What's Your Gecko's Home Like?

[empressive]

I'd just like to tell everyone about my geckos' housing and then I'd like to hear about yours!

My boyfriend and I each have one lizard, his is an albino leo while mine is a spotted leo. They live together in an 18 x 18 x 18 terrarium with a background wall to climb on. They have a rather large hide that is shaped as a rock. 100% digestable calcium sand is what we use as their substrate. Their home is complete with a water well dispenser, a mealworm dish, branches to walk on, a nice, humid shed box with artificial moss inside (to keep it moist, we spritz it every so often), and bark in various places to help with their shedding. We've also added vines to give it a natural feel. We used to have a cricket hut in there but we've come to find that it is rather pointless so we removed it. We have a UV light that we keep on until it's dark outside and a heat lamp and a substrate heater for night. The temperature stays anywhere from 75 degrees at night (lowest) to 90 degrees in the daytime (highest).

Our geckos are both juveniles and they came from the same terrarium at the pet shop where we bought them. Mine is slightly larger than my boyfriends and there seems to be somewhat of a territorial issue but they've gotten past it as far as we can see.

Let me hear about your gecko's home!

 

[StangWolf]

Well here's what I have:

- 48"Lx18"Wx17"T acrylic tank, split in the middle with a piece of plexiglass to make two separate enclosures each 24"Lx18"Wx17"T since I'm going to have two females, they'll each have their own space.
- then I've got a second level in each enclosure that is 10"x18" about 7" off the floor of the tank and I'm going to use some of those lizard ladder/hammock things to make a sort of ramp to the second level.
- my substrate on the bottom is tile, 6"x6" pieces, they're easy to clean and they hold heat nicely. The substrate on the second levels is the green repti-carpet.
- the backgrounds will be a couple of those 18"x24" Hagen Rock Terrarium Backgrounds
- I've got two 11"x17" UTHs since the tank has a brace that runs in the middle and one UTH wouldn't stick right and probably wouldn't heat right, but they have plenty of room to cool down if need be what with the second levels.
- I've got two thermostats, one for each UTH and I'm currently trying to get the temps set up just right, around 90 to 93.
- I've also got a red bulb in a 5.5" dome on one of those adjustable lamp stands (for nightime viewing mainly, but it helps keep the ambient temps warmer as well). This lamp is on the left-hand side enclosure, so as you'll see in a minute, the temps on that side are warmer. I've got another set up in the mail, since I can't have it over the middle of my tank because the plastic brace that runs there kinda tends to melt when the lamp is too close. (something that's probably totally unnecessary but I'm a bit of a picky person so I like things to be even, that and these geckos are pets, so I figure I can afford to spoil them some)
- I've also got a couple of those normal coil bulbs (the kind you'd use in your house) in a Exo-Terra Plastic Canopy (I had this left over from my anole tank) which is on an outlet timer to turn it on and off to simulate daytime.
- I've got three hides: one warm, one cool, and one humid in each enclosure
- two feeding dishes, two glass ashtrays for water dishes, and a couple blue caps for calcium dishes
- I've got 4 digital thermometers with probes (you only really need two, again something I just preferred) one on each warm side and one on each cool side.
- Plus I've also got a couple of those Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer gauges (again something left over from my anole tank, and I figured why let them go to waste?) they're set up about an inch above the floor of the tank on the warm side measuring ambient temps (again you don't necessarily need to measure ambient temps, floor temps are what's most important)
- OH and a Zilla screen top, FINALLY found one that was big enough to fit my tank.
- umm the temps so far are as follows:
Room Temp: 75 during the day : around 68 at night
Warm Side Temps:
- right-hand side enclosure: 89.7
- left-hand side enclosure: 91.5
Cool Side Temps:
- right-hand side enclosure: 74.7
- left-hand side enclosure: 78
Ambient Temps:
- right-hand side enclosure: 88.4
- left-hand side enclosure: 89.2
(both kinda high at the moment, for ambient anyway, but I can fix that by adjusting the stand up some).

