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Guide to TerrariaProfessional Terraria Pet Keeping with HOBBY Products
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Keeping and taking care of terrarium animals is very popu-lar. Fundamental principles must be observed to establish and maintain living conditions that accommodate the natu-ral behaviour of the animals. This guide introduces you to HOBBY products from Dohse Aquaristik KG that have been especially designed for the needs of terrarium animals.
Terrano Red Bark
Terrano Pine Bark
Terrano Terra
Terrano Chopped BeechTerrano Corn Granules
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SubstratesDifferent substrates are used depending on the type of terrarium and the species of animal. Depending on the material, the terrarium substrate serves to maintain hu-midity, encourage burrowing activity and egg disposition or act as a substrate for plants. Terrano Red Bark, Terrano Pine Bark, Terrano Terra and Terrano Expanding Humus (swells to 8 litres with the addition of water) are suitable for larger reptiles and rainforest inhabitants. Terrano Chopped Coconut (especially high capacity to retain moisture) und Terrano Expanding Humus are suitable for frogs and amphibians. Terrano Chopped Beech and Terrano Corn Granulates are favourites for snakes and inhabitants of dry regions. Terrano Calcium Substrate (harmless when eaten and promotes bone formation) is perfect for lizards, snakes and tortoises. Terrano Desert Sand (stimulates digging activity and egg deposition) is suitable for desert and sand dwellers. Every substrate should be replaced from time to time - at the latest when the smell becomes noticeably unpleasant - because excre-ment seeps into the substrate creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Terrano Desert Sand Terrano Calcium Substrate
Terrano Expanding Humus
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Rear panelsRear panels extend the climbing area for the inhabitants of a terrarium. The rolled natural cork HOBBY Burma and HOBBY Laos panels, as well as the pressed cork HOBBY Java panels have a stri-kingly natural appearance. HOBBY Cocos Modules are rear panels made of coconut fibres. Pockets are provided to plant tillandsia, ferns and mosses. This turns the terrarium into an attractive eye-catcher in every home. As a supplement or alternative, HOBBY Cocos Mats and HOBBY Cocos Baskets are available in the same material. Special rear panels are absolutely essential for some species to feel comfortable. Without such protection the animals are subject to constant stress, a factor that should not be underestimated. Indeed, when keeping more nervous animals, such as basilisks and water dragons, the side panes should be screened with non-transparent material so that only the front pane can be seen through.
HOBBY Photo Back Wall
Coconut Basket
Natural Coconut Back Wall
Cocos Modul
HOBBY Burma
HOBBY LaosHOBBY Java
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Dohse Aquaristik offers various motifs of HOBBY Photo Rear Panels for this purpose, as well as the HOBBY Borneo and HOBBY Sumatra pressed cork panels, which are only 3 mm thick.
DecorationsDecorative materials can contribute to keeping the animals
in natural conditions in a number of ways. Natural products such as grapevine, cork branches, lianas and
cork bark provide perfect climbing opportunities for the inhabitants of the terrarium. Decorative materi-
als can also be used to hide technical equipment. They are essential for creating hide-outs and caves. These make the animals feel safe, and provide shelter and an opportuni-
ty to cool down through evaporation. Ideally caves should not be much bigger than the animal itself. HOBBY of-fers a great variety of decorations including cork tubes and coconut baskets, as well as strikingly authentic
looking rocks, roots and caves. With HOBBY Dekofix the product range includes a unique special glue that can be used to bond different decorative materials such as rock, wood, glass and concrete. Decorations are also perfect for creating sight barriers and territorial demarca-tions. It is primarily for this purpose that artifi-
cial plants are used. It makes no difference to the animals whether the plants are real or not. The advantage of artificial plants is that they do not need to be watered, they
Natural Coconut Back Wall
Cocos Modul
Cork Tubes
Cork Bark
HOBBY Borneo
HOBBY Sumatra
Deko Fix
Canyon Rock
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do not depend on light, they do not die off and, above all, that they are easy to clean. Dohse Aquaristik offers a range of different artificial cacti, tillandsias, foliage plants and climbers. In principle it can be said that the more the conditions in the terrarium resemble those of their natural habitat, the more will the animals show their natural, varied behaviour. When setting up the terrarium, it is important not to forget drinking and bathing-bowls. The HOBBY product range offers such bowls in various sizes and heights, in designs that imitate roots and with integra-ted steps to prevent the animals drowning.
Liana
Cactus Mojave KalanchoeClimbing Plant, Antigua
Grapevines
Cork Branches
Bathing Dish
Drinking Bowl StumpDrinking Bowl, flat
Drinking Bowl
Cave MonteMar
Stump Cavity
Aqua-Cave
Bark-Cave
TerraPond
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Temperature controlTemperature and its regulation is one the most important factors in a terrarium. The first terraria at the end of the 18th century were still operated with stoves that required regular refuelling, but a wide range of terrarium heating products is commercially available today. Many years ago a device for temperature control capable of automatically reducing the terrarium temperature at night was developed. It became the first product in the HOBBY Terraristics range and is indispensable, particularly when breeding species that are sensitive to temperature: the HOBBY Biotherm.
