When to upgrade enclosures?

[Rachman]

I have my two gtb crosses in 6qt tubs right now and they are 17grams and 11grams, at what size will they need a bigger enclosure?

[acpart]

I have been told at 50 grams. I upgraded my leachie at about 38 grams when I found him sitting on top of his 6qt tub (which was inside another tank, so he couldn't get free). He's now 50 grams and doing fine in a half height 29 gallon and will move into an exo-terra 18x18x24 as soon as I have a place to put it.

Aliza

[Rachman]

i heard 50 as well but i feel like they will be a it cramped. i guess ill play it by ear

[godzillizard]

I "upgrade" my lil buggers @ 30-35g, & if they go off feed for more than a week, I put them back in the (container store) shoebox & try again at 40-50g. Also, it's best to transfer them WITH their cage "furniture". I find that they generally won't go off feed if the layout/arrangement of the enclosure remains identical. Then, I just slowly add new cork tube(s) etc. as they become accustomed to the new height/space. Leachies are very much creatures of habit, & they need to feel secure if you want them to be optimally healthy. I use the container store "shoeboxes" for hatchlings-30/35g, then upgrade to the taller "hanging folder" sized (30q?) Sterilite tubs until they're almost full grown (100g or so for offshore types). Finally, they get transferred into their adult tubs (60q? Sterilite). I also keep adult pairs in the 'single' adult tubs. These all stack rather nicely, & make cleaning a breeze. I use a door knob hole saw to cut 4 2" holes into each juvie & adult tub. I cut 2 holes stacked in the top of the front side, & 1 hole on each side, close to the top front corners. I mar the plastic around the holes with coarse drywall sandpaper, & glue in aluminum screen to cover the escape portals This allows enough air transmission that the tubs retain enough humidity, yet dry out enough between mistings/feedings, so as to interrrupt the life cycle of many molds/fungi...the bane of leachies existance. When I mist, I mist the cork lightly (since it absorbs & slowly dissipates the moisture), then mist around the vent holes more heavily.

sorry for the long read! I do my best to be thorough There really isn't much info or books that go into detail on Leachie husbandry...

[Rachman]

Thank you for the information. That's what i figure ill do. dont worry about the long reply, that's why i come to this forum. i like detail =)