br />
in the animals, as it
contains whole,<br />
dried fish and<br />
crustacea, which<br />
the animals are<br />
unable to swallow<br />
in one piece.<br />
And finally <strong>for</strong><br />
smaller turtles<br />
and baby turtles,<br />
there is JBL<br />
Rugil and<br />
JBL ProBaby.<br />
6.4 Food <strong>for</strong><br />
vegetarians<br />
Pets in a <strong>terrarium</strong> which are<br />
solely or primarily vegetarian,<br />
e.g. common iguana,<br />
chuckwalla or European tortoises,<br />
can be fed with meadow<br />
plants (such as dandelion,<br />
clover, ribwort), various salad<br />
plants and sprouting seeds, chopped<br />
vegetables or dried herbs, straw and<br />
lucern pellets. JBL offers two readymade<br />
foods <strong>for</strong> vegetarian <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
pets, IGUVERT <strong>for</strong> iguana and AGI-<br />
VERT <strong>for</strong> tortoises. These foods specifically<br />
contain<br />
only vegetable<br />
ingredients<br />
with a high<br />
fibre content<br />
and little protein.<br />
Mastigure<br />
may also be<br />
offered<br />
various<br />
seeds,<br />
e.g. from<br />
the bird food<br />
shelves. As a rule, animals which<br />
are distinctly plant eating need lowprotein,<br />
fibre-rich, high-roughage<br />
food to remain healthy.<br />
6.5<br />
Vitamins<br />
and<br />
minerals<br />
Due to their<br />
often onesided<br />
diet<br />
during breeding,<br />
animals<br />
bought as food usually<br />
contain insufficient<br />
vitamins and minerals.<br />
TerraVit P, a vitamin<br />
preparation in powder<br />
<strong>for</strong>m with trace elements<br />
and MicroCalcium, a pure calcium<br />
preparation, are two products<br />
from JBL which give owners the possibility<br />
to s<strong>up</strong>plement the vitamin and<br />
calcium content of the food with extra<br />
doses. The differing calcium requirements<br />
of meat-eaters and vegetarians<br />
can be catered <strong>for</strong>. The JBL Feeding<br />
Rock is an interesting method of feeding<br />
which is designed to suit the<br />
natural behaviour of reptiles. The rock<br />
is a "feeding rock"<br />
which can be opened at<br />
the top to place live<br />
food inside it. The food<br />
animals are first<br />
"coated" with JBL<br />
TerraVit P and / or JBL<br />
Micro-Calcium in the<br />
JBL CrickBox.
Finally the food rock is<br />
turned <strong>up</strong>side down<br />
and placed on top of<br />
the CrickBox, so that<br />
the two openings meet<br />
exactly. Then invert the<br />
food rock with the<br />
CrickBox, the animals fall into the<br />
food rock, remove the CrickBox, put<br />
the lid on the food rock and place it in<br />
the <strong>terrarium</strong>. When the small "plug"<br />
on the side is removed, the food animals<br />
make <strong>for</strong> the only opening in the<br />
rock, where the <strong>terrarium</strong> inhabitants<br />
are soon greedily waiting.<br />
The liquid vitamin preparation, JBL<br />
TerraVit fluid, can be used to add vitamins<br />
to drinking water as required. If<br />
some animals, e.g. snakes, are fed<br />
only on thawed food animals, we<br />
recommend s<strong>up</strong>plementing the vitamin<br />
content of the food with vitamin<br />
drops (JBL TerraVit fluid), as vitamins<br />
are destroyed when food is kept at<br />
low temperatures <strong>for</strong> a long period of<br />
time. With Tortoise Terra and<br />
Tortoise Sun, JBL also offers a vitamin<br />
preparation which is specially<br />
designed to meet the needs of tortoises<br />
and turtles.<br />
When giving any vitamin s<strong>up</strong>plement,<br />
it is important that the dosage instructions<br />
are carefully followed, as overdosing<br />
(hypervitaminosis) leads to<br />
organ damage.