Now you have a choice between two models. The HOBBY Biotherm 2000 works with a photocell and lowers the temperature by 5° C, 8° C or 10° C, depending on the model. The Biotherm pro can be used as an option to control the
combination temperature 1 + temperature 2 or tempera-ture + timer switch. The two temperature circuits can be controlled independently of one another in steps of 0.2° C. Two temperature sensors are included in delivery. The Bio-therm pro can be switched from heating to cooling mode. The timer switch control, used as an alternative to control temperature 2, can switch at one-second intervals. The display, which can also be illuminated, indicates all desired and actual values and can be used to set visual and audible alarms. All slots can be switched on and off manually and the control strip for two slots is equipped with an LED status indicator.
In addition to lighting that also gives off heat (see Guide to Terrarium Lighting) - a method of heating identical to nature - terraria can also be heated with infrared lamps.
Cork Branches
Bark-Cave
TerraPond
HOBBY Biotherm 2000
HOBBY Biotherm pro
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Infrared lamps are indispensable for many species that require high temperatures, as well as crepuscular and nocturnal reptiles. For these animals, floor heating alone is not sufficient to heat the entire terrarium air to the required temperatures. Ceramic Elstein infrared emitters (60, 100, 150 und 250 watts) are also known as „dark“ emitters because their wave range is beyond the range visible to the human eye. These dark emitters must only be operated with E27 ceramic lamp holders as offered by Dohse Aquaristik separately or as part of an assembly set. Infrared heat lamps with glass bulbs such as the HOBBY Infrared-Light (50, 75 and 100 watts) give off heat as well as a low, red light.
If additional heating is required for the terrarium bed, heating mats such as HOBBY Thermica or heating cables such as HOBBY Terra-Thermo are used. Both systems are suitable for ground-dwellers as daytime heating and for tree dwellers as night-time heating. When installing the system, ensure that you leave an unheated and cooler area for the animals. The Thermica Heating Mat (21x21cm / 6 W, 25x35 cm / 12 W, 30x50 cm / 24 W) is fitted from the outside underne-ath the base of the terrarium. With smaller terraria, the heating mats are frequently bonded to the side panes. High-quality workmanship means that the heat distribution is perfectly uniform over the heated area.
E27 ceramic lamp holder
HOBBY Elstein HOBBY Infrared-Light
HOBBY Thermica
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The Terra-Thermo Heating Cable (3 m / 15 W, 4.5 m / 25 W, 6 m / 50 W, 8 m / 80 W) can be fitted on the inside under-neath the substrate. It is watertight and has a double silicone sheath. The degree of heating is determined by how close the cable loops are laid.
The products commonly known as heat rocks do not strictly speaking serve to heat the terrarium. They are designed to simulate sunbathing in the terrarium. Tropical reptiles in their natural environment like to sunbathe on rocks which have been heated up by sunlight up to 40° C. No reptile kept as a pet will be able to produce the enzymes required for proper digestion unless sufficient warmth is provided in this manner. Undigested food in the digestive tract of the animal may otherwise not be broken down, which in extreme cases can lead to the death of the animal. The HOBBY Sun Rock (20x16x6 cm / 6 W) and HOBBY Sun Base (25x21x1.5 cm / 9 W) produces sufficient warmth for all reptiles from temperate, nontropical zones (vipers such as royal vipers, some species of lizards), nocturnal reptiles (e.g. leopard geckos, lidded geckos, Asian house-geckos, Ameri-can clawed geckos) and all small ground-living lizards.
HOBBY Sun Base
HOBBY Sun Rock
HOBBY Terra-Thermo
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Humidity controlHumidity is an important climate factor. Humidity protects the inhabitants of a terrarium from dehydration and is impor-tant for meeting their fluid requirements. Amphibians in particular depend on air humidity due to their thin, delicate skin. Air humidity is also essential for substrate moisture. Evaporation in humid hide-outs and caves provides a cooler air temperature than the temperature prevailing in the rest of the terrarium.
The HOBBY Hygro-Plus terrarium nebuliser provides perfect humidity in small terraria. Ultrasonic technology is uses to nebulise the water. Sprinkler systems generating water mist through fine nozzles may be more suitable for larger terraria. These systems can be controlled using a timer such as the HOBBY TerraTimer which has a switch action that is accurate to the second. The HOBBY ClimaControl solution is easier to handle and can be used to control either the combination of humidity + temperature or humidity + timer. Housing and basic functions are identical to the HOBBY Biotherm pro temperature controller. The unit is equipped with a temperature sensor as well as a humidity sensor. The humidity control includes a safety cut-out function for connected sprinkler system to prevent the terrarium over-flowing or the sprinkler pumps in the water reservoir tank pump running dry.
