[Echo]

We have recently made a terrarium for a Giant Day Geckowith the following setup :

Tank : exo terra 60 x 45 x 45

Substrate : pebbles, exo terra "Jungle Earth"

Plants : bamboo, orchid, Sanseviera planted in non fertilised soil, bits of wood for climbing, a ladder which i think is made for birds (it is just untreated wood)

Temperature is about 27 during the day and drops a bit at night and humidity is 60%. We also do a LOT of misting otherwise the humidity tends to drop.

Recently we noticed a VERY strong smell and some mold on some climbing twigs. We have taken the twigs out and replaced the "Jungle Earth" substrate but the smell remains. We can't see anymore mold, but we think the substrate is a possible culprit ...

What would you advise we do next?

We were given the gecko by a friend who didn't want and are probably a little underprepared but we are doing everything we can. We have found some useful care sheets but would really like an in depth guide. Can anyone suggest anything?

Thanks in advance!

[daggekko]

The ladder could be the culprit. Bamboo could be as well. I have had bamboo mold before(sitting wet on my basement floor). Could it possibly be just the wet substrate smelling funny to you? Also, are you using an analog humidity gauge? I have had these read wrong on a regular basis. What are the sides of your enclosure made of?

[Echo]

I guess it could be the substrate but it was one of those smells that you remember an hour later and it makes you shake! Seems a little too strong. Echo seems to be avoiding the majority of the enclosure and just hides behind the polysterene backdrop! Although this could be because it is a new enclosure and he is a little bewildered ...

I'll take the bamboo and the ladder out as well and see what happens. It is "fresh" bamboo that is still growing if that makes a difference.

It is an analogue humidity guage ... would the problem be more humidity than is measured,or less?

The enclosure walls are glass.

Thanks for helping!

[daggekko]

Is the bamboo cut? You should be able to look in the ends if it is cut and see mold if it is bad.

The ladder for birds will probably mold VERY fast. Bird cages are usually kept fairly dry.

Analog gauges-I have just had more than my fair share of them go bad. They won't read correctly or get stuck. Go to your local hardware store and find some digital ones. Usually you can get one for around $12 that does temperature and humidity.

Just wondering what the enclosure was made out of(you didn't say at first). Thought maybe you made a huge wooden one.

Some substrates just smell. You should try soaking some fresh substrate down in a bucket and leaving it for a day or so somewhere in the house where it isn't dark and cold. See if the smell is that.

[JIGSAW818]

The foul smell you are smelling my friend is common in giant day geckos' they will produce a foul smell with their feces man it happens once in a while... if your gecko is pooping anywhere in the enclosure and then you spray or mist what ever it is you do.. for some weird reason (and this used to happen to my gecko a lot) they poop will mold FAST I guess the poop has the tendency to mold fast .. just spot clean every two day and you should be good... and if the fresh bamboo skin starts getting wrinkly take it out asap.. please define the smell cause the smell I'm talking about is horrific.. like this stuff IS STRONG.

[daggekko]

The foul smell you are smelling my friend is common in giant day geckos' they will produce a foul smell with their feces

Wow would have never thought about that. Let us know if this fixes your problems as well!

[Echo]

We think we are getting the hang of it ... we took things out and are trying a process of elimination.

We think the problem is that in our efforts to keep the place humid we just end up making it really wet.

Is there a very detailed guide as to how to keep them anywhere?

It'll save us clogging up the forum with loads of posts!

[terradas]

Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis

[BOOSHIFIED]

You may want to seed your tank with springtails. They will help control mold and they will break down fecal matter.

Just do a google search.