[EmberRose]

im trying to build a 240gal crested gecko vivarium that is mostly self sustained. i have lots of questions and was wondering mostly what type of soil would be safe to put in that would also grow plants and what type of plants? How many crestys do you think would be safe to put in it. its a 120gal tank with another 120gal mesh cage on top the dimensions of this whole thing is 4'Lx2'Wx4'H its basically 2 sections with a square foot opining in the middle of the two do you think the opining needs to be bigger for easy traveling between cages? im open to any suggestions. im new to cresteds but not new to reptiles so any help would be grate
thanks

[EmberRose]

oh and for a water supple i was going to put in a 4'' tall tub with about 3'' of gaval and a fluval u2 filter in it how dou you think that would work out?

[Kristy]

Wow that sound amazing. I think you can use regular potting soil without the little white puffy things in it. At one point I had soil mixed with coco fiber. Pothos plants are popular. I think some cresties do fine with a water bowl, but it makes me nervous. I use a bottle cap for drinking and use a reptifogger for misting on a timer, that might be something to consider although you will have alot of mesh. There are plenty of much more experienced people here than me. Good luck. Would love to see a pic sometime.

[EmberRose]

well thank you and im still constructing it as soon as my trusty staple gun and i are finished i will put up some pictures would fertilizer hurt cresties

[Ozymandias]

for soil i would probably do a mix not just streight potting soil also alot of potting soil has fertiliziers which yes are bad for geckos. best bet for soil is a mix of good quality compost, organic topsoil, sand, leaf liter and milled peat moss. do not get anything from miracle grow as no mater what thay say it contains fertilizer. another thing i would worry about is keeping the humidity up with that mesh section so you might do it so the back and sides are enclosed with only the top and one side mesh. and no mater what you do it's not going to be completely self sustaining so be ready to take cresties out (especially is thay lay eggs and you miss them) and do water changes.

[EmberRose]

would plexieglass for the tops sides and back be better and only mesh for the front? and i do know i will need to do some maitanince on it and do you think they would eat mushrooms? i want to put glow in the dark mushrooms in there but if there just going to reat them i might not. this is a link to the mushrooms there pretty cool Glow In The Dark Mushroom Kit

[Ozymandias]

no clue if thay would eat them but thay would probably climb on them and break them, been thinking of getting that kit too lol. and ya plexy would work are you planing to build a background?

[EmberRose]

i am on the lower half the upper half maybe only vines and i will have large pieces of wood that will extend in to the upper aria along with tall plants what plants can i not put in with cresties? sorry i ask so many questions its just a giant project im working on hopping to put 3 males and about 10-12 females

[Ozymandias]

your pretty much safe with most topicals to be honest. what i would do if i was you is check out our sister site vivarium forum and some dart frog sites as thay uselly have some great tank and info on plants and the like

[For The Sake Of Revenge]

maybe you can sleep in it with your cresties