hey gecko lovers; any suggestions to better my viv?! :) NOT FINISHED !

**pistachio-leo.** · 03-05-2013, 09:16 PM

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hey guys!
some people asked me to post some pics of the viv i've built for my leo, Pistachio. I'm going to attach a pic, but please remember its not finished yet.
- i still have to his proper lighting, not just the show lighting thats turned on in this picture.
- i have to add the baige repcarpet on the flooring .
- few more vines
- his other hides and decorations.

this is NOT the finial project, just a lil sneak peek of whats to come

i'm sooo excited !
also you guys are the first to see !

**** PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ADD SUGGESTIONS !!

IM LOOKING FOR ANY COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS TO HELP OUT !

****

Thanks guys

IMG-20130305-00106.jpg

**cricket4u** · 03-05-2013, 10:37 PM

Nice enclosure!

How do you plan providing under tank heating? UTH inside the enclosure is a big NO-NO.

**cricket4u** · 03-05-2013, 10:55 PM

If you haven't decided, this thread may help.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/commu...ooden-viv.html

**Hilde** · 03-06-2013, 12:37 AM

I have melamine enclosures for some of my leopards. Each has a UTH inside, set up as shown in this thread, post #2:
belly heat for leopard gecko's, how to achieve with 1.5 inch thick melamine

There's no way a UTH can heat a wooden enclosure from the outside, but setting it up this way works perfectly.

**mecoat** · 03-06-2013, 02:09 AM

My UTH is inside the viv. In fact, the instructions say to put it inside if you have a wooden viv because wood is such a good insulator.

**pistachio-leo.** · 03-06-2013, 07:32 AM

yea, iv read alot about it and im pretty sure as long as the UTH is under tile or reptile carpet, i think i should be fine

**pistachio-leo.** · 03-06-2013, 07:38 AM

any other suggestions for the UTH? im scared to put it in now. even the instructions say its okay

what should i do ?

**mecoat** · 03-06-2013, 08:04 AM

My feeling is that if the instructions say to put it inside, put it inside. Make sure it's on a thermostat (obviously), and plug the cable hole so crickets etc can't get out (I use a flour + water mix to make a small amount of very basic pastry, then use it like bluetack. It dries hard, is cheap, and isn't a problem if the food starts nibbling before your gecko eats the food, like bluetack would be).

Hope this helps.

If you need reassuring, mine is inside the viv as the instructions say.

**ebross67** · 03-06-2013, 11:37 AM

If it is on a thermostat with the probe taped to the heat pad, then you should be fine. Glass is a better heat conductor than wood, so you may not get as good heat gradient from hot pad to ambient room temp. Heat insulators trap the heat and the entire body achieves equilibrium faster. If it is 92 on hot pad then off the hot pad you may get an equal temp across the rest of the closure lets say 80 (which is too warm for a gecko on the cool side). For a wood enclosure to work it has to be well ventilated, so the ambient air temp outside let say 70 can cool down the enclosure and create the proper gradient.