Enclosure questions

[marisa]

I am planning on getting some crested geckos in the future. Hopefully soon but I am not in a rush.

I have a nice enclosure thats 2 by 2 by 2 for them. But my iguana recently passed away leaving us with a GIANT walk in enclosure with nothing to do with it.

What would the challanges be housing *adult* cresteds in a tank thats 6 feet high, 6 feet long, and about 2 deep? **Full** of live plants of course, made of plexi glass and sealed wood and possibly a misting system. I am not really interested in breeding really but I was thinking a 1.3 group, or possibly just 4 females. No more than four and maybe even less.

Yes, I know. Insane. But that's what I want. An animal perfectly able to live in a smaller tank in a HUGE over abundance of room.

But anyways, can you guys think of the problems I'll have to work around for this?

Marisa

[HeatherRose]

Finding them? :p

That sounds like a great enclosure...the only problems I can think of would be if you decide to breed them, finding the eggs...

Sounds awesome!

[marisa]

Yeah I am really not interested in breeding and eggs would be difficult to find. Luckily thats easily avoidable by getting females I guess.

As for finding them, we don't want to see them very often. Well we do but I don't mind sacraficing that for a huge planted enclosure. My roomates and I think it would be awesome in our living room, and when you DO get to see one, it would be all the sweeter. :D

I am concerned about feeding though a little bit.

Marisa

[bighillreptiles]

I think that like anything else wonce they find there food in the same spot all the time that they will look for it there all the time. and for not seeing them the only concern I would have is there health if you can't see them you can't keep a eye on them as well

[marisa]

Well the enclosure is walk in, its five feet wide now but I am going to take out three feet. So still able to walk in and handle them for health reasons or check ups every few days. That's easy enough.

I am trying to foresee any major issues that might come up but I think feeding is the biggie. I am definitly planning on only feeding them in two spots and never changing location. Hopefully that will work. Or maybe four feeding areas until they get used to all of them, and then removing two when I know all are eating properly.

I would also be releasing crickets every week or two for them to catch when they come across them.

Marisa

[HeatherRose]

Putting food in the same place is a great idea, I find that works with mine. Either way, if you're using Crested Gecko Diet and they eat it for you, they WILL find it.

Crickets are awesome, watching them catch 'em is half the fun :D

[marisa]

Yeah this idea rocks. I can't wait to get started.

First thing is installing planters up the wall. There is a LOT of wall space and I want plants growing everywhere. Then I am purchasing three large tropicals (were talking like plants 3-4 feet tall) in giant pots on the bottom of the cage.

I am going to use exclusivly Bio Vine, and bamboo for any highways or platforms I need.

Marisa

[Matt_K]

Marisa, have you found a place for the Bamboo yet?? There's a store in the Vaughn Mall, just around the corner from Bass Pro Shops that has it.. Might be a bit closer than the other place I told you about before..

-Matt

[DragnDrop]

With a big enclosure like that you'll see a lot more natural behaviour. They'll interact way better with more room, and probably be happier too. I wouldn't worry about them not finding their food. The wild ones find all they need and it's not always served up in the same place :)
If you really wanted to go all out though, that's a great size for a pair of leachianus. Not that I'm pushing them ......

;)

[marisa]

LOL!

Trust me Hilde, I have always wanted a pair of leachianus geckos. But those are on my "when I own a house" list. :D Those, leopards and cresties are actually really the only geckos I really like.

Matt- Oh o.k. I'll check that place out but the place you told me before is a good option too. It's far but would be worth it if its cheap. But I want to check that mall out anyways too.

I have located smaller diameter bamboo to use for decorative purposes but still need larger diameter stuff soon.

Marisa

[peterm15]

what place in vhaugn mall... i seen some the other day at home outfitters by promonade... i didnt get any as i dont need it... and whats Bio Vine...

that size of an enclosure is awsome... i would put a colony in there but 4 would be sweet... hard to find... and you would never really know if you lost one.....lol... but as for feeding crix... you may have to realease a coupple dozen in there every once in a while... maybe put kind of a cricket hide... it would really be like watching them in the wild... theyed always have access to food but as a treat theyed have to hunt... it would be cool... thered be lost of room for crix so i doubt theyed cause a problem for the cresties... but if that doesnt work you could just feed worms.....

