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Set up the Desert Habitat Kit in Five Easy Steps
STEP 1: Optional electrical equipment
Place the glass terrarium in its final location and remove the Top Screen by unlocking the four clips, two by two.
Please make sure to install all electrical components intended for inside the terrarium first. If you have no additional electrical items to install (not included in this kit, skip this step and proceed to Step 2.
Substrate Heater
Please also refer to the Instruction Manual of the Substrate Heater or Undertank Heater. Turn the glass terrarium upside down and clean the bottom carefully to remove any dust and grease. Position the device at least 1 cm from the plastic frame in such a way that no more than 2/3 of the terrarium bottom is covered by it to ensure a cooling area. No rubber spacers (usually supplied with the substrate heater) are required since the bottom is raised by the plastic frame. Make sure no air is trapped between the glass and the substrate heater. Turn the glass terrarium back to an upright position.
Internal Equipment (e.g. heat rock)
Carefully remove the Exo Terra Background from the glass terrarium. Position the device in its approximate final location within the glass terrarium and put the power cord through one of the wire inlets of the top frame. Carefully replace the background by pressing gently in the four corners. Make sure that the wire exits through one of the bottom cut-outs and runs through the rim in the background. Close the other wire inlets that are not used.
STEP 2: The Substrate
Make sure the Background is in the proper position and pressed to the back glass plate of the glass terrarium. Open the supplied bag of Exo Terra Desert Sand carefully with scissors and pour the contents into the terrarium. Distribute the Desert Sand evenly throughout the terrarium bottom.
STEP 3: The Decoration
First position the largest items, the Rock Outcrops and Reptile Cave, in the desired position. Make sure that the openings face the background for the best aesthetic results and to ensure a feeling of protection in the animals housed in this Desert Habitat Kit.
Place the Barrel Cactus at the back of the terrarium on the opposite side of the Rock Outcrop. Burying the stone base in the sand creates a more natural effect.
Position the Exo Terra water dish near the front in an easily accessible location. Make sure that the water dish is level to ensure maximum water capacity. You should be able to refill the water dish through one of the front doors to prevent accidental escape of the terrarium inhabitants. Use a glass or small pitcher to fill the water dish with fresh, clean water.
STEP 4:
The Lighting System
Re-install the top screen. Make sure it is properly locked with the four clips. Depending on the requirements of the animals that will be housed in the Desert Habitat Kit, install an Exo Terra Repti Glo 2.0 or an Exo Terra Repti Glo 10.0 compact fluorescent bulb in the Exo Terra Compact Top Canopy. Please note that the Exo Terra compact fluorescent bulbs are sold separately since the lighting requirements are species specific.
Place the Exo Terra Compact Top Canopy on the glass terrarium's top screen (towards the front or back of the screen depending on the position of the Rock Outcrop or on personal taste). Please note that the closer the animal can move towards the source of UV light (Repti Glo 10.0) the more beneficial UV radiation it will receive. Once the Compact Top Canopy is in place, it can be plugged in and switched on.
STEP 5:
Finalize your Desert Habitat Kit
Position the Exo Terra Hygrometer and Thermometer on the sides of the glass terrarium, away from the immediate radiation of the light source. The location should give you an average temperature and relative humidity reading.
Check one more time if all the components work properly and are in their final location. Put your hand inside the terrarium and gently push upwards on the top screen to ensure that all four clips of the top screen are properly locked. You are now ready to introduce the animals.
Maintenance of the Desert Habitat Kit
All dead feeding insects, food leftovers or other biological material should be removed from the habitat daily. Clean all decoration items by soaking them in a solution of one part bleach to 30 parts water, once a month. Soak for at least one hour and let them air dry completely. If undesired white spots or a whitish film (calcium deposits) is present on terrarium glass, carefully clean them with a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar.
General Information
The Exo Terra Desert Habitat Kit is the ideal set up for the beginning herpetoculturist! The kit comes with all the components necessary to give your terrarium hobby a successful start - including the Exo Terra Glass Terrarium, designed by European herpetologists. The Exo Terra Glass Terrarium features front opening doors, allowing easy access for maintenance and feeding. The full screen top ventilation permits the UVB rays from the compact fluorescent lighting system to penetrate deep into the terrarium. The Exo Terra Compact Top Canopy (included) was especially designed for the Exo Terra Glass Terrarium. This easy-to-install lighting system contains a fixture with reflector for the Exo Terra Repti Glo line of compact fluorescent bulbs.
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 "Exo Terra Desert Habitat Kit")
Advanced terrarium designed by European herpetologists. Exo Terra Desert Habitat Kit comes complete with the necessary components to give hobbyists a successful start - ideal for beginning reptile owners! Includes full Glass Terrarium, Compact Top lighting system (
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