Anyway, that's what I have so far, I'll have my girls on Tuesday and I hope to have their home all set and ready to go once they're here.

Now I hope you don't mind if I offer some suggestions for your enclosure. By no means does it have to be like mine, I probably went a bit over board, but I want them to be safe and happy.

1) The calcium sand, no matter what it says on the package, is not 100% digestable, it's caused impaction from what I've heard, especially in juvenile geckos.
2) do you know the gender of your geckos yet? I think the might be alright if they're both female, though keep an eye on them since sometimes females can have issues over dominance and one might end up bullying the other. (sounds like that may have already happened, and you might be fine, but I'd watch them anyway) If you end up with a male and female, it'd probably be best to separate them since a male can stress a female trying to breed, on top of you might end up with baby geckos! Plus they might breed too soon, they reach sexual maturity before they reach physical maturity from what I gather (if you have to separate them maybe you could do it with a plexiglass divider like I did, instead of having to by another tank)
3) sounds like you have a food dish and a water dish, you will probably need a calcium dish to put some PURE calcium in. That way if you do plan to keep them on sand, they won't be tempted to eat the sand to satisfy any calcium needs.
4) from what it sounds like you have a humid hide, I'm going to use paper towels in mine, cheaper and easier to clean, just toss it and put some fresh in. But it sounds like your's will work, and it sounds like you have another hide as well, and depending on how you have the back and such set up you might not need another hide. But all that I've read suggests getting three hides: one humid, one warm, and one cool. That way the geckos have a nice set of choices.
5) I don't think you'll need the UV light, since they're nocturnal. The red light and (UTH I'm assuming is the substrate heater you mention) sound like they're fine, you might need a thermostat or rheostat for the UTH to make sure it doesn't get too hot, mine easily get up to 97 if left on wide open, which is a bit too hot for your little geckos bellys.
6) other than that it sounds like your temps are good.

I think that's it, I'm sorry if it looks like I'm picking your tank apart, but I'm just trying to help. Especially with the sand, some people have raised adults on fine grain playground sand with no problems, but that's adults and it's a fine grain sand, from what I can gather not many people are fans of the calcium sand. That and I'd be worried about my geckos striking at crickets and getting a mouthful of sand. Plus in my opinion, tiles are easier to clean, they hold heat nicely, and some look really nice! I got mine at Lowes for like $0.86 a tile. I think that's a good price anyway, considering other's were like over a dollar a tile.

Anyway, sounds like you have a couple of cool geckos! Mine are going to be a Mack Snow and a Tangerine Rainwater! I can't wait to see them on Tuesday!

OH and I don't know if you're feeding them crickets, but mealworms are another good choice, as are silkworms, phoenix worms, super worms (though these are a little big and I'm not sure what age or size your geckos need to be before it's safe to feed them these guys, someone else might know), and wax worms (as treats since they're like gecko ice cream or candy). Those are just a few if you find you want to add a little variety to your geckos diet.

I like the bark and vines and such, sounds like that'd make it a more interesting for the geckos, and perhaps more helpful when shedding.

 

[Hale]

I have an albino female and a normal female living in the same accommodations, even though one is currently crawling through my hair >.>

- 10 gallon tank
- large rock hideout for 2
- water dish
- two fake plants for hiding
- paper towel floor
- heating pad on one side of the tank
- thermostat at 75 degrees (air temp)

food...
- wax worms
- multivitamin supplements
- freeze dried stuffed crickets

Coming soon...

- basking moist cave (temp margrine container)
- small hut so each can have privacy
- rocky backdrop
- mealworm dish
- fake branches
- play sand substrate
- mealies
- second thermostat
- lamp for my night light heater (no daylight so its easier on gecko's eyes)
- aquarium lid

I have set up a neat way so my cats can't get at my lizards, or stress them out by staring at them.

