Desert or Forest?

[kiwigecko]

Ok so there are two routes to go with my cage plan...the first being a desert setup with desert plants and sandy-looking rocks and tile. The second option is making a woodland habitat with forest plants and moss etc. I have seen people describing thier cages and it seems like both methods are popular, but what would be most natural for the leo?

 

[Quah]

I think a desert habitat is a more natural setting for the leopard gecko.

 

[gothra]

Desert habitat with rocks and hard packed substrate is more natural for leopard geckos, but I use forest theme myself. Just personal preference. As long as you don't make their setting too humid, I think it doesn't matter.

 

[Rythm]

Just do what you think looks nice! Mine seems to be half and half, half rocky cliff outcrop things and the other half more foresty...

 

[Olimpia]

I personally hate things that look too dry, so I tend to gravitate towards a more foresty look. My newest cage (it's under the thread title "girl colony tank" if you're curious) though is probably a mix between desert and forest, because I used stone tiles to make caves (and these are a normal tan rock color), ecoearth as the substrate (which is brown, looks like dirth) with some pebbles, wood chips, and moss here and there, and then planted succulents. So it could be anything lol I would have used less deserty plants but there wasn't much of a selection at my Home Depot.

It's all personal preference. As long as it's dry I don't think the geckos care very much. Just have fun with it and make it something you'll enjoy to look at as much as your geckos will enjoy living in it.

 

[gmaier19]

the most important part for the setup is the gecko feeling secure. The forest look usually provides many more hiding places, as you can put leafy plants that the gecko will crawl into (one of my geckos actually prefers to hide in plants rather than the caves). The desert plants like cacti dont really provide that. just something to think abt, but either one can be more than adequate if there are enough hides.

 

[Spots]

I have both too. I have a leo which I heard is a desert gecko so I wanted to go with the desert theme. I just found that it was so blah in colour! My room is chocolate brown and brown hardwood floors so I didn't want the tank to be tan colours as well cause my room would look so cold and uninviting lol. Plus, there was only green carpet at the time so it worked out okay. But my cage is half and half which is a little funny. I have green carpet, leaves and one hide is jungle-ish. then the rest of the hides are desert, the drinking bowls, and a cactus lol. oh and the upper level has grey carpet so I dunno. I wanted the most natural and stress free for my gecko (but then there was so much stuff to pick from so I couldn't decide) so she would feel at home...but I'm pretty sure they are breed in captivity so they don't really know what "home" looks like. lol As long as it is safe, you should be fine