7 TERRARIUM CARE<br />
7.1Cleaning<br />
The time needed to clean a <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
each day depends mainly on the type<br />
and number of animals kept. Snakes<br />
which are only fed every two to three<br />
weeks or single animals usually produce<br />
far less dirt than animals which<br />
have to be fed every day, or large<br />
gro<strong>up</strong>s of animals such as the hundreds<br />
of young frogs which are reared<br />
when breeding frogs.<br />
In order to be able to keep a <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
clean, it is important that it is not overloaded<br />
with decorative objects and<br />
that all the fittings and decorations are<br />
removable. In dry <strong>terrarium</strong>s, the dried<br />
food remains and excrement can be<br />
collected easily e.g. with pincers such<br />
as JBL AquaTerra Tool P or tongs<br />
(JBL CombiFix). In humid <strong>terrarium</strong>s,<br />
the waste usually has to be "shovelled"<br />
out with some of the surrounding<br />
substrate. Any excrement sticking to<br />
decorative objects can be cleaned off<br />
under hot water using a brush. The<br />
glass panes should not be cleaned<br />
with aggressive chemicals, as<br />
the residues may be poisonous.<br />
A brush, sponge,<br />
blade cleaner (JBL Aqua-T<br />
Handy or JBL Aqua-T<br />
Triumph) and luke-warm<br />
water are sufficient to<br />
remove any suborn dirt. Unsightly<br />
limescale rings should be removed<br />
with gentle "biological" cleaners<br />
such as JBL BioClean T glass<br />
cleaner. Only a few minutes<br />
cleaning each day are adequate to<br />
guarantee clean, hygienic conditions<br />
<strong>for</strong> your pets. If cleaning is put off too<br />
long, the <strong>terrarium</strong> may have to be<br />
emptied completely and re-filled,<br />
and pets may even die unnecessarily.<br />
The usual cleaning procedure<br />
<strong>for</strong> aquariums (see JBL brochures<br />
"What - Why -<strong>How</strong> 1 and 2")<br />
should be followed <strong>for</strong> larger<br />
containers of water, both with<br />
and without a waterfall, in a<br />
rain<strong>for</strong>est <strong>terrarium</strong>.<br />
7.2 <strong>Useful</strong> tools<br />
Pincers, such as JBL AquaTerra Tool<br />
P1 and P2 or tongs such as JBL<br />
CombiFix can be used to remove<br />
excrement, dead prey or other things<br />
which you do not wish to touch with<br />
your bare hands.<br />
Nets, such as the JBL Fishing Net,<br />
are useful to catch agile inhabitants of<br />
the aquarium, both in the water (aquatile)<br />
and on land as well as escapees<br />
in the room without causing the animals<br />
any harm.<br />
Escaped prey can be easily<br />
re-captured with the JBL<br />
LimCollect slug trap.
Objects can be disinfected using 70<br />
% alcohol. The object to be cleaned<br />
should be completely immersed in the<br />
alcohol <strong>for</strong> at least 5 minutes. Nets<br />
can also be soaked in a bucket containing<br />
JBL Desinfect.<br />
8 HEALTH<br />
Terrarium pets can also become ill.<br />
Newly acquired pets may carry germs<br />
or parasites. Diseases often only<br />
break out some time after the animals<br />
have been purchased, as a change of<br />
habitat is stressful <strong>for</strong> the animals. If<br />
climatic conditions in a new <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
are not optimum, this may also weaken<br />
the immune system and cause a<br />
shift in balance between the host and<br />
the germs, leading to an outbreak of<br />
disease. If the pets show any external<br />
signs of change, or any noticeable<br />
changes in behaviour, a vet with experience<br />
in herpetology should be consulted<br />
without delay. Clear diagnosis<br />
of the cause of the disease can only<br />
be made after precise tests have been<br />
carried out, different germs or parasites<br />
can produce similar symptoms.<br />
Tests also indicate the resistance of<br />
the germs, so that the most effective<br />
medicine can be prescribed <strong>for</strong> the<br />
treatment. In general, the sooner<br />
treatment is started, the better the<br />
chances of a cure. If a pet's reserves<br />
have been exhausted or its physical<br />
decline has reached an advanced<br />
stage, even major ef<strong>for</strong>ts to build <strong>up</strong><br />
the strength of the animal will no longer<br />
help.<br />
Terrarium locks, i.e. JBL TerraSafe,<br />
can be positioned between the sliding<br />
panes to prevent any unauthorised<br />
persons, such as small children or<br />
even animals, gaining access to the<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong>.<br />
Leopard lizard shedding its skin<br />
8.1 Selecting the animals<br />
Pets should be carefully examined<br />
be<strong>for</strong>e purchase, in order to keep the<br />
risk of disease to an absolute minimum.<br />
The following points should be<br />
kept in mind:<br />
� Checking the mouth: the mouth<br />
should be closed and free of foam or<br />
slimy coatings.<br />
� Checking the eyes: skin should<br />
be cleanly shed, the eyes should not<br />
be too deep in the sockets.<br />
� Checking the skin: look <strong>for</strong>
wounds, bumps and any other not<br />
ce-able irregularities.<br />
� Checking the feet: check the<br />
toes and feet of saurians <strong>for</strong> unshed<br />
skin which can cause constrictions.<br />
� Checking the shell of turtles:<br />
soft shells should only be found on<br />
young turtles.<br />
� Nutritional condition: the skin<br />
should not have too many folds and<br />
the ribs and spine not be too prominent.<br />
� Spider check: all 8 legs should<br />
be in place. Any white, fungus-like<br />
