Critique My First Cage

[98XJSport]

Well Ive gotten together enough stuff to get a basic layout done. Its a 20H, planning on a single Leo unless I can get 2 females.

Side View:

The driftwood on the left is over the UTH. The UTH only gets it to 85-88 under the log, so I picked up an infrared heating lamp. That keeps things 88-90 under the driftwood, 92 above it so that should give them some flex on the hot side.

Top View:

The tall driftwood is for climbing, and under the cool hide it is 78-82 so far. The taller pieces should give the Leo a place to go if it needs to be cooler (Unlikely, its tougher than I thought getting things as warm as I have).

Otherwise I have a food and a water dish, I will fill a bottle cap with calcium powder. Of course I need a humid hide, Im thinking roughly in the middle in the back. The floor is a reptile felt carpet stuff, washable and easier for me to get than slate.

Anything Im missing, or mistakes Im making? No Leo yet, so no huge hurry but any tips are great. Thanks

 

[Leopardbreeder]

If you have a UTH you usually don't need that light. The other thing you want to do is measure the SURFACE of the tank. Otherwise, you have a great tank!

 

[98XJSport]

The best I can get with the UTH alone cranked up for several hours is about 86. Its the time of year up here, low 60's in the apartment. Or is it the el cheapo UTH I have, it's for a 20 gal but it was the cheap way out?

Also note that the rest of the tank wouldn't break 70 without the light.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Ah, I understand, that happens some times. Great tank anyway!

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

You will want to add a humid hide.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Your right, I didn't see that.

 

[98XJSport]

Of course I need a humid hide, Im thinking roughly in the middle in the back.

:main_thumbsup: Planning on it, I want to find something with a bottom to hold in the moisture.

Thanks for the compliments and advice so far

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Sprahpagum (Sp.) Moss is the best IMHO.

 

[gothra]

I think there is a chance that your gecko can get out from climbing the log on the right hand side. They are escape artists!!

 

[scottd]

vermaculite in my humid hides seems to be best for me. that is if it is an adult of or juvie of course. moss i found always seems to mold while vermaculite wont rot or mold. only thing is if you live on the west coast its harder to find.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

I have never had any mold.

 

[98XJSport]

I think there is a chance that your gecko can get out from climbing the log on the right hand side. They are escape artists!!

:main_yes: I plan on a wire screen cover as well.

Is there any harm in leaving the red light on 24 hours a day?

 

[mmsi1002]

Don't forget a little dish for calcium.

 

[98XJSport]

Calcium dish is on the list, probably a bottle cap. Does it have to be pure calcium or is calcium with vitamins ok?

 

[Mel&Keith]

It's nice to see that you're dong your research and getting everything set up before you get a Leo! Here's the only tips I can think of:
-Make sure you get screen lid clips for the lid so it can't push it off.
-You can try using a human heating pad under the tank, they're adjustable so you should be able to get the bottom surface temp up to 92 no problem. (they're safer anyway, IMO)
-We use moist paper towels in our humid hides, hygienic and biodegradable!

 

[98XJSport]

Hmm now theres a thought a human pad has built in control. I was building a nice little box with a rheostat to control the pad, but that would save me some trouble and be one less thing for the various critters running around to chew.

 

[malt_geckos]

Nice tank! Everyone's pretty much covered the suggestions. We use peat moss in our humid hides for our older geckos and paper towels for the younger ones. Peat is the easiest for them to digest if they eat it. But paper towels are very easy and less messy when you have those geckos that love to dig in the peat. lol. Your gecko is very lucky!

 

[98XJSport]

Thanks, more pics tonite hopefully in focus this time Getting a humid hide on the way home, and another digital probe thermometer. Im really happy with the driftwood, I found it for my fish tank. The two pieces actually fit together but it's to wide for my tanks. The horizontal piece makes a great hide/basking spot if it gets to cold underneath. I boiled them last night, going to try to dry them in the oven tonite. Hopefully I don't burn the place down:main_laugh:

 

[Baysidegeckos]

Calcium dish is on the list, probably a bottle cap. Does it have to be pure calcium or is calcium with vitamins ok?

you should get calcium that has D3 in it.
Since the d3 will give them the vitamins that they need that the sun doesnt give them since they are nocturnal.

Is there any harm in leaving the red light on 24 hours a day?

You should turn the light off some times to give the leo alot or full darkness, bc constant light can stress them out, or to much light as well. Dont forget they are nocturnal.
But nice setup!:main_thumbsup:

I hope i was of some help,
Bret

 

[98XJSport]

Makes sense to me, but it's really a help with keeping the temps up. Should it be on only at night, not during the day? Or perhaps run it from like mid morning until like 9-11? giving them like 6-8 hours of darker cooler temps? Thats what Im leaning towards, but the experts opinion is what counts at this point.