hi, mike asked me to pop over and provide some sunbeam info, il add some pics if thats ok as they often speak better than my rambling. first congratulations on getting a sunbeam, thier fantastic little animals.
iv had my pair since babys, they were cb which is still quite rare for this species and up until recently they were housed like so
the thing u have to realise about sunbeams is moisture is thier friend, the moist conditions that would kill a corn will keep ur sunbeam healthy, in fact if they dry out they get skin infections that resemble what corn keepers know as scale rot and so some people dry them out further to cure it, when in fact it only makes it worse, the boxes i keep them in are always condesated (sp?) to the max, when i pull the tray open it rains down from the ceiling
so, seriously it is hard to overdo moisture for a sunbeam, anything other than standing water and ur fine.
the female treating a mouse to a smackdown with bonus external liver
the eco u mentioned ur using is the ideal substrate and is also what i use, so good choice:grin01: depth as much as u wish i suppose but i use about 3 or 4 inches much more and its like panning for gold trying to find them.
this pic probably looks like a mutation, but it is in fact what ur sunbeam will look like in shed
neat eh
iv used various thing on top of the eco earth, just to trap moisture in, let them feel a bit of pressure/security beneath and a dinner plate for thier mice. oh speaking of feeding if u get to see it feed dont blink or ul miss it, fast is not the word!
as for feeding they like mice, usually defrost no problems, an adult like urs around 2 ad mice every 7-10 days, males eat a bit less just becuase they like to be annoying. always leave the mice after lights out at least 2 or 3 hours after.
this is what i currently keep them in now thier young adults (sniff, im so proud), plastic boxes are ideal because they dont climb and need no hight, all that moisture would warp wood, i had to cover the shelfs in plastic due to the water
and some plastic leaves on top just so they can eat thier mice without a mouthfull of eco, though i dont bother if they eat some with thier mice, it passes straight thru and cause no harm. i used a fair sized water bowl, as u can guess a species that depends on moisture like sunbeams cant go long without drinking water.
a few details u might need, thier almost completely nocturnal, iv never seen one during the day in 2 and a half years, a couple hours after lights out is sunbeam party time, i use lighting, but its not necessary and most would prefer no lighting, just whatever room light u have is fine, temperature - i use pads under one end set at 29/84 and they seem to like it, shuffling back and forth depending on feeding etc.
so u know i wasnt kidding re shedding colour, the happy couple
general maintenance for them is changing the water, checking for poops if u can find them, i rarely do so they get a complete box/eco change every 6 weeks or so, let ur nose be ur guide, give the eco a bit of a stir, i push some from the warm end down to the cool end and vice versa just so it drys equally kinda thing, i add about 300-400ml of water every few weeks as it drys out, ul know when when u stir and u see dried eco flakes thats when to moisten, its like making sunbeam cake.
um think thats it, if theres anything else i can always be reached at
[email protected] and i will get right back to you, nothing worse than needing to know something and u dont get a reply, i hate that
the mantra for sunbeams is "moisture, moisture, moisture" thier health shows in thier skin, it can be difficult to get used to the moisture thing as it really goes against normal care for other species, but moisture to a sunbeam is like a branch to a chondro or chocolate to a woman, a life need and not a choice. i hope i have been of some help and not rambled too much.
couple more pics and happy sunbeam keeping. rgds, edward
a baby sunbeam, identically to adult apart from the white hairdo they quickly lose (taken by the talented elle)
they glow even in shed
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn46/loxocemus/CIMG3595.jpg