Product of the year 2009 Award
HOBBY Hygro-Plus
HOBBY TerraTimerHOBBY ClimaControl
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FoodHOBBY Gammarus is a sole feed for turtles, but it is also suitable as a treat for tortoises, other reptiles and fish. This high quality na-tural feed with essential minerals and trace elements is rich in fibre and was air dried tó retain vitamins. The natural calcium content encourages the development of muscles, tissue and bone in reptiles.
Dietary supplementsDietary supplements serve to ensure a sufficient supply of vitamins and calcium. Vitamin products promote healthy skin, scales, eyes and mucous membranes, and prevent muscle insufficiency and deficiency symptoms. Mineral products promote bone formation; they also prevent a softening of the shell and rachitic disease. This is espe-cially important for gravid and growing reptiles. Since the required amounts of vitamins and minerals depend on size and species, mineral preparations and vitamin preparations can be administered in turns.
Shop-bought feeds may have too little nutritional value, depending on how long they have been kept at the shop. In the event of nutritional deficiencies and deficiency symptoms (calcium and mineral deficiency), many terra-rium animals instinctively eat substrate in an attempt to compensate for the deficiency. This frequently leads to fatal intestinal obstructions, and inexperienced terrarium owners blame the type of substrate. For this reason, feed insects, unless bred by the owner himself, should be fed with a diet rich in vitamins for at least a week. They should also be dusted with dietary supplements when they are fed to the terrarium animals.
HOBBY Gammarus
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Vitamin D3 plays a particularly important role
in the metabolism of reptiles. It is required by the organism to utilise the calcium taken in through the food. In the event of a vitamin D
3 deficiency, calcium is drawn from
bones and shell (rachitic disease) even when there is a sufficient supply of calcium. As an alternative to the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D
3 in the reptile‘s skin when there
is sufficient exposure to UV-B radiation, an adequate supply can be ensured by means of dietary supplements.
HOBBY Reptix Vital is a dietary supplement that is balanced to meet the requirements of carnivorous and omnivorous terrarium animals.
HOBBY Reptix Herbavital is a dietary sup-plement for herbivorous terrarium animals. A few squirts can also be added to fresh drinking water.
HOBBY Reptix Mineral is a mineral feed with essential calcium, phosphor, vitamin D
3,
water-soluble vitamins and trace elements. Vitamin products such as HOBBY Reptix Vital and mineral products such as HOBBY Reptix Mineral are administered by dusting the feed animals with the product.
HOBBY Reptix Vital
HOBBY Reptix Herbavital
HOBBY Reptix Mineral
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To dust the feed insects, the HOBBY Feeding Rock is used. The insects are shaken together with the dietary supplements in the rock’s cavity. Attracted by the light once the plug is removed, the insects leave the live food dispenser and awaken the natural hunting instincts of the terrarium animals.
Care products and accessoriesThe HOBBY care range offers products that are indis-pensable for health and hygiene. Reptix Health is an effective cleaning spray to counteract bacteria, fungi, viruses and salmonellae in the terrarium. It reduces the risk of infections after scratch, abrasive or bite wounds and prevents diarrhoeic illnesses. Reptix First Aid is an effective pesticide spray that can be applied to reptiles and the surroundings. It effectively controls mites, ticks
HOBBY Feeding Rock
Reptix Health Reptix First Aid Reptix Smell Reptix Terraclean
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and other small parasites. The non-toxic water solution reliably kills off the parasites after five to ten minutes. Reptix Smell is a reliable smell killer against odours, germs, harmful gases and putrefaction in the terrarium. Harmful organic substances are decomposed and the formation of new smells is prevented. Reptix Terraclean is recommended for the removal of stubborn limescale from terrarium glass panes. It is a low-tenside glass cleaner that is harmless to the animals and 98 % biodegradable.
HOBBY ReptiBreeder
Vermiculit
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The HOBBY ReptiBreeder is an incubator for reptile eggs and has space for up to 18 incubation containers the size of house cricket boxes. The integrated digital temperature controller regulates the temperature with a precision of 0.1° C, has a control range of 20-45° C, an alarm function and a memory chip as protection against data loss in the event of a power failure. The ReptiBreeder is equipped with a 60 watt silicone-covered heating-cable, a height-adjus-table holder for the temperature feeler, 2 water channels for controlling humidity during the breeding and hatching phases and a foam plastic inlay for eggs that are not incu-bated in substrate.
LiteratureSpecialist books on animal species, genera and families, as well as the different types of terraria, underpin professional competence in this field; they are, however, only available in German.
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Technical alteration reserved. Technical sizes are meant to be approximate sizes rather than assured characteristics. Due to the printing process, the product and packaging illustrations may vary from the originals. Changes, printing and other errors and omis-sions excepted.
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A trademark of Dohse Aquaristik KG Dohse Aquaristik KGOtto-Hahn-Str. 9D-53501 Grafschaft Gelsdorf
Telefon 0049-(0)2225-9415-0Fax 0049-(0)2225-946494
Item. no. 73018
