Exo Terra Enclosure (Intro)

[BradGarland]

This is my 18X18X18 Exo Terra Enclosure. I didn't think the floor space was substantial enough for my 2 leos (even though it probably was). I really got interested in the foam designs that I had seen people posted online so I figured i'd try it. This is my first attempt.

The design I came up with nearly doubles the floor space for the geckos (not counting the wall that they climb on).

I want to clarify that a few things about the sand substrate before I start.

1.)The sand has been sifted... THOROUGHLY.
2.)This is non-calcium sand.
3.)My geckos are fed inside a separate container... with no substrate.
4.)Both Leos are fully grown.
5.)Since I have owned the geckos I've never seen any sand in their bowel movements or seen them taste the sand.
6.)I am looking for flat rocks to place on the bottom (any suggestions on where I can find some) to reduce the geckos contact with the sand.


Picture 1: The Enclosure
I created a trap door I can remove to access the geckos and their moist hide on the front left side. In the back right side their is a tunnel that goes from the bottom to the top.

Picture 2: The Cool Side
This is the cool side of the tank.

Thea (Blizzard Leo) and Bella (Normal Leo). Both were what I would consider rescues.

Thea was turned into a local reptile shop by her owner who didn't have time for her. She's missing most of her toe nails. Over half of her tail was also lost and grown back before I owned her.

I purchased Bella from a kid I worked with. He also didn't have time for her. As a full grown leo, she was being kept in the 2 1/2 gallon tank. This is definitely a moral booster for her.

Picture 3: The Hot and Moist Hide
This is the side that the UTH(attached to a Rheostat) is on. In the back is the hot spot. In the front is an area where I place moss and moisten every day. Humidity is roughly anywhere from 50% - 70% in this area daily. I can find both geckos in here every once in a while.

Picture 4: Temps
Here are the temps (Measured on the ground). The right is the hot side. The left is the cooler side.

Picture 5: Night Light
This is a 75 Watt infrared light i have on 24/7.

 

[jerry]

I think it looks pretty bas ass, i like the basement look of it, did you buy that background seperate?

 

[BradGarland]

I think it looks pretty bas ass, i like the basement look of it, did you buy that background seperate?

I made the background as well.

 

[roger]

This is my 18X18X18 Exo Terra Enclosure. I didn't think the floor space was substantial enough for my 2 leos (even though it probably was). I really got interested in the foam designs that I had seen people posted online so I figured i'd try it. This is my first attempt.

The design I came up with nearly doubles the floor space for the geckos (not counting the wall that they climb on).

I want to clarify that a few things about the sand substrate before I start.

1.)The sand has been sifted... THOROUGHLY.
2.)This is non-calcium sand.
3.)My geckos are fed inside a separate container... with no substrate.
4.)Both Leos are fully grown.
5.)Since I have owned the geckos I've never seen any sand in their bowel movements or seen them taste the sand.
6.)I am looking for flat rocks to place on the bottom (any suggestions on where I can find some) to reduce the geckos contact with the sand.


Picture 1: The Enclosure
I created a trap door I can remove to access the geckos and their moist hide on the front left side. In the back right side their is a tunnel that goes from the bottom to the top.

Picture 2: The Cool Side
This is the cool side of the tank.

Thea (Blizzard Leo) and Bella (Normal Leo). Both were what I would consider rescues.

Thea was turned into a local reptile shop by her owner who didn't have time for her. She's missing most of her toe nails. Over half of her tail was also lost and grown back before I owned her.

I purchased Bella from a kid I worked with. He also didn't have time for her. As a full grown leo, she was being kept in the 2 1/2 gallon tank. This is definitely a moral booster for her.

Picture 3: The Hot and Moist Hide
This is the side that the UTH(attached to a Rheostat) is on. In the back is the hot spot. In the front is an area where I place moss and moisten every day. Humidity is roughly anywhere from 50% - 70% in this area daily. I can find both geckos in here every once in a while.

Picture 4: Temps
Here are the temps (Measured on the ground). The right is the hot side. The left is the cooler side.

Picture 5: Night Light
This is a 75 Watt infrared light i have on 24/7.

cool set up.Can I make a suggestion ! Your warm end needs to be around 95 degrees.Also i noticed u have a daylight lamp.leos are nocturnal so the bright light will actually stress them out.

 

[Merriweather]

Gooooooooorgeous! Where did you get the foam from? I'd really like to do something similar to break up some of the dead space in my leo's 20 gallon.

 

[BradGarland]

cool set up.Can I make a suggestion ! Your warm end needs to be around 95 degrees.Also i noticed u have a daylight lamp.leos are nocturnal so the bright light will actually stress them out.

Thanks.

Are you sure 95 Degrees is correct? I've read that to digest food anywhere from 87 F to 93 F is acceptable.

Also I've read that the geckos don't register red, green, or blue light. I king of have to believe this because once their day lights kick off they are roaming up top while the red lights on.

Gooooooooorgeous! Where did you get the foam from? I'd really like to do something similar to break up some of the dead space in my leo's 20 gallon.

Thanks.

