Hey, it's been a while! Here's updates on my big vivarium and its inhabitant

Veronica · 12-15-20, 09:58 AM

It's been a while since I've posted or commented here! I've largely moved over to Reddit (sorry).

Overview of vivarium: 2x2x4 foot (LWH) sealed plywood enclosure. Lit by two mega-powerful LED spotlights, with a 5.0 UVB for the lizard and a small CHE for heating.

Background is cork, hardscape is random wood I collected in the woods.

Plants: No-ID bromeliads, reedstem orchids, vanilla orchid, lemon button fern, some oak leaf creeping fig (doing rather poorly, unfortunately), Peperomia rotundifolia var. pilosior, philodendron

Inhabitant: a male Gastropholis prasina, green keel-bellied lizard. His name is Merlin.

Videos of Merlin https://imgur.com/gallery/DxDMnHH (training has been successful) https://imgur.com/gallery/QWPOYDN (long tail)

https://imgur.com/gallery/FzqH44D (the vivarium as it is now)

Anyway, that's it for now! Questions and comments appreciated. I love talking about him and his vivarium

arnoldosu1 · 12-17-20, 03:39 PM

Very cool! Awesome set up. Also you’re right reptiles are smart, some are smarter than dogs. They are definitely food motivated as well, so that makes for a trainable animal! My crestie Treeco, is more like a cat in the sense that he will come when he wants to lol. And reptiles are also more affectionate than people give them credit for. Treeco loves attention and being pet!

Veronica · 12-17-20, 05:00 PM

Thank you! He's a great animal. Best personality I've ever seen in a reptile. And so much personality. He's both very smart and incredibly dumb at the same time

arnoldosu1 · 12-18-20, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veronica

Thank you! He's a great animal. Best personality I've ever seen in a reptile. And so much personality. He's both very smart and incredibly dumb at the same time

Lol yeah Trico is a bit like that as in my experience are most reptiles! He is clumsy for sure and makes some questionable decisions with his acrobatics. How long have you had Merlin?

Veronica · 12-18-20, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldosu1

Lol yeah Trico is a bit like that as in my experience are most reptiles! He is clumsy for sure and makes some questionable decisions with his acrobatics. How long have you had Merlin?

I've had him since mid September

arnoldosu1 · 12-19-20, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veronica

I've had him since mid September

Oh wow. That’s pretty quick of him to trust and want to seek you out like that, even for food! I’ve had trico for 7yrs and it wasn’t until a few years ago that he really would come to me. Though I guess it wasn’t until after I started hand feeding him that he did or maybe it was the petting. He really likes the petting haha. Food+petting=trust

Veronica · 12-19-20, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldosu1

Oh wow. That’s pretty quick of him to trust and want to seek you out like that, even for food! I’ve had trico for 7yrs and it wasn’t until a few years ago that he really would come to me. Though I guess it wasn’t until after I started hand feeding him that he did or maybe it was the petting. He really likes the petting haha. Food+petting=trust

I was surprised. He was immediately quite tame. Didn't take any work on my part haha

arnoldosu1 · 12-20-20, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veronica

I was surprised. He was immediately quite tame. Didn't take any work on my part haha

That is crazy. Very cool lizard you have there. He must just like you lol

christian996 · 12-29-20, 04:12 AM

It looks great. What are the dimensions of the terrarium?