[clint545]

Awesome idea Marisa! I've been toying with ideas on a future walk-in for my cresties when I have the space(my own house).
I would definitly love to see some pics posted when it's done!!!

[Matt_K]

Originally posted by peterm15
what place in vhaugn mall...

Not sure of the name, otherwise I would have for sure mentioned it.. Im sure Marisa will find it.. It's close to the Sony Store.. If that helps..

[marisa]

Bio Vine is that "covered" bendable vine they sell in pet stores. It's expensive but it looks good and is easy to shape.

And I don't care if I can't see them. If all my enclosures were made with me in mind instead of the animals, then I'd have a crap collection. :D Most of my stuff is done with the animal first, then my own needs second. As long as I can walk into it to check on each one once in awhile, I am not worried about visuals. The plants will be the main centerpiece really.

I'll probably make it cricket escape proof and toss in 50 every few weeks or so. Still working out details. And yes there will be plenty of pics when it's done :D

Marisa

[sara]

That sounds like a very neat project. A bio substrate would be great for a setup like that, especially with the plants and everything... it might even help the crickets last if you're considering throwing them in on a weekly basis...
I can't wait to see this one.:cool:

[marisa]

Yeah substrate is something I haven't come close to deciding on yet.

One on hand, multch or eco earth types of substrate would be natural looking, as well as good for the crickets, and plants. But on the other hand paper towel would be FAR easier if I ever need to move the cage, check if they have been eating the crickets, etc.

I dunno. Gonna have to think on that one.

Marisa

[CDN-Cresties]

Marisa, this enclosure of your sounds like its going to be AWESOME. Just remember to post pics :)

[marisa]

I will take some pics during the entire process of converting it from my Roxy's house to a crested mansion. lol :D

Tomorrow I am sterilizing all the wood, and then taking the cage down. On the weekend I'll be rebuilding it in the dimensions I want for the cresteds, and slowly planting it up along the way.

Marisa

[peterm15]

indoor outdoor carpet might be your best bet... of course others would look better but for visuals and cleaning reasons id go with the carpet... spent the extra few bucks and get 2 peices that way when you need to clean it just roll it up and pull it out... and put the other peice in... that way you have a few days to totally clean the carpet...

for alot of biovine it would get quite expensive wouldnt it... there like 20 bucks a peice... im gonna try to come up with a way to make my own vines like that.. if i figure it out ill share it with ya

[ydnic]

Marisa - any picture yet?

[ChokeOnSmoke]

Sounds great
Just a thought... if you put 50 crickets in and they have somewhere to lay eggs you are going to have tons of pin heads running around your place.
Keep us updated

[Herpguy2004]

sounds like an awsome project:D i plan to do something like that in the future. i plan on doing something like this. it may help you out to. good way of planting plants on the wall.

http://www.blackjungle.com/gallery/talltank/page1.html

check it out!

[little_dragon_]

The Link- Damn that's an awsome enclosure..The only thing I'd worry about is keeping it clean.

Your giant enclosure sounds like a great idea. You'll be able to see your geckos in a more natural state using their full potential to hunt and acrobatics to move.
There wouldn't be much difference in housing 4 of either sex. Males will be more territorial and play chase a lot more often but it would be rare to have a fight in an enclosure that big. Females would be more calm.

[Manitoban Herps]

The cage is so big I think even if they layed eggs the babys still could survive.

[marisa]

The enclosure on the link is amazing.

I am actually leaning away from the natural side of things. While the entire cage will be planted, it will be more like a walk in plant room with geckos living in it, rather than a fully planted mini-ecosystem. While that would be amazing, I am personally going to be leaving plants in their pots, and using shelves like a little green house.

I think this will make checking on the geckos easier, cleaning the plants and replacing soil easier as well.

Marisa

[little_dragon_]

I agree that's a good idea. golden pothos would be a good choice for natural vines they spread like weeds. Ficus, snake plants...You could have a small tree in there.

[K1LOS]

Why not put a male in? If they breed they breed. In an enclosure like that, and if your temps are right, they might hatch all on their own in there. And if you don't want anymore geckos, im sure you could give them away pretty easily. Imagine the excitement of seeing a baby run by when you didn't even know you had eggs!

Geoff