The foam was purchased at Lowes... a 8' X 4' X 1" sheet was like $10. I didn't even use a 2' X 4' section to make these piece.

If you need any help or ideas with your 20 gallon let me know.

 

[tlbowling]

I love this set up! I have the same 18x18x18 enclosure for one of mine, and I'd love to do something like this....I need some instructions How exactly did you do this with the peice of foam you bought? Feel free to PM me

 

[Merriweather]

The foam was purchased at Lowes... a 8' X 4' X 1" sheet was like $10. I didn't even use a 2' X 4' section to make these piece.

If you need any help or ideas with your 20 gallon let me know.

Oh thank you thank you! I'm adding you to my contacts list and when I get some free time for projects I'll hit you up if I have any questions or whatever. <3

 

[roger]

Thanks.

Are you sure 95 Degrees is correct? I've read that to digest food anywhere from 87 F to 93 F is acceptable.

Also I've read that the geckos don't register red, green, or blue light. I king of have to believe this because once their day lights kick off they are roaming up top while the red lights on.



Thanks.

The foam was purchased at Lowes... a 8' X 4' X 1" sheet was like $10. I didn't even use a 2' X 4' section to make these piece.

If you need any help or ideas with your 20 gallon let me know.

95 degrees is the most common temps.anything between 88-95 is acceptable.Daylight bulbs will definately stress the leos out.the infrared bulbs are great for supplemental heat and night time viewingI used to use the infrared bulbs

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Looks awesome. I may try the basement Idea on a twenty lond with the bottom being the hot side and top being the cool side.

 

[GeckoDude31]

I'm getting the same 18x18x18. I'm also using slate tiles. What is the size of the inside of the cage for flooring? I want to go to the store and have them cut tiles for me, but I need the correct sizing. Could you help, please. Thanks!

 

[Daedric1]

95 degrees is the most common temps.anything between 88-95 is acceptable.Daylight bulbs will definately stress the leos out.the infrared bulbs are great for supplemental heat and night time viewingI used to use the infrared bulbs

I doubt daylight bulbs will stress them out if only left on during they, and as long as they have places to hide from the light. After all, they hide from the sun during the day by going under a rock or underground. They don't get stressed out. This setup has lots of room to hide from the light so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[toph427]

I was wondering the same thing. I mean I live in a basement w/ zero daylight and the geckos need some kind of light and night cycle right?? I have a light on top of one tank and use a red bulb at night for viewing and the rest of my tanks just have a lamp next to them for about 12 hrs or less per day.

 

[roger]

I doubt daylight bulbs will stress them out if only left on during they, and as long as they have places to hide from the light. After all, they hide from the sun during the day by going under a rock or underground. They don't get stressed out. This setup has lots of room to hide from the light so it shouldn't be a problem.

your right as long as they have plenty of hides to escape the ligh as u said

 

[bradnowell]

The foam was purchased at Lowes... a 8' X 4' X 1" sheet was like $10.

I just got back from Lowes and couldn't seem to find this. It's used for insulation, correct? All i saw was the pink fluffy fiberglass insulation and thick sturdy foam boards covered with mylar.

 

[theCREECH]

Can I ask.. now that you've had this setup for awhile how do you like it? Are there draw backs to having such a cool landscape?

Do the geckos spend much time above?

Do you feed them outside somewhere?

Are the geckos hard to get out if they aren't on the warm side?

Where do they go to the bathroom? Up or down and is it hard to clean?

I do love the setup, I'm just doing some research for my own project.

Love it

 

[grboxa]

very cool setup, I have the x24 version and I really wished I had creative mind to produce soething like this, never was really a hands on type of guy...if you exclude in the ring aha...it makes me feel like a dumb@$$ for having such a big tank and not being able to use the whole area effectively. I really want to make a 2nd floor in mine.

 

[CaliforniaPlaya]

Great looking set up, hope its working out for op.

Not bashing you at all, but I've got to wonder how safe or dangerous it is to our animals to do things like this. This product obviously wasn't made to be used in animal enclosures and there are chemicals in all this stuff. Heck, foam is made primarily out of chemicals and oils. All this stuff off-gases, some for quite some time. You add heat from lamps and heaters to the mixture and that can add to the off-gassing.

Yes, I do realize there are chemicals in a lot of things, even things that are made for animals and there is no way to completely avoid them or be completely safe from them. But how much are we adding to the environment by doing things like this? Again, I'm not bashing the OP or anyone wanting to do something similar, I'll admit it looks great, is functional, and increases floorspace. But I also do think it is a valid concern. I'm just curious to hear from those who are more experienced than I about their thoughts or opinions on doing similar things in their houses.

Thanks!!!

 

[Desdemona]

What kind of foam did you use? I have a 20Gal tall, right now I have a young Leo so the size is good for her... but at sometime she will probably want a little more space.

You can gas off some things.. and with more concerns about chemicals and whatnot you can find a lot of "natural" products that are suppose to be less toxic. Less toxic paint, floor tiles, etc. It will just depend on how much homework you do. If you did some careful measuring you might be able to do something like this with ceramics as well and just get it fired at a ceramic craft store. That would be pretty fun actually (art student, haha.... though 3D is not my area of talent)