Live Plants in a Terrarium?

[Fallupinreverse]

So today I finally got the terrarium I wanted for my crested gecko, which has plenty of space for me to do whatever I want with it. I am very interested in looking into putting a live plant in there, both for humidity's sake and the fact that it seems like it'd be cool . I have a few questions though.

I'm planning on getting a Pothos plant, I have done a few searches and found lists of appropriate plants for gecko terrariums, and from what I've seen this is recommended a lot. Is this a good choice? I want one that he can maybe hide in too... What are some other good choices?

I currently do not have any sort of lighting for my terrarium. Obviously a live plant would require lighting, and obviously some UV rays. Would a couple/few hours a day of UV lighting be appropriate? I have a Zoo Med Terrarium, and I don't really want to get one of those light bars that reach inside the cage, would it be alright to get one of those lamps that sits on top of the cage with the big rounded hood? Would this heat up my crested gecko to a stressful level?

I think this is all I have for questions. If there's anything you'd like to add that I didn't ask please do so!

I tried to do some research before asking questions, I honestly did! It's almost 6 am and time for me to finally get some sleep, so please don't be too cruel to me! If there's some giant repository of how to do this please forgive me and point me in the right direction, it'd be greatly appreciated!

 

[acpart]

I have planted tanks for all my geckos that need humidity and they are wonderful, not needing to be cleaned. For info on how to set it up, take a look at the instructions at blackjungle.com. Pothos works, and also I have a split leaf fern (native to New Caledonia; I found it listed in one of the crested gecko care books). One trick to making a place they can hide, which mine does all the time, is to get one of those fake vines, bend it so it twists through the cage and let the plants climb up it. For lighting I use two fixtures (I have the exoterra 12"x18") and put compact florescent bulbs in. That does the trick without generating too much heat.

Aliza

 

[Fallupinreverse]

Thank you for the reply!

How long each day do you leave the lights on? I work long shifts at night, then sleep through most of the day, so I'm a little unsure about how many hours I can consistently keep the light on.

 

[acpart]

My lights are set on a timer to be on 7am to 7pm. From what I understand plants need about 6 hours a day of good light. You could always put a towel over the cage to help you sleep.

ALiza

 

[Alnovo]

I have a planted terrarium as well. I use Pothos, Dracena and Philodendron. They seem to do the trick as they keep the humidity well, they are all plants that thrive in a humid climate, and they also provide a lot of hiding places.

Exo-tera bendy vines are amazing to have in the terrarium. The cresties LOVE to climb around and jump to them. I cut mine in half so it would seem like I had 2 of them and she jumps back and forth from both of them while she's awake.

 

[snowgyre]

My crested geckos absolutely LOVE the variegated snake plant I have in their tank. Not only does the base of the plant hold water like a bromeliad, but the leaves are very stiff and are excellent perches. Also, since they grow from a single base, they're tightly packed together and my crested geckos love sleeping completely out of sight deep within the leaves. I actually bought the plant for the stiffness of the leaves, since one of my females is a rescue and suffered from severe metabolic bone disease as a baby. She has trouble getting around sometimes, and the snake plant makes it really easy for her to climb around the tank.

 

[dunderpate]

Lights arent necessary. Room temp is fine. Humidity is most important. Even a UV light will create heat. You dont want to overheat your Cresteds. My Viv is close to the window, and i use plants that dont require lots of UV. My windows face north, thats enough UV to keep the plants growing. Love the Viv. Much better looking then stale paper towels and newspaper. That's called prison.

 

[gaparicio]

I have a 40g breeder tank with 1.4 cresteds in there. I've had the tank set up with live plants for 3 years now. I have yet to clean it either. I have a black millipede and some earthworms that keep everything nice and clean. I use a flourescent spiral bulb that I keep on for 12 hours a day. Just spray every few days to keep the humidity up and they'll be fine.

 

[Chewbecca]

All of you with a live viv for your cresties, do you have drainage tubes to drain excess moisture?

 

[dunderpate]

I have a black millipede and some earthworms that keep everything nice and clean.

Oooh, i never thought of that before, less the black millipede. How many earthworms woudl you say you have in there? Also in there for 3 years? Interesting, makes sense.

do you have drainage tubes to drain excess moisture?

Ive got a layer of those special drainage pebbles, then mesh, then soil, then moss. I had the issue before about drainage and mold. since my renovation ive had no issues at all.

 

[gaparicio]

I originally added around a dozen earthworms but I know I probably have many more.

I also have 2in. worth of gravel (went the cheap route) and some mesh screening. I have yet to have any mold accumulate either. I just clean out the dead pothos leaves every now and again and wipe the glass down every few days and I'm set. I know I should but I almost never even feed the millipede. Every once in a while I'll see it climb the vines and crawl up to the gecko ledge to feed off of the CGD.