cruel to house in a rack?

[Chibii]

Do you think it is cruel to house a gecko in a rack boxes? I am curious because i know some people that would find it rather cruel then good.

When i start breeding i will house them in a 12 liter rack boxes. I have one that lives in a big aquarium. And on the 14 of June i will get two more <3.


What do you think?

 

[ajveachster]

We house ours in racks, and actually they do better than when in the tanks. They naturally like dark enclosed spaces. We also take them out to walk around quite often, so I am not worried about them being cramped.

 

[Chibii]

Thanks for your reply, they need light to right? how do you lighten the racks?

 

[ajveachster]

Actually they don't need the UV lights since they are nocturnal. There are at least a few threads where people show off their racks either commercial or homemade. Typically racks use belly heat or back heat cable or tape. We have the commercial racks made by animal plastics with the belly heat. I found them easy to put together, and I also find them easy to clean when calcium/vitamin powder and dust start to collect on them.

 

[Chibii]

What kinde of heater do you use?

 

[ajveachster]

We use a heat cable that is controlled by a herpstat. We keep that set to 95F, and the front of the tubs ends up around 80F. We have only one hide in the front of the tub which serves as the cool hide, and gets moistened when the gecko is in shed. We use paper in the bottom of the tub, and paper towel in the hide. The hide gets coconut fiber when a female is gravid, and serves as the lay box.

 

[ajveachster]

http://www.animalplastics.com/

Here is a link to the animal plastics site

 

[LizMarie]

Lisa I used to think it was kind of cruel because I felt the tubs were to small and cramped, etc. but as you've seen I've gotten over that because I'm trying to build one, lol.

I did a little research and have found from observing my own gecko that they don't use a lot of space. I have my leo in a 20gallon tank and she literally uses 1/3 of the tank so I doubt she'll be missing the extra space plus the tubs I'm using aren't that small but then again I'm not breeding. I've also read that tubs are better to have them in because its easier to clean and carry around. The rack system also gives them added privacy and I've seen accounts of people being able to maintain better temperatures.

And remember the tubs are plastic either clear or opaque. The light in your room will filter into the tubs to provide a day/night cycle.

 

[ang3l3s]

i personally miss seeing them all the time in the viv, i have a 55 gallon with 3 females and a rack of 9,i still see the other 9 but feel closer to the ones in the viv cause i c them more. i wish i could have a 9 glass plex or something but i agree it is easier to clean and monitor them for shedding and eating. just my 2 cents

 

[acpart]

From what I've read of people's experiences it doesn't seem cruel to keep them in a rack. Personally I prefer not to, although I have an "overflow rack" which is currently housing my 5 coleonyx hatchlings who were too small to keep safely in any of my tanks. I consider my leos to be display animals as well as pets and breeders and I like to display them. I also have personally uncomfortable feelings about opening drawers to see leos like so much clothing. Please don't take this the wrong way; I have no problem with the rack concept, it's just personal preference. I guess you could call the system I have a kind of modified rack system, actually. I have shelf units with front opening tanks, mostly 20 long size. These tanks can be divided into three 10"x12" sections for hatchlings. At the moment I have 12 of these tanks housing my leo breeders, coleonyx and 12 leo hatchlings.

Aliza

 

[Chibii]

is a 12 liter tub big enough to house a leo?

 

[ajveachster]

What are the dimensions?

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

Keeping leo's in a rack system is the most efficient way of keeping a large amount of animals in a small area. I could imagine that a 12L tub is about the same size as a 15Q tub which is pretty much the industry standard in housing 1 adult leo.