[Zehla]

After a disastrous infestation of tiny mites, my previous terrarium setup was completely destroyed. I have since moved to a better apartment that has no insect problems, and tentatively am beginning to get my two cresties out of their tiny tall cage and back into a nice 18x18x24.

I want it to be BEAUTIFUL. I don't plan on using real plants, as I don't have the budget to maintain water pumps and the like - but some of these DIY terrariums are beautiful. I love the idea of Great Stuff as I can do whatever my imagination can think of, but I don't really know where to start.

My main confusion is this: You can just spray that foam stuff onto the back, sides, wherever you want it, stick your decorations into it, let it cure, coat it in coco fiber, and viola! But what about viewing the cage from the sides or the back?

Won't it look pretty ugly, that yellow puffy foam being visible unless you're looking head-on?

I also was considering plaster, as that's ALWAYS been fun to work with for me, and there is a lightweight formula out there now so it wouldn't weigh down the tank.

I'm torn between trying a mossy viney forest scene or stacking shalestone and making it look like the wall of a gorge. I think I'd like the mossy look best for my cresties, and I like the three-dimensional aspect that you gain when you extend your background to the sides of the cage as well. I would LOVE to have a branch going across with moss hanging down.

I know that the custom made setups are for advanced herpers, but I'd like to give it a shot. Any beginner's advice? Keep in mind I learn better hands-on than by being told, so lots of detail is appreciated, lol.

[avoidtheboyd]

You obviously can't view it from the side and back but if you don't want to see that yellow foam you can paint the glass on the outside the exact shape of the foam on the inside.

[ajb28221]

Hey, I did an 18x18x24 build with great stuff foam for my day gecko, but its the same concept. heres the link if you wanna check it out and get inspiration- UPDATE: Phelsuma Standingi Vivarium

Also, you don't need a pump to have live plants but you do need lights but you can get cheap CFLs at Lowes or Home Depot. I have all live plants and I mist daily and when the dirt gets dry I use my mister and shoot water at the base base of the plants. And If you seed your tank with springtails and isopods they will eat your geckos poop and you wont have to clean! Thats why I think planted tanks are easier! On the issue of the foam- Yes, you can directly spray it to the glass but people have had issues of it coming unglued before, thats why people sometimes put silicone on the back first then once dry spray foam on top and it holds very well and that solves the ugly yellow foam issue. (thats what I did)

[Yoshi'smom]

Here's a good tutorial:
New England Herpetoculture - Custom Vivarium Background Construction
I followed this when I did my big tank.

[daggekko]

Hey, if your worried about seeing from the sides and back of the tank, don't do a background. If your doing a background(someone already said this) then you can paint the outside of the tank to the shape of the foam on the inside so you don't see the nasty yellow color.

Live plants-You don't have to have pumps and all to keep live plants live. The best thing to do is go to a nursery and get some plants and see if you can keep them alive. I have over the years realized which plants I personally can grow and keep alive. These are the ones I typically buy now. Ones that I've killed quickly I usually just don't buy anymore. A few that I like are
Syngoniums-WET SOIL!
Money Tree-WET SOIL!
Bromeliads-water in the cups, damp soil
Mother-in-laws tongue/snake plant-water often but don't keep soil soggy
Dracaena-these come in a variety. They are similar to the snake plant as far as watering.
Pothos/Philodendrons-wet soil. Philodendrons are toxic if eaten, but I have no issues keep them in with my geckos.

As far as making the enclosures prettier, I go to dollar tree and get tropical flowers for $1 each. When the geckos poop all over them I just throw them out and get new ones! Make sure you don't get them with glitter all over the flowers though.

I used daylight or sunshine fluorescent tubes from lowes or home depot for lighting plants. These work well for nocturnal geckos because they don't need the UV lighting.

I think the mossy forest sounds better for the gecko than all rocks. It would help keep the humidity up as well!

Here is a link to some of my photos. I haven't done backgrounds yet. At some point I probably will give a couple a shot.
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