areas on the body are suspicious,<br />
whereas a "bald patch" on the rear<br />
presents no problems.<br />
9 PRODUCT OVERVIEW<br />
8.2 Quarantine<br />
New pets should first be kept in a quarantine<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> and carefully observed,<br />
whilst maintaining the best possible<br />
nutritional and climatic conditions.<br />
During this quarantine period, samples<br />
of excrement should be taken (at<br />
intervals of several days). The samples<br />
should be submitted to a vet or a<br />
veterinary institute <strong>for</strong> examination, as<br />
it is better to take precautions than to<br />
treat sick animals, particularly if several<br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> pets are kept. If germs or<br />
parasites are found in the excrement,<br />
the doses prescribed by the vet and<br />
the duration of the treatment should<br />
be exactly followed. The motto "more<br />
is better" often leads to the loss of the<br />
pets as a result of organ failure, whereas<br />
under-dosing and breaking off<br />
the treatment prematurely causes the<br />
germs to become resistant.<br />
Turtle range<br />
JBL ProBaby special food <strong>for</strong> young turtles<br />
JBL Rugil food sticks <strong>for</strong> small turtles<br />
JBL Turtle Food <strong>for</strong> turtles<br />
JBL Gammarus clean Gammarus crustaceans<br />
JBL Gammarus Refill Pack <strong>for</strong> the 1000 ml tub<br />
JBL Tortil food tablets <strong>for</strong> turtles<br />
JBL Energil treats containing fish and shrimp<br />
JBL Agil food sticks <strong>for</strong> tortoises<br />
JBL Calcil mineral food sticks <strong>for</strong> turtles<br />
JBL Mampfi pellets <strong>for</strong> tortoises<br />
JBL Agivert pure vegetable food sticks <strong>for</strong> tortoises<br />
JBL Tortoise Sun Aqua multivitamin preparation <strong>for</strong> turtles<br />
JBL Tortoise Sun Terra multivitamin preparation <strong>for</strong> tortoises<br />
JBL Tortoise Shine <strong>for</strong> the care of tortoise shell
Reptile care<br />
JBL TerraVit fluid liquid multivitamins <strong>for</strong> <strong>terrarium</strong> animals<br />
JBL TerraVit powder multivitamins and trace elements in powder <strong>for</strong>m <strong>for</strong><br />
<strong>terrarium</strong> animals<br />
JBL MicroCalcium calcium powder <strong>for</strong> dusting food insects<br />
JBL CrickBox shaker <strong>for</strong> dusting food insects<br />
JBL LimCollect trap <strong>for</strong> crickets<br />
JBL Biotopol T water conditioner <strong>for</strong> the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
JBL Easy Turtle removes unpleasant odours in turtle <strong>terrarium</strong>s<br />
JBL BioClean T biological glass cleaner <strong>for</strong> <strong>terrarium</strong> panes<br />
JBL Iguvert staple food <strong>for</strong> iguana and other plant-eating reptiles<br />
JBL Ant Eggs<br />
JBL TerraCrick food <strong>for</strong> crickets and other food insects<br />
Terrarium accessories<br />
JBL AquaTerra Tool S scissors<br />
JBL AquaTerra Tool P1 straight pincers<br />
JBL AquaTerra Tool P2 angled pincers<br />
JBL AquaTerra Tool SP gravel trowel and decoration tool<br />
JBL CombiFix plant tongs<br />
Terrarium technical equipment<br />
JBL Repti-Temp heat stone <strong>for</strong> the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
JBL TerraTemp heater mat <strong>for</strong> the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
JBL Premium Thermometer slim precision thermometer exact to 0.5 °C<br />
JBL Digital Thermometer<br />
JBL Foggy mini-ultrasound mister in cave<br />
JBL Foggy Spare Parts Set replacement membrane and special key<br />
JBL TerraSafe lock <strong>for</strong> <strong>terrarium</strong> panes<br />
Terrarium lighting<br />
JBL SOLAR Reptile Jungle special <strong>terrarium</strong> fluorescent tube <strong>for</strong> rain<strong>for</strong>est animals<br />
JBL SOLAR Reptile Sun special <strong>terrarium</strong> fluorescent tube <strong>for</strong> desert animals<br />
JBL SOLAR REFLECT reflector <strong>for</strong> fluorescent tubes<br />
JBL ReptiBlue daylight bulb <strong>for</strong> the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
JBL ReptiRed heat lamp / night lighting <strong>for</strong> the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
JBL ReptiHeat ceramic heater (dim heater) <strong>for</strong> the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
JBL TempSet special fitting <strong>for</strong> ceramic heaters<br />
Terrarium floor covering<br />
JBL TerrraBasis substrate<br />
JBL TerrraCoco coconut chippings, natural floor-covering material <strong>for</strong><br />
the <strong>terrarium</strong><br />
JBL TerraCoco Compact natural coconut chippings, compressed<br />
JBL TerraWood beech chippings, natural floor-covering material<br />
JBL TerraSand floor-covering material <strong>for</strong> desert <strong>terrarium</strong>s<br />
JBL TerraBark pine bark floor-covering material<br />
JBL TerraCocoHumus natural coconut humus, compressed<br />
Terrarium decoration<br />
JBL stocks a wide range of different decorative articles <strong>for</strong> your <strong>terrarium</strong>, from caves made<br />
from coconut shells to mangrove roots, to deceptively real-looking artificial decorative plants<br />
of various types.<br />
More in<strong>for</strong>mation on <strong>terrarium</strong> products can be obtained from your specialist <strong>terrarium</strong> retailer<br />
or at http:/www.JBL.de on the Internet
JBL and your specialist aquarium s<strong>up</strong>plier:<br />
Your specialist s<strong>up</strong>plier<br />
Price:<br />
a team of expert advisors<br />
GB 96226 10 Ver.00