Upgrading enclosure

[geckomom]

Nothing important, I'm just really excited! My leos are currently in a 55 gal aquarium, and I've been looking to upgrade so they'll have more floor space. I was just out a couple of days ago, looking for crickets (for some reason, probably the hot weather), none of the places in my area had crickets, so at the last local place I stopped, I picked up some mealies and waxies, and was wandering the store while I waited for the person to bring the worms.

In the back of the store there was a 75 gal, WITH metal screen cover, on sale for less than I'd priced just the 75g at any other place!

I know I'm crazy, but I really had to restrain myself from jumping in the air with my fists raised, screaming "YEEESSSSS", and doing a victory dance!!!!!

Thank goodness I'd neglected to replace the back seat in the mini-van, and needless to say, I walked out of that store with a 75g and screen cover! It was a bit more expensive than just the worms (altho I must say, the guy DID give me the worms for FREE :D ).

I'm in the process of painting the background now, and will be using slate or tile for the substrate (using repti-carpet now, but think the slate/tile will make cleaning much easier and look nicer). Had to order some more paints online (and chose the fastest shipping option....well, I saved so much money on the tank itself..... o> ....and i'm very impatient... :bounce: :bugged: ....what? "instant gratification"? no....not meeeee :firestart ).

My family is sick of hearing about this (wonder why?), so i thought I'd inflict...um, share ....my excitement with all of you.

I just can't wait. Hope they paints arrive soon....

Oh, I am just so excited !

(Thanks for putting up with me :o . It's so hard to type while dancing....)

bobbie

PS: Any opinions on Eco-Earth for use in humid hides and/or laying boxes?

[DragnDrop]

I can relate. When I find any sort of bargoon ;) with reptile related things, I can't share my joy with anyone here, I've got to go online and tell those who understand.
Congrats on the great deal. I'd probably never replace the seat in the van 'just in case'.

Post pictures when you've got it all done.
Eco-earth ... is that the shredded coconut stuff? I use it in hide boxes and substrate, it works great. There's a better place to buy it though, way better price. Go to the garden centre and buy the 'soilless seed starter' mix. Same thing, same bricks, same instructions, way less money. If you stock up in September when the gardening season is over, you can get them for even less.

[Serpens]

HAHA.....sweet deal man! I hear ya about not being able to share...i've been designing a cage for months now, I'm finally ready to start building, and i think my gf has heard enough about it and just wants the thing built so I'll shut up about it:D Good grab though man. Post pics when finished with the set up:D

Serpens

[Up_North]

Wow 75g for a pair of leo's! Those are some spoiled pets, talk about leg room. Just watch when feeding crix those leo's aren't working to hard for there food. Mealies are good in a dish but there is alot of room for crix to run in that home! I am sure they will love all the room. Glad to see you are having fun with your new pets!
John

[geckomom]

DragnDrop, yes indeed it was a "bargoon"! :medbigsmi I had been looking online and had almost settled on an acrylic tank, but really wanted glass. Looked at all local stores, just couldn't find anything that fit my budget, and even tho I've already got the first coat of paint drying on the back of the tank, I still can't believe I stumbled across the tank. Just in the right place at the right time, I guess. The back seat of the van won't be replaced any time soon, either ;) , even if it means strapping passengers to the roof luggage rack! :D

Thanks for the info on Eco-Earth, I'll definitely check out the "soilless seed starter" option. I'm using terrarium moss (sphagnum) now, and I'm not unhappy with it, but even tho I change it out often, I'm having a terrible problem with pinhead crickets, and the moss is where they seem to be hatching out. Even using Eco-Earth, tho, I'm sure that won't "cure" the pinhead problems, I'll just have to change it out more often til I get the pinheads under control (wish I could harvest them and raise them for my hatchlings, but I can't figure out how).

Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm :D

bobbie

[geckomom]

Serpens, sorry your gf doesn't share the "passion"....but at least, like my family, it sounds like she has agreed to "live with it", which certainly makes it easier for us, doesn't it?

What are you building an enclosure for? I'd love to hear about it, and see pics when you're done. Always wanted to be able to build a custom enclosure, but don't have the knowledge, skills or patience. Good luck on your project, and thanks for the support!

bobbie

[geckomom]

Wow 75g for a pair of leo's! Those are some spoiled pets, talk about leg room. Just watch when feeding crix those leo's aren't working to hard for there food. Mealies are good in a dish but there is alot of room for crix to run in that home! I am sure they will love all the room. Glad to see you are having fun with your new pets!
John

Just realized I never said how many leos are involved here :o . I've actually got seven in my little "colony"....plus a 4 month old juvie (in his own "house"), and 2 hatchlings (in their own "nursery"). So....the 55 is actually a bit small for 7, as I currently have 3 humid hides and 8 other hides, plus their water bowl, pieces of wood set up to also serve as hides and climbing places. The 48"x12" "footprint" really isn't adequate for 7 leos, altho they seem to have adapted to it (as leos do), but I know the close quarters probably stress them out a bit and it doesn't have enough floorspace.

I'm also planning on putting in some "shelves" (for lack of a better word) on the back wall and possibly one or both of the side walls, to give them more "getaway" places and exploring zones, as some of my leos seem to love to climb, tho I'm not going to put the shelves too high, because Morrigan, one of my females, just loves to step off into thin air.... :eek: .

I do try to "spoil" them, tho - how can a leo lover not spoil their "babies"? ;) Your suggestion about watching so the leos don't have to work too hard to find the crix is a great one - that hadn't occurred to me (probably because you were thinking "pair of leos" and I'm thinking "seven leos"), but I will keep an eye out. Also, thanks for the suggestion about feeding mealies in a dish - I do that already, and like you said, it works out really well. I also love to hand-feed...a couple of my leos are a bit shy and would rather help themselves, but most of them take "finger food" well (which also helps me get a better idea of who's eating what, and how much).

I actually started w/leos about 3 years ago, and thru some (sad) trials and many errors, ended up with the current population I have now. But once I get this housing transition done, it will probably seem like I do have "new" pets, altho with the personalities I've grown to love, and I'm actually having more fun with them now than I did when I started, since I've got some experience behind me now and am not making so many of those "beginner's" mistakes that make life miserable for the poor leos.

Thanks so much for your reply, I can tell you understand my excitement, and it's great to be able to share!

bobbie