[poetry1in7purple]

Hi, all!

I'm soon going to be getting a giant day gecko, and I'm trying to find the best/most wallet-friendly way to set up my tank.

First and foremost, I've been looking everywhere to find the right UVB light. I think I may have found the one. Can anyone tell me if this is suitable? Ace® Under Cabinet Euro Style Fluorescent Fixture - Undercabinet Fixtures - Ace Hardware It comes with an 18" F15T8 bulb. I don't want anything bigger than that.

I've read that moss and coconut fiber make good substrates for the terrarium, but I'm not quite sure if I want to take the leap to a living vivarium, just yet. I currently have leopard geckos, and I keep them in a tank with just paper towels for substrate. It's very easy to maintain, but it's not much to look at. As for the day gecko tank, I was thinking I'd use reptile carpet (as they aren't on the ground much, anyway) and put in a large potted plant (any suggestions?), along with some bamboo pieces. Is this all right? On the other hand, how difficult are terrariums with soil and moss and living plants to maintain? Do you ever have to change the soil? Does it stink? Do day geckos stink? And is their poo as routinely placed and easy to clean up as that of a leopard gecko? Sorry for the long string of questions I just want to know exactly what to expect and how to make the best home possible for my new phelsuma.

Also, if anyone has pictures of their day gecko setups, I'd love to see them!

Thanks so much!

[Adrn]

As far as the bulb goes, I believe the lumins are too low. Try to find the same specs in the daylight type. The kelvin rating is usually 5500K which is closer to what they need. I could not see where the bulb was rated as UVB, but if it is this should be fine. I use the method of 5500K daylight version T8 bulbs along with a halogen puck light for each enclosure.

"As for the day gecko tank, I was thinking I'd use reptile carpet (as they aren't on the ground much, anyway) and put in a large potted plant (any suggestions?), along with some bamboo pieces. Is this all right? On the other hand, how difficult are terrariums with soil and moss and living plants to maintain?Do you ever have to change the soil? Does it stink? Do day geckos stink?"

Yes, carpet is fine. However, soil layers and live plants(sansevieria) aid humidity and any poo can be somewhat mixed into the top soil without too much worry. They do tend to poo randomly and it sometimes sticks to the side of the glass. A damp paper towel can be used to wipe it clean. I have yet to smell any odd odors coming from my enclosures on and off since 1994. If anything, the container you keep the feeder crickets in will be the strongest odor. The initial layering and adding plants is the a project that take a bit of time but I enjoy it. This is something I do only once per year(actually doing this now to prepare for the mating season). Bamboo tubes they can go in and out of with ease are great positioned obliquely or horizontally elevated.

-Adrian

[poetry1in7purple]

Thanks for all of your help and suggestions, Adrian. I looked around on the internet, and I think I found a suitable bulb. Zoo Med Tropicsun 5500K Daylight Bulb for Aquariums at PETCO Also, this may be a stupid question, but could this bulb be put in any 18" fixture? I have one that had a black light in it once. Would this do? I guess that's more of a mechanics question than a suitability question.

I think I will go for a sansevieria plant, though I'm still not completely sold on the idea of a live terrarium. It does seem nice, but I'm not sure how to do it correctly, and I have a sort of odd tank (high up and deep, opening at the top, unlike those nice front-opening ones) which would make it extremely difficult to change the soil. But, perhaps. And I don't really have to worry about crickets smelling bad. I breed my own mealworms, and that's primarily what my geckos eat, though sometimes I'll pick up a few crickets for a treat. Are mealworms a good primary insect for a giant day gecko's diet?

[Adrn]

Mealworms aren't the healthiest and have alot of chitin. If they like them and that is what you have been using, then continue. I would just add that dusting them with 2:1 fine calcium powder(repcal with D3 is good) with Herptivite vitamin powder every or every other feeding would be in order. Also, do not forget the fruit mix from time to time. Repashy makes alot of good 2 part mixes for this as well as Calcium Plus which I have not yet used but plan to.

As far as the light goes, I am sure the balast fixture you used for your black light would be fine. Just make sure the bulb matches the balast size(T5 T8 T12). If it is UV then you can cut back a little on the supplementation. Just understand that the UV type bulbs have a short life and you may have to switch out in 6 months or so. If you want to save money, just go to OSH or Home Depot etc and get the same size bulb in "daylight". Add a halogen source(pucklight etc) for basking and you're in business.

[poetry1in7purple]

Would this light be okay? http://www.lowes.com/pd_196250-371-8...Ntk=i_products It's a daylight bulb, but it's 6500K. And is there any specific type of puck light I should get? Like this, perhaps? Ace® 1 Light Halogen Line Voltage Puck Kit - Undercabinet Fixtures - Ace Hardware I also already have an undertank heater attached to the enclosure. Should be nice and toasty with all these lights

I do always dust my mealworms with calcium powder (with D3) and vitamins. I usually try to feed them freshly shed ones, but I've never had any problems with impaction.

Also, could a sansevieria plant be found at most garden shops and nurseries? What about Walmart? And this time of year? Thanks!

[Adrn]

Elementary!!Good choice of lights. Buy bulk if you can to save some change over the years. Those are the pucks that I use. I forgo the globes (piece that slides over the fixture and bulb) as they tend to fall off and are not necessary and tend to filter some of the light. After setting these up, I lay them right on top of the screen lids. I haven't had any issues with burned toes, etc in case you wonder. Also, buy some extra halogen bulbs as these will burn out from time to time and at 15w if at all possible to find(hint: the cheapos burn out more often, so I bought a bulk pack of good ones from a lighting store here in town). I have all of my lights setup on 2 old X10 adapters I picked up from Radio Shack(no longer available, unfortunately) that I have timed to go on as the other goes off. I run the lights off of power strips/stations that are plugged directly into the adapters. During the hot summer months I tend to unplug the puck lights and go straight with the flo lights as it stays in the high 70s to mid 80s during a good portion of the night and up to 110 during the day. The bulbs I have are 20w and tend to heat up the the enclosures quickly once it starts to warm up. I plan on buying a rheostat or something similar specifically for the puck setup this year.
Sansevieria should be found at any of the places you mentioned any time of year. Another hardy plant is the pothos.

***Leann and Greg - If you are reading this, thank you so much for the great source of reference over the years your book has been in circulation.***

[poetry1in7purple]

Thanks for all of your help, Adrian! I'll certainly put it to good use!

[Adrn]

You're welcome. That is just the way these forums have and should work. Send us all a couple of images of your finished product. It would be nice to see the setup.

[poetry1in7purple]

Will do!

[poetry1in7purple]

Oh, just one other thing-- I already have some fake bendy vines and reptile hammocks; would these be a good addition to my setup, or should I just leave them out? I was thinking it might be kind of cool to put up some of the reptile hammocks and put the food dishes on those so that she could eat up "in the trees." What do you think? And I don't need a water dish, correct? And what about a hide? Would the bamboo and plants serve as the hide? Sorry, just last minute things I'm thinking of before I finalize my shopping list