 

[dmward]

Hi Emily, welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have good setup. I would follow Jessica's suggestion about ditching the calci-sand. Sand is a much debated topic but most folks feel that if there is even a slight chance of a problem why take the risk when the alternatives are just as attractive and cheaper in most case.

Have fun here and definitely read lot and pay attention to the majority of suggestions, most people on here care for their animals as children.

 

[sushikam]

I agree with the others...no to the calci sand! I believe it is worse than just regular play sand, so if you feel you must have sand, play sand is an alternative, just I wouldn't recommend it because you always have the risk of impaction.

And Hale...this one's to you...are you saying you have both your leos in a 10 gallon? I'm not sure if this is personal preference, but it is recommended at least that if you are going to house two together that they be in at least a 20 gallon long. And if you are using all those things as decor I would definitley recommend you upsize the tank for added floor space.

Other than that...it looks like you guys have some good setups! And I agree with StangWolf too!

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Hale is trying to start problems with this sand garbage again.

 

[LizMarie]

Hale is trying to start problems with this sand garbage again.

How!? He was given many options and suggestions in another post and it was his job as a Leo owner to weigh the pro's and con's so it is his decision in the end. If he wants to use play sand when they get older that is his choice. A lot of us may not agree but in the end he will do as he pleases. He responded to the post honestly and shouldnt be picked on for it.
Lets all just get Along in Harmoney :main_yes:

I'm not a fan of sand period it seems to messy for me to deal with. Studies have also proven that those calcium sands are on of the worst sands because they don't break down completely and sometimes leos will not even be able to digest it and become impacted. But a study proved that play sand is a little better, even though in my opinion you can't go wrong with solid substrate, repti-carpet, slate, paper towels plus they are soo much cheaper and easier to clean.

EVerything else seems fine. Do you have one of those exo-terra cages? If you ever feel like getting a new tank a 20gallon long would be better because it has a 30in X 12.5in floor space.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

It just makes me mad that these new people are say what they have, the other member are saying:
Towels
Carpet
Towels
Towels
Carpet
SAND!

They (Hale) do that in EVERY thread someone asks. 90% of the people on this site are convinced sand is bad. People on other GECKO forums would agree sand is bad. I don't know how to get my point across. I am perfectly happy hearing out his/her opinion on this.

I am planning on doing an 'Experiment', where I make fake stomach acid, let the sand 'Digest' over night. I will then stuff it into PIG intestine (Get some from work, yes I work at a German Sausage place). I will then let the soak in the acid also and give it 24 hours. I know what will happen, but you will be able to decide for yourself. The acid is going to be very corrosive so I need to figure out how to safely make it. I know a site that shows a real gecko autopsy and I will post it, but it is gruesome.

 

[Hale]

(I is a she, lol)

No need to be rude or arrogant. I am not one who likes to cause trouble, and I did listen to people's advice. After hearing that calcium sand IS in fact a trouble maker, I am steering clear of it. But I also hear that play sand is a much better alternative. I do not have the means of fitting slate into my tank, reptile carpet sticks to their claws and may get them stuck, and with my long hours at work - I may not be there to free the gecko, and if it gets extremely scared, I don't want the possibility of it dropping its tale.

So play sand, with extra precautions. I am not feeding crickets but mealies and butter worms, and will use a deep dish for it. This with a slate rock over the sand to get rid of the chance of the geckos eating any sand.

They are currently 3 months old, so I am not worried about getting sand at the moment until they are far older. If I ask for advice, I'm not about to ignore it. If I hear play sand seems to work fine, I'll use it, but for my geckos and my own concern, set up precautions to prevent any possible hazards.

*edit*

btw, this is killing this thread. I believe it has a different purpose than nagging others about their set ups. Because this has already been discussed somewhere else, lets stick to that place, or PM messages. Lets not be rude to the person who created this thread and spam it up =)