Need help designing a nocturnal enclosure

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beki516

New Member
Hello! I have never fully designed any enclosure, and now I am looking at trying to design a nocturnal one *in a regularly lit building*.

I need, first of all, tips on general nocturnal exhibits, such as lighting. I know red lights work well but can still disrupt the circadian rhythm, are blue better? Switching between red and blue? Putting them on dimmers?

Anyone have experience with nocturnal exhibits in rooms that are regularly lit? Are glass tints something that work for you, or do you have black out curtains too?

And finally, the animal is sugar gliders, which I have lots of experience with but never in naturalistic habitats as they have been behind the scenes or privately owned. I am good with safe plants, but I am wondering what substrate would be good to use.

Anyone who has any experience or can links me with someone who does, would love any help I can get! Pictures of your enclosures would be fantastic as well. Additionally, any online resources or other forums I could get on for advice. I am trying to get an AZA logon from my zoo but no luck so far.
 
beki516 said:
Hello! I have never fully designed any enclosure, and now I am looking at trying to design a nocturnal one *in a regularly lit building*.

I need, first of all, tips on general nocturnal exhibits, such as lighting. I know red lights work well but can still disrupt the circadian rhythm, are blue better? Switching between red and blue? Putting them on dimmers?

Anyone have experience with nocturnal exhibits in rooms that are regularly lit? Are glass tints something that work for you, or do you have black out curtains too?

And finally, the animal is sugar gliders, which I have lots of experience with but never in naturalistic habitats as they have been behind the scenes or privately owned. I am good with safe plants, but I am wondering what substrate would be good to use.

Anyone who has any experience or can links me with someone who does, would love any help I can get! Pictures of your enclosures would be fantastic as well. Additionally, any online resources or other forums I could get on for advice. I am trying to get an AZA logon from my zoo but no luck so far.
Click to expand...

Most of us here are people who enjoy going to zoos, rather than keepers. You might have better luck in some facebook groups? I know some pet owners try to do nocturnal set-ups, even.

I've never seen a nocturnal sugar glider exhibit, but all of the feathertail glider ones I've seen have been blue light.
 
I've never kept sugar gliders under nocturnal conditions, but I would agree with those who say red lighting. I think some folks have a bias towards blue lighting because it *looks* more natural/peaceful than red lighting, but animals tend to respond better to red. This link is focused on nocturnal prosimians, but should be fairly applicable to other small nocturnal mammals as well

SLOW2018: Night Lights for Nocturnals.
 
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